Valentine's Day: Do You Know Where Your Diamonds Came From?

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner—it’s that time of the year to show your significant other how much you care about them. Some couples go on a special date, exchange cards and candy, or cozy up for dinner and a movie. Others get a little more into the holiday and purchase—well—diamonds.

Many times, the only thing on a person’s mind as they prepare to buy a pair of diamond earrings is ‘Visa or MasterCard?’ Most people do not think about where the diamonds come from, or if innocent people had to lose their lives to produce the gifts they’ll be soon pinning on their partner.

Human Rights Watch has recently reported that diamonds originating from Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in southern Africa, are entering the commercial diamond market. The human rights organization has described that Zimbabwe’s diamond fields are run by the country’s military who are involved in activities such as “forced labor, child labor, the killing of more than 200 people, and other grave abuses.”

Many commercial diamond companies get their diamonds from countries that follow the Kimberley Process, which seeks to ensure that diamonds are conflict free—meaning innocent people didn’t lose their lives for the diamonds, or they are not used to fuel conflicts between governments and rebel groups.

Despite Zimbabwe’s human rights abuses in relation to its diamond production, the Kimberley Process has decided to allow their diamonds to be shipped freely throughout the world—right into the diamond supply for companies like Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Bulgari.

Tiffany & Co has a reputation for social responsibility and putting precautions in place to ensure its diamonds are conflict free. As stated on the company’s website, “Tiffany & Co. purchases diamonds only in those countries that are full participants in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.”

That’s all well in good, but what if the Kimberley Process is certifying diamonds from countries like Zimbabwe based on technicalities and even with the acknowledgement of conflict and human rights abuses in the source countries?

So what can you do if you know your significant other is craving that small, flashy, awe-inspiring ring, bracelet, or earrings? Ask where your diamonds came from. Do your research. Take a rain check—buy a precious stone that hasn’t originated from a country in conflict. Don’t give your partner something that could have led to the abuse and death of innocent people in countries like Zimbabwe.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner— do you know where your diamonds came from?

Take action—let your voice be heard by writing to officials to stop blood diamonds.