Diamonds are one of the most highly sought after materials available, but they have, in the past, been supplied with serious questions over their sources.
Today, ethical diamonds are a widespread and easily obtained product, with Tiffany’s Vietnam diamond processing facility, explored by lifestyle mag Quartz, one of the leading gemstone stars in the world today. Through this facility and local region industries, Vietnam is showing the world how the girl’s best friend can be purchased with a clear conscience.
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Providing design and assurance
The ethical nature of Vietnam’s diamond trade does not preclude it from being fashionable. As reported by major lifestyle website Euronews, luxury brands across the western world have engaged with Vietnamese designers to bring high quality and exciting jewelry to the fore. These diamonds are easily procured, too; with the blessing of the likes of Tiffany and De Beers, diamonds purchased via Vietnamese production lines can be easily assured to the consumer as being ethically sourced. This is largely due to the presence of certification.
Providing international assurance
Processing of diamonds in Vietnam doesn’t just provide evidence of ethical processing. According to Singapore Tatler, diamonds purchased via Vietnam will have traveled through a strict five-stage process that includes being mined in Botswana – reputed for its positive human rights record – and assessed in Antwerp, Belgium. The life cycle of a new diamond is ethical at all stages when passed through the processing workshops of Vietnam.
Influence from the region
As well as ethically sourced diamonds, there is an influx in synthetic gemstones that are, by their nature, ethically sourced. China is a leading producer of synthetic diamonds, and government authorities warned citizens of the risk as early as in 2016. While the mix up between synthetic and real diamonds is a very real concern, they also present an opportunity – many synthetic diamonds are similar or equal quality to the ‘real thing’, and present a cheap and ethical alternative for many consumers.
The diamond is an epic gemstone with a long history; highly sought after, and described as a “girl’s best friend”. With it has come an astonishing amount of conflict, human rights abuses and general human ills. Today, through the process that encompasses Vietnam’s processing, the gemstones are assured as ethical and can be purchased with a clear conscience; all of this, with Vietnam at the absolutely heart of the story.