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Diamond Jewelry

The most highly sought after gemstone is the diamond. The acquisition of these gemstones to create diamond jewelry has caused tremendous amounts of blood shed as dictators and revolutionaries use them to fund conflicts, and they are often mined with slave labor. Africa is one of the largest producer of diamonds in the world and in some of the more politically unstable areas of central and west Africa revolutionary groups have taken over diamond mines, using the profits to fund their operations. These diamonds are called “Blood Diamonds” because of the human rights abuses that occur in the mines.

Blood diamonds often find their way into diamond jewelry because of the huge demand for the gemstone. Major diamond buyers and traders continue to do business with these armed groups often because they can get the diamonds a little bit cheaper. The Kimberly Process was introduced in 2002 to help stop the sale of blood diamonds by demanding strict paperwork about the origins of the diamond before sale. The problem still exists though as the paperwork can be forged, and blood diamonds are often transported across African borders very easily. Some nations that are not in conflicts still have low human rights standards in their diamond mines so even though it might not be technically a blood diamond, and is easily sold and traded, it still cost a great deal of suffering to acquire.

Not only is diamond jewelry highly sought after, diamonds are also the subject of many myths and legends. The oldest printed, dated book is the Diamond Sutra used to describe the teachings of Buddha. According to the Diamond Sutra a diamond blade will cut through worldly illusion to illuminate what is real and everlasting. Diamonds were put into the eyes of Hindu statues to give them life. Romans believed that diamonds could dispel fear, cure poisons and insanity and also to link a husband and wife, which is where the modern engagement and wedding rings come from. Wearing it on the left hand was though to ward off spirits and attract good fortune and so became the standard place to wear a diamond ring.

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