![]() ![]() Unsurprisingly, ethical jewellery bans the use of an underage workforce.ĭespite exisiting child labour laws forbidding the practice, some developing countries will overlook the regulations. This will often resort in kids missing out on an education, in the process condemning them to a lifetime of mining work. Shockingly, mines in India and Africa sometimes use this type of workforce. It goes without saying that the use of child labour – especially in such harsh conditions – goes against what most people are willing to tolerate. This guarantees only sustainable methods have been implemented. So far great progress has been made in this regard, with De Beers even going as far as to create a blockchain platform which allowed them to trace the journey of any diamond from the earth to a shopfront. That means tracing the origin of a diamond from the moment it’s found to when it’s used for jewellery. Supply chain transparency.Īdded impetus has been placed on ensuring each step of the diamond mining process is recorded and made publicly visible. There are a number of ways in which these changes have been implemented. In order to counteract any potential harm, ethical practices have been adopted to improve both sustainability and the quality of life for those sourcing the gems. But the impact which the sourcing of diamonds and other precious gems has on both the environment and mining communities can be staggering. It’s not natural to look at a piece of jewellery and consider its origin. There are six core stages in manufacture, from the diamond being in the ground to on your finger. Movements of the Earth’s plates and extreme pressure (sometimes from ancient volcanic eruptions) have seen many pushed up to layers which are accessible via mining. How are diamonds manufactured?ĭiamonds themselves are formed deep underground, via a variety of natural methods. This upward trend would continue until 2005, when the industry peaked at 177 million carats. The modern diamond industry was born out of this era, with production rising from 1 million carats a year to 20 million between 18. Found in 1869, the Star of South Africa weighed in at 47.69 carats. People started flocking to the African nation in order to take advantage of this treasure trove. With the discovery of the Star of South Africa, a new diamond rush had begun. ![]() And while a small horde of the gem was found in Brazil, attention turned instead to South Africa. But, as with any natural resource, centuries of sourcing the gem took its toll.īy the 1700s, India could no longer sustain the excessive demand being placed on diamond production. The Asian nation supported the mining of diamonds for nearly 300 years. Despite that, it would take until the 1400s for the substance to become popular amongst the elite of Europe.Īt this point, production was exclusive to India. The first recorded presence of diamonds in human history came as far back as the 4th century BC. In this guide, we’ll highlight exactly what constitutes classifying an item of jewellery as being ethical, with a focus on diamonds. Just as with clothing brands or shoe manufacturers, jewellery companies have a responsibility to ethical production. The same applies when it comes to buying different types of jewellery. Whether it’s eating free range food or using cruelty-free makeup brands, using certain types of products is important to some consumers. In life, we all strive to make the right moral and ethical choices. ![]()
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