Answer – The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme launched in 2003 to stop "conflict diamonds" from entering the mainstream diamond trade, but it doesn’t guarantee that a diamond is fully ethical. The process focuses on preventing rough diamonds from funding rebel movements, so it doesn’t cover other issues like fair wages, worker safety, environmental stewardship or community impact.
Why the Kimberley Process matters
- Established by the United Nations in 2003, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was designed to prevent conflict diamonds from financing rebel movements and undermining legitimate governments【299729284361834†L156-L164】.
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- Participating countries must ensure that rough diamonds do not fund rebel groups, that every diamond export is accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate, and that members do not trade with non-member states【299729284361834†L166-L170】. -
- This three-step plan helped reduce the flow of conflict diamonds and brought more transparency to the rough diamond trade.
How it works
- Membership & certification
- – Only countries that comply with the KPCS’s requirements can export or import rough diamonds. Every rough diamond shipment must have a tamper-proof Kimberley Process certificate.
- Chain-of-custody - – Participating countries agree not to trade with non-member states, creating a closed loop that helps prevent conflict diamonds from entering the supply chain【299729284361834†L166-L170】.
- Government-led - – The scheme is administered by participating governments with oversight from industry and civil society.
Limitations & criticisms
- Narrow definition of conflict
- – The Kimberley Process only addresses diamonds used to fund rebel conflicts; it does not tackle other human-rights abuses, unfair labour or environmental harm in diamond mining【299729284361834†L176-L184】.
- Lack of enforcement - – Organisations like Global Witness and IMPACT have withdrawn from the scheme because they felt it failed to provide assurance that diamonds are truly conflict free【299729284361834†L176-L179】.
- No guarantee of ethics - – A KP certificate means the diamond hasn’t funded a rebel army, but it doesn’t guarantee fair wages, safe working conditions or environmentally responsible practices.
Beyond the Kimberley Process: ensuring ethical diamonds
- Look for additional certifications
- – Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) membership, Fairtrade/Fairmined gold and SCS Global Services all have broader standards covering social, environmental and labour practices.
- Ask about traceability - – Reputable jewellers can provide provenance documentation showing where and how a diamond was sourced, cut and polished.
- Choose lab-grown or recycled diamonds - – Lab-grown diamonds avoid mining altogether, while recycled diamonds give existing stones a new life.
- Research the jeweller - – Read about their sourcing policies, partnerships with responsible mines and efforts to support local communities.
Tips for buying an ethical diamond
- Ask your jeweller whether the diamond comes with more than a Kimberley Process certificate and whether they are members of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
- Check that the diamond hasn’t been treated or artificially coloured without disclosure.
- Consider diamonds that are recycled or lab grown to avoid mining impacts.
- Support companies that invest profits back into the communities where their jewellery is made.
Explore styles with our Ring Builder
When you’re ready to design an ethical engagement ring, our Ring Builder tool lets you mix and match ethically sourced diamonds, lab-grown stones and recycled metals. Visit our [Ring Builder](https://diamonds4change.org/pages/ring-builder) (opens in a new tab) to customise your ring.
FAQs
Does the Kimberley Process guarantee my diamond is ethical?
No. The KPCS only certifies that a diamond did not finance a rebel movement; it does not cover labour practices, environmental impact or other ethical concerns. To ensure a diamond is ethical, look for additional certifications and ask your jeweller about their supply chain.
What is the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)?
The RJC is a standards body that audits jewellery companies against social, environmental and human-rights criteria across the supply chain. RJC membership and certification indicate that a jeweller meets broader ethical standards.
Are lab-grown diamonds subject to the Kimberley Process?
Lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment and do not involve mining or conflict financing, so they fall outside the scope of the Kimberley Process. They are considered a more sustainable and ethical option.
At Diamonds4Change
We go beyond the Kimberley Process by working exclusively with ethical suppliers, using lab-grown diamonds and recycled metals, and reinvesting our profits into education, healthcare and training programmes in sourcing communities.