FACET Diamond Ethics

November 12, 2015

The diamond mining industry hasn't always had the most untainted past. Because many jewelry diamonds originate from third-world countries like the Congo, obtaining them sometimes comes at much cost. The illicit smuggling, political turmoil, environmental harm, child labor, etc. that tend to go hand in hand with diamond mining result in suffering and poverty for diamond miners and other involved in the gems' extraction.

How can you feed your diamond hunger without selling your soul in the process? "Time" magazine recently offered some ideas. And chief among its recommendations is to "look for vintage or antique rings." Why? Because these rings contain diamonds that are decades old. No further harm to the environment or humans comes from wearing them. Any damage that may have been wrought by their long-ago extraction has already been done.

While you can't undo any of these strikes against an antique or vintage diamond, you can make the world of today a better place by wearing them instead of a new diamond. If enough people stand up and refuse to shell out their money on questionably sourced diamonds, it sends a loud and clear message: We're not going to stand for this any longer.

Are there any alternatives to vintage and antique diamonds rings that can still make you feel like you're doing the right thing when it comes to wearing them? Of course! Not all jewelers are violating human rights or ecological best practices in sourcing their diamonds. To that end, the magazine recommends buying diamonds from "jewelers that make a commitment to ethical sourcing."

The Topazery collection of new diamond rings in the antique and vintage styles embraces such a commitment. We do our very best to ensure the diamonds we use support the "small-scale miners around the world" that "Time" magazine advocates.

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