ARE YOUR DIAMONDS CONFLICT FREE?

YES.

At Underwood’s we have taken every precaution and only carry conflict free, responsibly sourced diamonds. This means we do not and will not ever carry a “blood diamond”. A blood diamond is a diamond which is mined in a warzone and sold to fund conflicts against legitimate governments. In 2000 The Kimberly Process was started in South Africa to end the flow of conflict diamonds to the open market. This process was formed by 81 countries and is underpinned by the United Nations. The Kimberly Process mandates any country purchasing diamonds and participating in the agreement must have a certificate of where the diamond has traveled. The diamonds are tracked through the pipeline with this process, ensuring they did not originate or travel through a non-participating country/warzone. The Kimberly Process accounts for 99.8% of the global production of diamonds.

Diamond mining in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana is providing huge economic benefits for their countries and communities, mostly through DeBeers. Diamond mining gives job opportunities, builds schools, hospitals and provides healthcare. Over 5,000,000 people now have health coverage as a result of the diamond industry. The revenue from diamonds helped form an anti-HIV/AIDS program in Africa, resulting in reduced rates of the disease. Forevermark, DeBeers’ branded diamond, goes one step further in helping not only the countries and communities, but also by taking care of the land and environment. These are just a few of the positive things that the diamond industry provides in Africa.

Responsible sourcing is a pillar of the Forevermark brand, and one of the main reasons why everyone can feel proud to give, own and wear a Forevermark diamond. Sourcing our diamonds responsibly means that, throughout their journey from rough to polished diamond, particular care has been taken to ensure responsible business practices, support the advancement of women, and protect the natural world, which is the ultimate source of our diamonds.