The Canadian diamond industry is brand new and rivaling that of Africa. If you want to buy a Canadian diamond, here's what you should know.
Since the first diamond deposit was discovered in the Northwest Territories in 1991, Canada has become the world’s third largest diamond supplier rivaling the industries of Russia and Botswana.
Blood Diamonds
The extent of the diamond deposits that have been found (with new ones still being uncovered in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut as well as far south as northern Saskatchewan), as well as the quality of the diamonds have put Canadian diamonds in high demand, rivaling those found in Africa. However, warlords and rebel armies in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola and the Ivory Coast have largely taken control of the industry and the clandestine sale of diamonds funds their violent, illegal activities. They also don’t make for good employers and conditions in the diamond mines are hugely unethical and it was common practice of rebel armies to take the children who work in the mines to turn them into child soldiers.
For some time, it became nearly impossible to purchase a diamond from Africa that was not a dirty diamond or a blood diamond. While the countries that produced blood diamonds have for the most part been peaceful for a few years, there are still rebel armies, warlords and civil wars being funded by the diamond industry in Africa. There is still so much unknown about the human rights violations and brutalities associated with blood diamonds.
A feature film called Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou was released in 2006, dramatizing the harsh realities of the diamond industry in Africa and it more than anything else, has increased public awareness. As more and more attention is called to the realities of the diamond industry, public consciousness is focused increasingly on diamonds from conflict-free areas of the world, and particularly those from Canada. In fact, within the last five years, the words Canadian and conflict-free have become synonymous.
The Struggle to Remain Untainted
But the diamond industry can be a shady, secretive one and it’s important to know as much as you can before you purchase one, especially if you want to buy a conflict-free diamond.
In the last ten years, advances have been made towards ensuring that the Canadian diamond industry remains untainted by blood diamonds, but it’s not safe yet to be sure that the Canadian diamond you’re buying is indeed Canadian. There is no other industry comparable in terms of internationality, profit, value, opportunity, public desire and ignorance. Because it’s so difficult to police such an industry, often blood diamonds are as Canadian. Commonly, diamonds are mined in the Northwest Territories but immediately taken elsewhere to be cut and polished, often in countries (such as those in Africa and Asia) where labour is cheap and human rights aren’t a priority, and most certainly to fund illegal activities.
What To Look For
So don’t be fooled by images of majestic glaciers, vast icy landscapes or frolicking polar bears. The only way to be sure that the diamond you’re interested in is in fact Canadian is to see its Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) certification.
Diamonds that are mined, cut and polished in the Northwest Territories are given a serial number that is unique to that stone – no other diamond can be given the same number as another. That serial number tells you which Canadian mine the diamond came from. It is laser-inscribed on each stone’s girdle (the rim between the flatter top and the pointed bottom of the diamond) and is only visible through a microscope. A certificate showing the serial number, rough weight and cut weight accompanies each diamond.
Another useful tool is the Rare In Nature program. It was put into place to inform consumers and assist retailers in educating the public about Canadian diamonds and the GNWT certification program.
To be confident the diamond you’re buying is Canadian, you must look for both the laser-inscription on the diamond AND the GNWT certificate. Ask questions too. If the retailer knows where the diamond came from, about the GNWT certification program and the Rare In Nature program and can tell you about the Canadian diamond industry, you can be confident your diamond is conflict-free and 100% Canadian.
