Conflict Diamonds and the Kimberly Process

Conflict or blood diamonds are so called because they are mined and sold to fund civil war, terrorism and other criminal activities.

According to the United Nations Security Council’s definition, conflict diamonds are rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments. There is evidence that these diamonds have been used as international currency for money laundering and arms trafficking.

To stem this illicit trade in conflict diamonds, the Kimberly Process was developed. Under this system, each shipment of rough diamonds must be transported in a tamper-proof container, accompanied by a government-validated Kimberly Process Certificate.

For your peace of mind you can be assured all Hermitage diamonds are compliant with the Kimberly Process and guaranteed conflict free.

Certificates and Valuations

A certificate is a report on a diamond, based on a combination of scientific measurement and visual assessment.

While certification is a means of identifying a diamond, it assigns the stone within a range of quality and is not conclusive in determining value.

A valuation may be necessary in order to insure you piece of diamond jewellery and should be considered only for this purpose.

To ensure the best value in your diamond purchase, establish a relationship with a knowledgeable jeweller of good reputation.