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Where to buy conflict free diamonds, ethical engagement rings and non blood diamonds
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Many of became aware of so-called 'blood diamonds' thanks to the success of the Blood Diamond film back in 2006. The issue hasn't gone away though, and according to Amnesty International, the industry hasn't 'cleaned up its act'
There are various things you can look for when shopping, such as jewellers who have signed up to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. So, if you'd rather your romantic proposal doesn't have a slightly guilty edge to it, here are 5 retailers which offer conflict free diamonds and ethical engagement rings in the UK. |
Blood diamonds are easy to avoid, if you do a bit of research
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1. Amazon
If you want to buy from Amazon and want to guarantee that your engagement ring is conflict free, then I would buy direct from Amazon (brands such as Miore or Naava) rather than a third party seller. Both of those brands give a guarantee that they don't sell blood diamonds. Some have suggested that it is harder to offer that guarantee with third party marketplace sellers, although there doesn't seem to be any actual proof that blood diamonds are being sold on the site.
Naava diamonds are 'part of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme...making our diamonds reliable from source to sale.' Miore's product descriptions on Amazon say that 'We only use natural and conflict-free diamonds'.
We've done various price comparisons on this website and Amazon frequently comes out as one of the cheapest engagement ring sellers (see our comparison of 0.25 carat diamonds, 1 carat diamonds and 2 carat diamond rings). You can pick up a quarter carat diamond ring for about £250 or a 1 carat engagement ring for about £2000.
As you are probably aware, Amazon frequently wins customer service awards too.
Naava diamonds are 'part of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme...making our diamonds reliable from source to sale.' Miore's product descriptions on Amazon say that 'We only use natural and conflict-free diamonds'.
We've done various price comparisons on this website and Amazon frequently comes out as one of the cheapest engagement ring sellers (see our comparison of 0.25 carat diamonds, 1 carat diamonds and 2 carat diamond rings). You can pick up a quarter carat diamond ring for about £250 or a 1 carat engagement ring for about £2000.
As you are probably aware, Amazon frequently wins customer service awards too.
2. High street jewellers
Several of the big High Street jewellers in the UK offer guarantees that they don't sell blood diamonds, including:
- H Samuel ('You as a customer can be confident that concrete and comprehensive measures are being taken to ensure that products we sell do not contain Conflict Diamonds').
- Beaverbrooks ('Our suppliers guarantee that the diamonds supplied are conflict free')
- Ernest Jones ('We comply with the Kimberley Process and require all our trade suppliers of diamonds and diamond jewellery to provide us with a warranty that they do not supply us with conflict diamonds')
- Goldsmiths ('All of our diamonds are acquired from legitimate sources which have no involvement in funding conflicts')
- F Hinds ('We require our suppliers to ensure that the diamonds supplied to us have been purchased from legitimate sources, have not been involved in funding conflict and are supplied in compliance with United Nations resolutions')
3. Diamonds Factory
Diamonds Factory is one of the cheaper and better known online engagement ring retailers. According to their website, their 'Ethically sourced diamonds are purchased from recognised diamond trading centres' in locations including Antwerp and New York. They add that 'Each of the trading centres is committed to trading ethical diamonds, in line with various global institutions and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.'
Diamonds Factory is based in Hatton Garden (London's jewellery quarter) and they have a showroom in the city. You can expect to pay about £400 for a 0.30 carat diamond engagement ring.
Diamonds Factory is based in Hatton Garden (London's jewellery quarter) and they have a showroom in the city. You can expect to pay about £400 for a 0.30 carat diamond engagement ring.
4. Diamond Heaven
Birmingham and London based Diamond Heaven promises on its website that 'All the diamond companies we trade with are members of the Kimberly process. This ensures that they buy diamonds from trusted ethical sources.' They are also a member of the Stop Blood Diamonds programme.
With an engagement ring budget of £1000 you could expect to pick up a 0.4 carat diamond ring from Diamond Heaven.
With an engagement ring budget of £1000 you could expect to pick up a 0.4 carat diamond ring from Diamond Heaven.
5. Purely Diamonds
Purely Diamonds offer a 'guarantee that all our diamonds are conflict free based on written guarantees from our suppliers and personal knowledge from within the diamond industry' (according to their website).
The website itself is one of the best in the jewellery market in terms of customisation options, which means you can try out various combinations of rings settings (e.g. 9 carat gold, platinum) and diamond depending on your budget and tastes.
A quarter carat diamond will cost you around £400 - £500 at Purely Diamonds.
The website itself is one of the best in the jewellery market in terms of customisation options, which means you can try out various combinations of rings settings (e.g. 9 carat gold, platinum) and diamond depending on your budget and tastes.
A quarter carat diamond will cost you around £400 - £500 at Purely Diamonds.
