The amazing rock was found near Lesotho in September 8, 2008 and it is the 20th largest rough diamond ever found !

Precious Earth jewelry is promoting throughout its activity the sustainable jewelry concept. “Our goal is to make jewelry that is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside ” they say.  I declare myself an enthusiastic of this idea and I will expand it for you too.

By supporting consciousness and transparency in the jewelry trade,  jewelry producers such as Precious Earth also support the economic independence of the people in Namibia, Botswana, and other gem mining countries. The jewelry producers offer unemployed local habitats jobs and trainings in the cutting gems industry and the chance of a better future for their families.

Renowned designer Robert Pelliccia has designed the recently Endangered Species collection that marks the launch of Precious Earth as part of the Kari Feinstein’s Golden Globes Style Lounge. Beautiful creations in my opinion that also raise awareness for the continent of Africa . Take a look and convince yourself:

(Image Courtesy of Pueblito Eco Friendly Fair Trade Jewelry)

Eco jewelry is a quite vague concept and in fact it means a lot of things. Eco jewelry is taking jewelry to the next level, ethical jewelry. Eco jewelery refers to more types of jewelry:

• jewelry made from non-polluting materials
• recycled materials
• “no dirty gold“
• vintage jewelry
• natural materials
• conflict-free diamonds.

A more ethical approach is also jewelry products that offer a percentage of their purchase value to a worthy cause. Buying fair trade jewelry directly supports Third World craftspeople. One example would be the Five Dollar campaign which involves people in donating five dollars from each handbag they sell sell to charitable causes in the area where the good was handmade.

(Image Courtesy of Pueblito Eco Friendly Fair Trade Jewelry)

Eco-jewelry are also created by artisans of South America which create jewelry from eco-friendly elements: Acai seeds, Tagua nuts, Melon seeds, Coconut, Calabash, Bamboo, Tropical Pumpkin seeds, and Orange skins. The eco-jewelry is made of biodegradable materials that have been harvested in a sustainable manner.

I was also impressed by the so called genuine sea glass jewelry, sea glass that was worn smooth only by the sea. Natural materials for jewelry are also pebbles and shells.

Eco-jewelry is in my opinion vintage jewelry that has set this trend of reusing. Also jewelry from older pieces or recycled material or metal (recycled platinum and gold), gathered from flea markets, thrift stores, family & friends is a friendly approach. Quite an unusual approach is the jewelry from actual fabrics.

Blood diamonds and gemstones have also been a center of conflict and ethical problems, for this cultured gemstones, diamond replacement or artificial diamonds are much more preferred. Clearly it’s not the same thing, but for me it’s preferable to encouraging indirectly human abuse and other social issues that are connected to diamond exploitation.

In the following chart are listed the top 10 diamond producing countries by volume of diamond exploitation.

These top 10 diamond producing countries account for over 80% of the world’s rough diamonds.

1. Russia: Mirna Mine is the largest diamond deposit in Russia and one of the largest in the world.

Sotheby

2. Australia: Argyle Diamond Mine is the largest producer in world, mostly industrial grade. Rio Tinto.

3. Botswana: Jwaneng Diamond Mine produces small stonesand is the richest mine in world.

4. Angola: Fourth largest diamond mine in world. Kimberlite pipe.

The Centenary Diamond uncut

5. Angola: Catoca Diamond Mine: Luzamba Diamond Mine is Angola’s largest alluvial mine, Endiama (50%), Odebrecht (50%).

6. Botswana: Letlhakane Diamond Mine: (“little reeds”) second oldest of four – De Beers mines in Botswana.

7. Botswana: Orapa Diamond Mine near a resting place for lions is the largest and oldest of the four DeBeers mines in Botswana.

Diamond of Lesotho

8. Congo: Bakwanga Mine are alluvial river mines in Kasaï. MIBA.

9. Sierra Leone: Magna Egoli Mine is the largest mechanized mine in Sierra Leone.

10. South Africa: Cullinan Diamond Mine is a open pit and hard rock diamond mine owned by De Beers.

Diamond mines in the world

Bling-Bling is a term in hip hop culture that refers mostly to flashy or elaborate jewelry and ornamented body accessories. Bling-Bling has started a world wide trend and we can refer to it, without hesitation, as to an entire culture. Many popular hip-hop stars claimed the introduction of this bling-bling fashion style that nowadays is wide spread.

