Where are diamonds mined?
Diamonds are mined all over the world. Would you be surprised to learn that the three largest and the seventh largest producing diamond mines in the world are in Russia? And the fourth largest is located in Australia? Being that there is a worldwide presence in the mining and and distribution of diamonds, there is also a worldwide regulation process.
The Kimberely Process Certification Scheme
The Kimberely Process is an international certification scheme for rough diamonds. It sets requirements for controlling rough diamond production and trade. Member countries abide by its extensive requirements of certifying rough diamond shipments as conflict free, and prevent conflict diamonds from entering legitimate trade. The United States, (along with 53 other members) are members participating in the Kimberely Process. The World Diamond Council also participates as a member, as well as the European Union and its Member States participating as a single member. Member participants can only legally trade with other member participants, and all rough diamond shipments must be accompanied by a KP certificate guaranteeing that they are conflict free.
All rough diamonds that enter the United States legally are conflict free diamonds, passing U.S. customs with Systems of Warranties.
Our Conflict Free Diamonds Policy
Sarkisian’s Jewelry Company, Inc makes every effort to ban conflict diamonds and provide assurances to our customers that the diamonds we sell are conflict free diamonds. We require the following warranty from our vendors supplying diamonds:
“The diamonds herein invoices have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations Resolutions. The undersigned guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds.”
We also require our diamond vendors to provide written proof of warranties from their diamond sources.
