Recent years have seen a major uptick in consumers seeking out ethical companies and products. This is especially common in industries that have had historically unethical practices — like the diamond industry. For more than a century, people bought diamonds without really knowing where they came from. Thanks to the internet and public awareness campaigns, many consumers are far more informed about how diamonds are procured and what constitutes a “conflict free” or “ethical” diamond.

If you’re searching for a more ethical way to acquire a diamond engagement ring, you probably have a lot of questions that need to be answered. For instance, what is a conflict free diamond? What is an ethical diamond? Is there a difference between the two? What are the most common ways to acquire conflict free and ethical diamonds? Finally, where can you get affordable diamonds that won’t hurt the environment or weigh on your conscious?

In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, so let’s get started!

What Is A Conflict Free Diamond?

As the name implies, a conflict free diamond is a diamond that has been acquired without the involvement of any armed conflicts. For years, the diamond trade in many parts of the world, particularly Africa, was associated with diamonds that have come to be known as “blood diamonds.” These diamonds were mined in warzones or areas where warlords, terrorists, or violent insurgents held power. The sale of these diamonds was then used to fund more war, violence, and terrorism against local populations. While blood diamonds have not been completely erased from the diamond industry, they are far less common now than they were in the 20th century.

What Is An Ethical Diamond?

Before we delve into the meaning of an “ethical” diamond, it’s important to note that ethical and conflict free diamonds are closely related. More specifically, all ethical diamonds are conflict free, but not all conflict free diamonds are necessarily ethical. This is because ethical diamonds are not procured in warzones or similarly violent circumstances; they also go a step further by ensuring that the mining and extraction process doesn’t involve predatory business practices, particularly the use of forced labor or child labor.

In the early days of diamond mining, it was not uncommon to use slave labor and other forms of forced labor to extract diamonds in certain parts of the world. Companies would often act with impunity, resorting to violent and offensive measures to control their workforces. So, even if a diamond is conflict free, it doesn’t guarantee that people haven’t been hurt in the process of acquiring it.

Fortunately, ethical diamonds ensure that all of the following are true:

• No Involvement in Conflicts - Ethical diamonds have absolutely no involvement with violence, war, terrorism, or other conflicts during the extraction or distribution processes.
• Compliance With International Labor Law - Companies that mine ethical diamonds must adhere to international laws that prohibit forced labor and child labor, as well as those that guarantee a safe and fair working environment for employees.
• Reduced Environmental Impact - While diamond mining can still have a devastating impact on the environment, ethical diamond companies must take the environment into consideration and work to reduce the negative ecological impact by engaging in more eco-friendly practices.
• Transparent Supply Chain - Transparency throughout each step of a diamond's journey is important so that retailers and consumers can trust that every part of a diamond’s extraction, distribution, and sale avoids unethical practices.
• Certification by Recognized Authorities - Finally, it is easy for a company to say that it only has ethical diamonds, but this must be verified by a trusted authority. One of the most reputable ways to certify an ethical diamond is through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

Ethically Sourced Diamond Engagement Rings

Getting an ethical diamond is one of the best ways to ensure that your purchase has not been linked to any violence or predatory business practices. Additionally, by looking for ethically sourced diamonds, you can also reduce the carbon footprint of your purchase, making it an even more ethical and environmentally friendly decision. There are two primary ways to get ethical diamond engagement rings, and we will cover both methods in the sections below.

Second Hand Engagement Rings

A second hand engagement ring is one of the easiest ways to enjoy an ethically sourced diamond ring. When you buy second hand, used, or preowned diamond engagement rings, you’re ensuring that you get a diamond ring without the need to mine an additional diamond. In this way, you are reducing the need for mined diamonds and making an environmentally-friendly decision. However, it’s still important to get as much information as you can so that you can rest easy knowing that your diamond ring was originally sourced using ethical means.

By some standards, second hand engagement rings are even more ethical than lab diamonds (see below), as they do not require any additional production. For example, a lab diamond still has to use fuel and a seed diamond that was sourced from somewhere. This means that even lab diamonds have a carbon footprint and often trace their origins back to a seed diamond that was mined from the Earth.

Lab Diamond Engagement Rings

While second hand diamonds are the preferred choice for people seeking ethical engagement rings, lab diamonds are a great alternative. Since lab diamonds do not directly require mining and are instead produced in a lab that has a much smaller environmental impact, you can get many of the same benefits without causing a lot of harm to the environment. Diamond labs are also strictly regulated to ensure that fair business and labor practices are being enforced. Plus, since lab diamonds have been around for decades, you can get the best of both worlds by searching for a second hand lab diamond engagement ring!

How To Buy An Ethical Diamond Engagement Ring

While blood diamonds do still exist, the last few decades have seen a major push to clean up the diamond industry and ensure that consumers can get truly conflict free and ethical diamond jewelry. So, are you looking for an ethical ring that won’t make you feel bad? Do you want a ring that has been ethically sourced and does not have a large carbon footprint? Finally, do you want to search through preowned natural and lab diamonds to find the perfect engagement ring for yourself or a loved one? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you can’t go wrong with a preowned ring from Have You Seen The Ring.

At HYSTR, we offer a marketplace of second hand diamond engagement rings for sale by their current owners. Before finalizing the purchase, one of our trained gemologists authenticates the diamond engagement ring and provides documentation to show you everything you need to know to make an ethical decision. Thanks to HYSTR, you can benefit from preowned jewelry, lab diamonds, and ethically sourced diamonds all at the same time!

We hope you enjoyed our guide on ethical engagement rings! Are you currently trying to buy or sell a used engagement ring? If so, be sure to contact HYSTR today!