Not all that glitters is gold: the truth behind the diamond industry
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, or so they say. In the West, diamonds signify both commitment and status — they may be one of the most expensive items a person will ever buy. Have you ever wondered where those diamonds come from?
The interconnectivity of the modern marketplace makes millions of products available to us, but also leaves the supply chain dark and faceless. As people who care about the dignity of all people, it’s important we understand how our spending habits impact things like fair compensation for makers, cultivators, and other workers around the world. This month, we are focusing on how to be a conscious consumer. We want to shed light on how our products are made, grown, and dug up, so that we can follow our dollar and fiscally support companies and products that are consistent with our values.
Take diamonds for example. 65% diamonds come from Sub Saharan Africa, and the rest mainly come from Canada, Russia, and other parts of Asia. Similar to agricultural products linked with human trafficking like coffee or chocolate, and the diamond industry is severely under-regulated and rife with injustice.
Diamonds are a natural resource that are traditionally mined from the ground or sifted from the rock and soil of a stream. Even though diamonds are one of the most expensive items we buy, approximately 1 million diamond diggers earn less than a dollar a day. That’s 10% of the world’s total diamond diggers. In developing countries, diamond mining communities are often the poorest. Government corruption and mismanagement of the diamond industry has led to dangerous conditions for miners — and not enough diamonds to pay the bills.
“Approximately 1 million diamond diggers earn less than a dollar a day. That’s 10% of the world’s total diamond diggers.”
Poverty surrounds the diamond industry. Because labor laws are rarely enforced, diamond miners are not offered a minimum wage. A miner might receive around $25 for finding a diamond — the first they have found in possibly weeks or months. Rather than being paid a fair price for their work, miners sell to middlemen whose prices are subjective. The less the miner is paid per diamond, the more profit the middleman gets to keep when they sell the diamond up the chain. It’s estimated that a diamond could change hands 8 to 10 times before leaving its country of origin. This means private companies can exploit workers, children, and whole communities who are reliant on them to buy the diamonds they find.
Health and safety are also major concerns in the diamond industry. Mine conditions can be unstable, and miners rarely receive training to work in these conditions. They may lack safety equipment and proper tools. Landslides, mine collapses, and other accidents are common. Besides physical danger, mines can also be a concern for public health. According to Brilliant Earth, mines fuel the sex trade which leads to outbreaks of HIV and other sexually transmitted disease.
Botswana, however, is one successful example of a thriving diamond economy. In 1969 the government partnered with global diamond giant De Beers to form a 50/50 partnership known as Debswana. This partnership allowed Botswana to pass critical legislation such as 10 years of free primary education. This way more children can stay in school and less have to go work to keep their families fed and housed. When children receive more education, poverty decreases.
Though the diamond industry is fraught with injustice, we can combat these practices by consuming diamonds consciously and responsibly.
One company that honors diamond communities is Do Amore. In Latin, Do Amore means “I give with love.” Do Amore ethically sources their diamonds and gemstones from Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Russia, and Canada. They go beyond the basic measures of the Kimberley Process to ensure that their diamonds are conflict-free and promote the well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment. Do Amore also sells recycled diamonds and lab-grown diamonds. All Do Amore products are hand-crafted in the USA and use recycled precious metals for their bands. Do Amore rings come in Jarrah wooden boxes — one of the most sustainable woods in the world sourced from Australia and New Zealand that preserve biodiversity, soil, water, and air quality. To add the icing to the cake, every ring purchased through Do Amore directly funds a well project. They are currently working with Charity: Water to bring clean water to Bangladesh, Haiti, Ethiopia, India, and Nepal.
Another company that has paved the way for ethical diamonds is Brilliant Earth. With customizable ring options and showrooms in major cities around the country, Brilliant Earth aims to provide a fine jewelry shopping experience with transparent sourcing. Brilliant Earth uses Beyond Conflict-Free diamonds that protect against human rights abuses, minimize environmental degradation, maintain safe and responsible labor practices, and support community development. 5% of Brilliant Earth’s profits go back into mining communities in Sierra Leone, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Madagascar. Their projects include medical aid, land restorations, gemology training, youth leadership training, child labor prevention, and more.
Conscious consumption does not have to be stressful when there are amazing companies doing the work to bring transparent, responsible, and ethical products to the global marketplace. With greater attention and visibility within industries, consumers can help change the narrative of labor trafficking and support makers around the world, ensure fair wages, and wear or consume their products with pride and dignity.
About the Author
Emma Beavins is from Franklin, Indiana—a mid-sized town in the heart of central Indiana. Emma is an avid reader, caffeinated-beverage consumer, and a firm believer in the pancakes-are-better-than-waffles debate. Emma enjoys running half marathons and spending quality time with friends, preferably over breakfast. Emma is studying English and Spanish at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana where she hopes to be able to use her verbal and written communication skills to advocate for various social justice issues.