Chandlee Jewelers's Conflict-Free Diamond Policy

At Chandlee Jewelers, every diamond we sell is certified conflict-free, assuring you that our inventory was procured through legal sources. In compliance with the Patriot Act, the Kimberly Process, and various United Nations resolutions, the diamonds we sell have been obtained using legitimate means.

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.

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.

The Chandlee Jewelers Initiative

At Chandlee Jewelers, we are doing our part to make sure that our customers receive conflict-free diamonds. Specifically, our internal guidelines exceed government requirements, an initiative that provides the following:

• Chandlee Jewelers chooses carefully our diamond cutters. Since we know the source, Chandlee Jewelers has first-hand knowledge of the origins of our rough diamonds and that they are conflict-free.
• Chandlee Jewelers does not purchase polished diamonds from sources which are not professional members of the diamond trade.
• Chandlee Jewelers has binding contracts with our suppliers which guarantee that the diamonds they offer to us for sale are conflict-free.