Since the first diamond deposit was discovered in the Northwest Territories in 1991, Canada has become the world’s third largest diamond supplier rivaling the industries of Russia and Botswana.
But the diamond industry can be a shady, secretive one and it’s important to know as much as you can before you purchase one, especially if you want to buy a conflict-free diamond.
In the last ten years, advances have been made towards ensuring that the Canadian diamond industry remains untainted by blood diamonds, but it’s not safe yet to be sure that the Canadian diamond you’re buying is indeed Canadian. There is no other industry comparable in terms of internationality, profit, value, opportunity, public desire and ignorance. Because it’s so difficult to police such an industry, often blood diamonds are as Canadian. Commonly, diamonds are mined in the Northwest Territories but immediately taken elsewhere to be cut and polished, often in countries (such as those in Africa and Asia) where labour is cheap and human rights aren’t a priority, and most certainly to fund illegal activities.
So don’t be fooled by images of majestic glaciers, vast icy landscapes or frolicking polar bears. The only way to be sure that the diamond you’re interested in is in fact Canadian is to see its Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) certification.
Diamonds that are mined, cut and polished in the Northwest Territories are given a serial number that is unique to that stone – no other diamond can be given the same number as another. That serial number tells you which Canadian mine the diamond came from. It is laser-inscribed on each stone’s girdle (the rim between the flatter top and the pointed bottom of the diamond) and is only visible through a microscope. A certificate showing the serial number, rough weight and cut weight accompanies each diamond.
To be confident the diamond you’re buying is Canadian, you must look for both the laser-inscription on the diamond AND the GNWT certificate. Ask questions too. If the retailer knows where the diamond came from, about the GNWT certification program and the Rare In Nature program and can tell you about the Canadian diamond industry, you can be confident your diamond is conflict-free and 100% Canadian.