FEATURE
ANALYSIS
Now’s the time to think about
the human and environmental
cost of diamonds
The millennial generation is taking positive steps to fall on the right side
of history when it comes to some of the most unethical, destructive or
unscrupulous trends facing our planet in the 21st Century
I
t appears in all kinds of guises, and is met with varying levels of
scepticism of course. For every vegan there is a cry of ‘preacher’;
for every global warming expert, there is a climate change denier;
and for every conservationist, there is someone buying a plastic
water bottle every day. However, when conjecture becomes fallout,
the former are likely to be looked on favourably in decades to come.
Ethical jewellery is far from a hippy, new-wave trend. Rather,
it needs to become an industry revolution and common standard.
Edward Zwick’s 2006 film, Blood Diamond shed dramatic
light on the notion of conflict diamonds, human rights abuses,
unsafe labour conditions and economic instability in its own
Hollywood way. Far from removing yourself from this dramatised
20 JEWELLERY FOCUS
re-enactment of events in far-away lands, though, the impacts of
unethical diamond production can be remedied much closer to
home, and can be the next frontier in the millennial generation’s
battle for sustainability.
Taking the initiative, rather than toeing the line
Being ethical shouldn’t have to be an optional add-on. The thought
that goes into purchasing jewellery of any kind, and especially an
engagement ring, requires a level of consideration and emotion
beyond your average retail transaction.
Often, weeks or months of thought and research will go into
finding the perfect gift for such a special occasion. No more
March 2019 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk