Grow Your Own Conflict-Free Diamond

June 24, 2008 11:30 am     Posted in Cool Stuff, News  Tuffy Luv g+ page

ringGuess what? Now all you socially conscious brides-to-be (and lovers of bling bling) can get a diamond ring after all!


By Tuffy Luv

That’s right, friends. The good people at Apollo Diamond will now grow you a perfect diamond for about the same price as a real diamond. Plus, it comes with its very own birth certificate!

Okay, I know I sound like I’m mocking this, but actually I think it’s a really great thing.

As most people know, diamonds come with a heavy price-tag (and I’m not talking about your bank account). Remember this movie? Yeah, it stirred quite a controversy, mostly because people over here in the U.S. of A. didn’t (want to) know the truth behind diamond mining. But the truth is, diamonds cause a lot of blood shed in parts of Africa, especially in Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire, but also in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), and Sierra Leone.

A conflict diamond is a diamond that was used to raise money for the various terrorist and rebel militias in these countries. It accounts for a lot of the diamonds you see here in stores in the West. Strangely, in the United States, there is no way for a store to guarantee that a diamond is or is not a conflict diamond. Canada has at least set up a voluntary tracking system (so stores can sell only guaranteed conflict-free diamonds, if they choose), but there are still Canadian jewelers who choose to, frankly, just not bother.

Slowly, however, more and more companies are becoming conscious of the horrors related to diamond mining in Africa; Apollo Diamond leading the way.

This is a very hot topic at the moment and one that everyone should learn more about. To read more about conflict diamonds, check out this UN page.

In the meantime, ladies, consider either man-made diamonds (it’s almost like growing a Chia Pet) or another stone entirely.

What do you think, eventual potential brides? Man-made diamond? Ruby? Just a band? Or do you have your heart set on a real diamond, human cost be damned?

[Image courtesy of http://www.funny-potato.com%5D

2 Comments on "Grow Your Own Conflict-Free Diamond"

  1. Kat says:
    Sun, 29th Jun 20088:05 pm 

    I'm surprised that no one has commented on this topic yet.. and at the same time no so surprised.

    Even before I became aware of conflict diamonds, I never wanted a traditional ring. And once talks began with my boyfriend about getting married I specifically told him that I do not want a diamond ring.

    Then conflict diamonds starting getting more and more attention, only reaffirming my stand against having one for my engagement ring.

    I'm all for a semi prescious stone, not only do you get great colours and awsome variety, your man doesn't break the bank and potentially support "terrorist and rebel militias."

    And now the diamond trade has hit home, with diamond mining happening in my hometown in Northern Ontario. There were rumors that the diamond company paid off the movie theatres to not play Blood Diamond in theatres. I believe the overall effects of them entering the community have been negative, despite it bringing many jobs to the poor town.

    Diamonds are overated, and it was advertisement from jewelers (or something like that) that stated "Diamonds are a girls best friend"

    Best scam ever if you ask me.

  2. Sarah says:
    Thu, 24th Jul 20088:13 am 

    I'm glad you wrote about this issue, because I also think it's important. My situation is much like Kat's, where when discussions of engagement came up with my boyfriend I told him sternly that I did not want a diamond ring. He was baffled and confused, but I was immovable in my position. He wanted me to have a diamond because of all it represents, plus, "Everyone has a diamond ring when they're engaged. It is what it is." "Well," I told him, "It's not for me."

    There had better be a fucking emerald on that ring or the answer is going to be a resounding, "NO." (until he replaces it, of course.)

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