MAJOR WORLD LEADERS – INCLUDING NELSON MANDELA – HAVE CITED THE IMPORTANCE OF DIAMONDS TO THE LIVES OF AFRICAN PEOPLE.
In 1999, Richard Holbrooke, Former US Ambassador to the United Nations said, “Conflict diamonds represent only a small percentage of global production, and we applaud De Beers’ efforts to reassure its customers that the stones they [...]
DIAMONDS ACCOUNT FOR 33% OF THE GDP (APPROXIMATELY $3.3 BILLION) OF BOTSWANA. SINCE INDEPENDENCE IN 1966, THE YEAR BEFORE DIAMONDS WERE DISCOVERED IN BOTSWANA, GDP ANNUAL GROWTH RATE AVERAGED 7%.
As Festus Mogae, the democratically elected President of Botswana, said, “For our people, every diamond purchase represents food on the table; better living conditions; better healthcare; [...]
THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY HAS INTRODUCED A SYSTEM TO HELP GIVE CONSUMERS REASSURANCE THAT THEIR DIAMOND IS FROM A CONFLICT FREE SOURCE.
Each time a rough diamond is traded across international borders, it is accompanied by a legally binding guarantee—on a government validated certificate—which certifies it is from a source free of conflict. This is called the [...]
A committed working partnership including the governments of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, Global Witness, Partnership Africa Canada, the World Diamond Council, De Beers and the United Nations was instrumental in establishing the Kimberley Process. By 2002, 52 governments had ratified and adopted the Kimberley Process. Since then, this number has increased gradually and today [...]
AN ESTIMATED 65% OF THE WORLD’S DIAMONDS COME FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES.
The majority of today’s diamonds are sourced from Africa, Canada, Russia, Australia and South America. When measured by value, Botswana is the biggest producer of diamonds in the world. Other African countries that produce diamonds and are Kimberley Process compliant include:
Angola
Central African Republic
Democratic Republic of [...]
THE CHARITY JEWELERS FOR CHILDREN FUNDS A COMMUNITY BASED CARE PROGRAM FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Jewelers For Children (JFC), formerly known as the Jewelers Charity Fund for Children, was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated over $23 million [...]
UNDER THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS, ROUGH DIAMONDS CAN ONLY BE EXPORTED AND IMPORTED WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE FROM THE EXPORTING COUNTRY.
By law, no rough diamonds are permitted to enter a Kimberley Process participant country without a certificate. The Kimberley Process stipulates that all rough diamonds are sealed in tamper-resistant containers and must have forgery resistant [...]
An ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is an electronic device designed to remove dirt from rings, necklaces and other items of jewelry. These devices are readily found on homes shopping channels or on the internet.
Continue reading about What is an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner?
THE REVENUE FROM DIAMONDS IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC.
Diamonds play a significant role in helping to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. Revenues from diamonds help to provide necessary counseling, testing, education, treatment programs, clinics and hospices, along with homes and care for children orphaned through this disease. Several diamond [...]
THE DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED TO IMPROVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF ARTISANAL MINERS.
The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) aims to find sustainable methods of ensuring that diamonds are mined and distributed for the benefit of local communities and local governments. Unlike the more traditional, or formal, mines found in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, small-scale [...]
