The Nest

The Truth About Diamonds

Posted Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:07 AM

I was never one of those diamond-obsessed girls—I love me some precious jewelry, but was more drawn to colored stones and vintage styles than to the classic diamond and platinum look.  Until, that is, my now husband presented me with a diamond and platinum engagement ring.  It was a big surprise—we hadn't talked engagement or rings before, and had he asked me I would have told him that I wanted a yellow sapphire set in gold. But I was instantly so happy that he hadn't asked, because the diamonds in my ring are so fabulously sparkly and it coordinates so well with whatever I put on. I know I'll never grow tired of it, which would be a more of a possibility with a yellow sapphire (not that I'd turn one down for our tenth, or, hey, fifth anniversary J, in case you are reading).

Anyway, I’ve always felt a little guilty about loving my engagement ring so much, because there are lots of ethical issues surrounding diamonds. Most come from Africa, where they’re often mined by warlords and shady governments with the profits going to support violent conflicts and not benefiting the people who mine them at all. That’s a horribly oversimplified description of the issue, but there’s better info to be found here from Amnesty International, and in the Leonardo DiCaprio film Blood Diamond. I Netflix-ed it recently and although the cheesy Hollywood factor of the film is high, it does a good job of dramatizing the issue.

The good news is that if diamonds are on your valentine's wish list you can find gorgeous, guaranteed conflict-free ones at Brilliant Earth. All of their diamonds come from Canada, and they also use recycled gold (important, since gold mining is harsh on the planet) and fair trade sapphires. If you’ve been craving something sparkly for your ear lobes or collarbone, drop hints about this site so your gifts will come with a clear conscience.