Are blood diamonds rare?

Blood diamonds are rare, and thankfully rebel groups often struggle to mine the precious stones.

How common are blood diamonds?

Blood diamond trade is still active. An estimated 1 in 4 diamonds on the international diamond market have been mined under horrific conditions. Remember as a conscious consumer, you hold the power!

How much are blood diamonds worth?

Treated red diamonds

Worth about 80,000$, a natural one would have been estimated at over $15m.

Are blood diamonds illegal?

Conflict or “blood” diamonds are illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas, particularly in central and western Africa, according to the World Diamond council, which represents the commercial diamond trade. The United Nations defines conflict diamonds as “…

Are blood diamonds more expensive?

A Conflict-Free Diamond Engagement Ring Isn't More Expensive. Some may assume that a conflict-free diamond comes with an extra cost, but this isn't necessarily the case. It all starts by working with a jeweler you trust and know is sourcing their diamonds ethically.

25 Things You Should Know About Blood Diamonds

How much is Beyonce blood diamond?

Beyonce is facing backlash from fans after she wore a $43.3 million “blood diamond” as the face of a new Tiffany & Co. campaign. The singer is reportedly “disappointed and angry” she wasn't made aware of the 128 carat diamond's dark history and her mum, Tina Knowles-Lawson, is out for blood.

Do they still sell blood diamonds?

With 81 member countries, the Kimberly Process has drastically reduced the prevalence of conflict diamonds: Today, 99.8% of retail diamonds come from conflict-free zones. Participating countries must: Set up legislation, national institutions and import/export controls aimed at stopping the flow of conflict diamonds.

Who buys blood diamond?

Blood diamonds (also called conflict diamonds, brown diamonds, hot diamonds, or red diamonds) are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army's war efforts, terrorism, or a warlord's activity.

Who suffers from blood diamonds?

Diamonds have funded brutal wars in countries such as Angola, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, resulting in the death and displacement of millions of people. There is a reason they are dubbed 'Blood Diamonds'.

Why are blood diamonds so valuable?

Blood Diamonds, also known as "Conflict Diamonds," are stones that are produced in areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to internationally recognized governments. The rebels sell these diamonds, and the money is used to purchase arms or to fund their military actions.

What is rarest diamond?

Red diamonds are the rarest of the colored diamonds, with only 20-30 existing in the entire world. They get their beautiful red color from a rare process during their formation, which changes the crystal structure of the diamond and causes light to pass through it differently than colorless diamonds.

Are blood diamonds good or bad?

The tragic result is bloodshed, loss of life, and shocking human rights abuses – from rape to the use of child soldiers. Diamonds that fuel civil wars are often called "blood" or "conflict" diamonds. Although many diamond-fueled wars have now ended, conflict diamonds remain a serious problem.

What is the largest blood diamond?

So-called "blood diamonds" fueled a vicious civil war in Sierra Leone that left up to 120,000 dead. A pastor has found one of the world's largest uncut diamonds - a 709-carat rock - in Sierra Leone's eastern Kono region.

What percent of US diamonds are blood diamonds?

What percentage of diamonds are blood diamonds? According to the diamond business, conflict diamonds account for 4% of all rough diamond traffic. However, according to some estimates, the percentage of conflict diamonds in the whole trade could reach 15%.

How long has blood diamond existed?

The very specific UN definition of blood diamonds was formulated during the 1990s, when brutal civil wars were being waged in parts of western and central Africa by rebel groups based in diamond-rich areas of their countries.

What has 15 diamonds but isn t rich?

Riddle: What has fifteen diamonds but isn't rich? Answer: A deck of cards.

Where are blood diamonds mostly found?

There are many different places to find the natural, Blood Diamonds. Mainly in Southern Africa. The rare also known as pink Blood Diamond can be mostlyfound in Sierra Leone. A lot of mining's take place there and finishing.

How many people have died from blood diamonds?

In Sierra Leone, the conflict of Blood Diamonds was getting more serious each day. The Revolutionary Front (RUF) started a lot of the wars over conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone. This conflict lasted over 10 years and lead to over 50,000 deaths and the displacement of over 2 million people and many whom were injured.

Are all real diamonds blood diamonds?

Today, the Kimberley Process certification scheme is credited with significantly reducing the number of armed conflict diamonds on the international gem market. And according to The World Diamond Council, 99% of all diamonds are now conflict free as each legitimate diamond is tracked from mine to store.

Why does Africa have so many diamonds?

Diamonds in Africa were formed somewhere between 600 million and 3 billion years ago when titanic-force pressure and heat caused carbon 1,200 miles (1,931 km) below the Earth's surface to crystallize. As recently as a million years ago, erupting molten rock brought the diamonds closer to the Earth's surface.

What is being done about blood diamonds?

The Kimberley Process

This process was designed to turn blood diamonds into conflict free gems, and entailed certification of place of origin, how it was mined, where it was cut, who was involved in all processes and the intended destination of export.

Who owns the rarest red diamond?

The diamond was purchased and cut by the William Goldberg Diamond Corp., where it went by its original name, the Red Shield. It was purchased in 2001 or 2002 by Shlomo Moussaieff, an Israeli-born jewelry dealer in London. It is currently owned by Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd.

Do Tiffany sell blood diamonds?

Yes, we have taken rigorous steps to assure that conflict diamonds do not enter our inventory. As global leaders in sustainable luxury, Tiffany & Co. is committed to sourcing natural and precious materials in an ethical and sustainable manner.

Who has worn the Tiffany blood diamond?

Throughout such an expansive history in the public eye, the diamond has only been worn by four famous women — Audrey Hepburn, American socialite Mrs. E. Sheldon Whitehouse, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé Knowles.

Is Blue Nile Blood Diamond?

The Blue Nile Conflict-Free Diamond Policy

At Blue Nile, we only purchase diamonds through the largest and most respected suppliers who, like us, proudly adhere to and enforce the standards established by the Kimberley Process. All Blue Nile diamonds are warranted to be conflict free.