The problems of mined diamonds: dark truth

Just like precious metals, diamond mining causes the same ecological and social problems. Exploited mainly by African countries, they often suffer from ongoing armed conflicts financed by the illegal diamond trade, known as "blood diamonds".  

As a result of these issues, the Kimberley Process was established, introducing compulsory control of the diamond's origin to avoid the financing of conflicts through them.

However, despite all the efforts made, this problem still remains to this day, due to leaks in the control process. Other problems related to mass diamond mining also persist, despite progress made. It includes deforestation, pollution, child labour in the mines, etc. All of these hazards not being covered by the Kimberley Process, it then seems clear that it is not sustainable to deal with only one problem at a time.

Furthermore, the diamond mining market is controlled and dominated by a small group of players creating an oligopoly situation in the market. There are 10 to 15 intermediaries before a diamond reaches the hands of a jeweller. There are therefore still many grey areas, making the traceability and transparency of diamonds almost impossible to guarantee. This is all the more true when it comes to small decorative diamonds, which can range from 1 to 4 mm in diameter.

Their mass production makes them impossible to trace. This is because they are produced in large quantities, all from different mines. It is then impossible to determine the origin of each individual small diamond.

In addition, diamond mining destroys vast areas of natural land resources, with long-term and large-scale impacts on the environment. It encroaches on natural animal habitats, diminishing wildlife populations. Diamond mining also creates greenhouse gases that contribute significantly to climate change and air and water pollution, forever altering local living conditions.

Laboratory-grown diamonds are 100% chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds. However, the myth of their inauthenticity still remains within the society to this day. It is therefore our duty, as an ethical jeweller, to make the general public more aware of this alternative. After all, these are real diamonds. The only difference between them and mined diamonds is the manufacturing process. Indeed, because of this process, cultivated diamonds do not generate any of the social and environmental hazards produced by mined diamonds. Their creation also results in a much lower level of pollution. Thus, the use of this alternative allows a greater respect for nature and society.

These are in fact real diamonds produced in laboratories where the real conditions in which diamonds develop naturally in the wild are reproduced. 

At AGUAdeORO, our jewelry pieces are made with laboratory grown diamonds and gold officially certified Fairtrade by Max Havelaar. This allows for a lower ecological impact and no social consequences in the production of all our jewelry pieces.

We are proud to be the first and only Swiss jeweler to promote change by combining these two ethical alternatives. More than a passion, this is our vocation. 

Discover more about our philosophy by visiting our website: https://aguadeoro.ch/