The prestigious US magazine, Advertising Age, in its January 1999 edition, proclaimed “A Diamond is Forever”, the most recognized and effective slogan of the twentieth century. Today, diamond engagement rings are commonplace, but were it not for a single company and its drive to dominate the diamond industry, history would have turned out differently.
That may be a satiric narrative but the subject is dead serious. Blood diamonds are used to fund wars and other brutal activities in certain parts of the world. Diamonds sold in this illicit trade promote violence and kill people; you want to make sure that your own non conflict diamonds.
The useful question would then be: How do I know if a diamond is a conflict diamond or a conflict free diamond? For practical purposes, the answer would really be: “There is no absolute way you can tell, especially if the diamond has already been polished.” Difficult? Sure. This is challenging if you want to know whether or not the diamond you already own is “tainted”. However, there are still some precautionary measures which are in place and which you can take in order to avoid purchasing a conflict diamond.
What carat diamond should you buy? It is usually a matter of personal taste. For engagement rings, many people seek diamonds that are approximately 1ct in weight. Obviously budget plays a large part in the decision. See also the discussion about budget.
To address this controversy, researchers at the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory conducted an experiment on the effects of long-wave ultraviolet radiation on the color appearance and transparency of gem diamonds . . . [The findings of the] study challenge the perception held by many in the trade that UV fluorescence generally has a negative effect on the overall appearance of a diamond.
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