Where do natural diamonds come from?

The diamonds we see today are hundreds of million years old, thereby very unique and precious. Diamonds are the hardest natural mineral on Earth, they are formed 100 miles (161 km) beneath the earth, at the temperature of 2100℉ (1150℃) with a pressure 45,000 times greater than at sea level. What made them possible to discover was the ancient volcanic activities that created the necessary conditions. Currently, the primary sources of natural diamonds are found in ‘kimberlite pipes’ as geologists call them. They are vertical rock formations caused by fierce volcanic eruptions. Most of the diamonds come from South Africa, Australia, Siberia, and Northwest Canada where the largest kimberlite pipes are found.

Where do Eternate’s diamonds come from?

Eternate’s collection of diamonds is accumulated from the most reputable suppliers with the necessary documentation in concordance with the Kimberley process. Geographically, the majority of Eternate’s diamonds are ones mined from Australia, Africa, and Canada. We also offer lab-grown diamonds and moissanite.

What is the Kimberley process?

Eternate works in strict accordance with the Kimberley Process, an agreement that encompasses governments to dispose of unethically obtained conflict diamonds. Enacted into law in 2003, the Kimberley process includes 83 governments and consists of strict guidelines to inspect exports-imports of diamond, making them trackable. Eternate only utilizes certified diamonds and is an advocate of transparency in the diamond industry.

Why is the Kimberley process important?

The Kimberley process is important for transparency in the industry of fine diamond and jewelry. The procedure throughout the diamond trade should be conflict-free meaning diamonds should be free from involvement in any kind of exploitation and corruption. Being a member of this process ensures not only that our part of the responsibility is taken care of but also requires participants like us to solely engage with others who do the same. Lastly, as a result of these efforts, our customers will be able to track and authenticate their diamonds, from its origin until its final delivery.

How did the Kimberley process come about?

United Nations definition of conflict diamonds is that the diamonds mined from areas controlled by illegitimate forces opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments. Conflict diamonds captured the world’s attention during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the late 1990s. The problem is the rebel groups who exploit diamonds and other natural resources to achieve their illicit goals and not the diamond itself. Today the trade in conflict diamonds has been virtually eliminated through the efforts of the Kimberley Process participants and monitoring processes as part of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.