Diamond Policy

At Studio of Ptah, every diamond we sell is certified conflict-free, assuring you that our stones are procured through legal sources. Studio of Ptah diamonds are purchased through suppliers who through written guarantees or personal knowledge are in strict compliance with the Patriot Act, the Kimberly Process, and various United Nations resolutions. Our client can also feel comfort in knowing that 80% or more of diamonds used in Studio of Ptah designs are mined from Canadian sources.

 

 

Conflict-Free Diamonds

Our Guarantee Conflict-free diamonds are those gems which were not obtained due to human rights abuses, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation. Although the U.N.'s Kimberly Process only covers diamonds under the control of legitimate and recognized governments, conflict-free goes one step further by rejecting diamonds from governments that trade in diamonds to bankroll their conflicts. Studio of Ptah strives to make sure that stones used in our designs was not procurred through the suffering of African or other any other people anywhere.

 

 

Blood Diamonds

Financing Death And Environmental Destruction Through the 1990s, most of the world's diamonds came from Africa, particularly regions undergoing civil unrest. Rebel armies in parts of Africa were exploiting alluvial diamond fields to fund their wars against established governments, putting people and the environment in the middle of their conflicts. Alluvial diamonds are found just inches to a few feet below the surface, making them easier to mine, but having an adverse impact on the environment. The people working these fields were often very young and subject to exploitation, with some losing their lives or permanently maimed as wars raged around them. Hence, the term blood diamonds to describe these types of gems.

 

 

Kimberly Compliant and America's Patriot Act

The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources known to be conflict-free. A 2000 meeting of southern Africa diamond producing countries established guidelines for the KPCS which were later adopted by the United Nations. To ensure compliance, independent auditing systems are tasked with tracking diamonds from their place of origin to delivery.

 

Polished diamonds sold in the US must adhere to the Patriot Act which requires that every US dealer maintain Kimberly compliance or be subject to penalties from Homeland Security, the US Justice Department, and the US Treasury.