conflict diamonds

[living4today]

I was reading on your site about the conflict diamonds. I know there are precautions taken to ensure there are no conflict diamonds sold in the USA, but in reality are there still conflict diamonds sold here, and if so how much?

[John]

It's hard to say really. Some sources quote that today's market has about 95% conflict free diamonds, some say as high as 99.8%. I don't really believe either extreme and I think it's somewhere right around 98% but the good news is they seem to be doing something about it and every year that number goes up. But I would guess around 2% of the diamonds on today's market even in the US are conflict diamonds.

[Mervyn L. Cohn ASA]

It's hard to say really. Some sources quote that today's market has about 95% conflict free diamonds, some say as high as 99.8%. I don't really believe either extreme and I think it's somewhere right around 98% but the good news is they seem to be doing something about it and every year that number goes up. But I would guess around 2% of the diamonds on today's market even in the US are conflict diamonds.

Another large segment of the trade is in previously owned diamonds that have or are being recut from "OLD" mine and Europen cuts. These have been in this country, in some cases, centuries. So no documentation is extant. I would guess that most of these are finding their way to consumers through Auction sales.

[arya]

I would like to know what is the big deal with the conflict diamonds? As because this version is also not available in our country too. Being a ardent fan of the jewelry I am rather anxious to know if this is available globally and if it has any special value.

[kalaki]

which cut is preferd, H&A or Ideal? :confused:

[Mervyn L. Cohn ASA]

The H&A cut which is modified from the "IDEAL" pretends to be superior because of its phenomena of showing a pattern which resembles a row of hearts separated with arrows about the interior when viewed through the table. To produce this effect the rough material must be cut in such a way as to remove it from following the scientific formula that produces the "IDEAL CUT". This we have codified by running the particulars of H&A graded diamonds through the eCS Calculator which shows that they differ some 16 to 23% from the "IDEAL" and some cases more. Therefore making the "IDEAL CUT' to my way of thinking superior since it matches the scientific formula which produces the maximum Sparkle/ Brilliance for the Diamond in question.