Diamonds...A Girl's Best Friend?

I have been raised to always question diamonds. Since early childhood, my mom has impressed upon all her daughters to seriously question whether to get a diamond at engagement and marriage. Alternatively, she suggests turquoise or rubies, or something else. There is a lot that is up in the air about blood diamonds and conflict diamonds. I once questioned the owner of Sierra West in Draper about them. He gave me such a phony salesman answer that turned me away from diamonds further. A good friend now works at Morgan Jewelers and we've chatted about conflict diamonds on several occasions.
I've always assumed the worst and believed that only a small portion of diamonds were conflict free. I did some research today and this is not so. Here's what I found.

What are Conflict Diamonds?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas, particularly in central and western Africa; diamonds used to fund military action in opposition to those governments These diamonds are sometimes referred to as "blood diamonds."

While diamonds have been used to fund conflict, the problem is not the diamonds themselves but the rebels who exploit diamonds (along with other natural resources) to achieve their illicit goals. The vast majority of diamonds come from countries at peace. These countries have been able to invest the revenue from diamonds into the development of infrastructure, schools and hospitals for the good of the communities in which diamonds are found.

Today, more than 99% of the world's diamonds are now from conflict free sources and are officially traded under the UN mandated Kimberley Process


To Shopping Lovebirds

As a consumer, you should feel good about your diamond purchase. Ask your friends and family for recommendations to find a jeweler you can trust. Make sure that the jeweler is willing to spend time providing the information you need. A reputable jeweler should:
Only use suppliers who can provide a guarantee that their diamonds are from sources free of conflict
Have a conflict diamond policy
Be able to answer a customer's questions about the topic
Ask questions to get the assurance you need
Ask : How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?
What is your company's policy on conflict diamonds?