Bling-Bling trend has spread quite fast way beyond hip hop culture and into mass culture. On the market one can find various bling-bling items: from flashy bling-bling jewelry and accessories to expensive dental grills and phone caps with many sparkling stones.

That phrase made such an impact that commercial and advertisement firms used in many successful ads. The history of this term is quite interesting and its popularity made rapper B.G. remarked that he “just wished that he’d trademarked it” so that he could have profited from its use.

All the sparkle that bling-bling fashion trend offer has also a down side. The short film Bling: Consequences and Repercussions explains how diamonds (a staple of bling-bling fashion) occasionally originate as conflict diamonds, fueling wars, poverty, and killings in Africa.

Even more controversial is the value of bling-bling in South African hip hop aesthetics. Pre-, during, and post-apartheid, black South Africans have long been exploited for their land’s precious metal (“blood diamonds”). Gavin Steingo has stated, “It truly is tragic that many young South Africans have embraced the Western gold fetish: a fetish which prizes gold as nothing more than a label of ostentatious wealth.” Despite its relations to blood diamonds conspicuous consumption effect of Black American Hip Hop remains present in kwaito.

Source: www.en.wikipedia.org

Conflict free diamonds

A conflict free diamond is a diamond whose profits are redirected to illegal and unethical activities, most common of which funding wars in Africa. These diamonds are mined and produced in unethical conditions that violate human rights. Conflict-free diamonds are diamonds that present certifications and that can be traced in all the transactions involved, from the mine to the final customer. Unfortunately blood diamonds are sold on current international markets as clean, conflict-free diamonds.

Conflict neutral diamonds

A new concept has recently been introduced in the conflict diamond context, namely conflict neutral diamonds. It actually represents a donation made by a consumer or a retailer during a sale or purchase of a diamond. This donation is directed towards charitable causes, harmed parties involved in the conflict diamond exploitation. Conflict Neutral organization is registering these donations associated with corresponding diamond transactions and issuing certifications. One third of the donations are directed towards various charities and two thirds are divided between Global Witness, Amnesty International and the Red Cross.

These diamonds are precious, but more precious than that is the human cost. Blood diamonds imply a lot of victims, from the persons involved in these conflicts and wars to the actual miners that are working in inhuman conditions and under severe oppression. A large percentage of child labor is used and the working conditions do not even provide running water. Unfortunately no authority or donation can compensate this loss of human lives, but they can help improve the living conditions of the people affected by providing healthcare and education.

Source: Wikipedia

Find out more about it : Conflict diamonds in UN perspective & Diamond Facts

We support retailers with the same believes as us: Conflict diamonds at JR Jewelers.

Conflict diamonds are also know as: blood diamonds, converted diamonds, hot diamonds, war diamonds and refer to a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, invading army’s war efforts, or a warlord’s activity, usually in Africa.

Countries like Angola have been sanctioned for illegal diamond trade by the United Nations. This means other countries have been forbidden to buy diamonds from sanctioned areas, due to the political implications of diamond trade in the war, more specifically due to the fact that diamond trade is considered to fund the local wars and abuse the human rights. From 1989 to 2003 Liberia was engaged in a civil war. In 2000, the UN accused Liberian president Charles G. Taylor of supporting the RUF insurgency in Sierra Leone with weapons and training in exchange for diamonds. Other conflict areas are considered to be: Cote d’Ivoire, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kimberly Process Certification Scheme

Colored diamonds and rough colored diamonds

Kimberly Process Certification Scheme started at the initiative of the diamond industry that proposed the origin of diamonds anywhere to be certified. “In May 2000, diamond producing countries of southern Africa met in Kimberley, South Africa to plan a method by which the trade in conflict diamonds could be halted, and buyers of diamonds could be assured that their diamonds have not contributed to violence.”

Source: Wikipedia

Find out more about it : Conflict diamonds in UN perspective , Diamond Facts & Conflict-free and conflict neutral diamonds

We support retailers with the same believes as us: Conflict diamonds at JR Jewelers.

Media links: Blood Diamond