Certificates and conflict-free diamonds

After the Sierra Leone war and continued conflict in Africa, the diamond industry partnered with the United Nations to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The Kimberley Process developed requirements and regulations to ensure diamonds are mined and shipped humanely, and that criminal activity is not further supported.

The Kimberley Process is today an international initiative established to break the link between trade in rough diamonds and armed conflict. It started in May 2000 on the initiative of the South African authorities together with several other diamond-producing countries in southern Africa, including Botswana.

A number of countries joined the process; in addition to most diamond-producing African countries, the EU/EEC countries, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, China, Russia, Japan and Canada, and others.

Norway has supported the Kimberley Process since the end of 2001 and is a full participant in the process through the introduction of the certification scheme in Norwegian law. This was done by the Regulations on the implementation of the Kimberley Process certification scheme for trade in rough diamonds, adopted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 February 2004 with effect from 1 April 2004.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed the Norwegian Goldsmiths' Association as the Norwegian supervisory authority. The Kimberley Process presupposes active collaboration between state and private actors in order to be as efficient as possible. The industry also has a strong interest in averting trade in so-called conflict diamonds.

By actively helping to prevent such trade, the industry achieves the ability to assure consumers that diamonds purchased in Norway are not conflicted diamonds.

All SDE diamonds are purchased according to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme by Mr. Arvind K. Vora, Graduate Gemologist from GIA Carlsbad CA, rough diamond planner from HRD Antwerp, and registered appraiser from Norway's Goldsmith Association.

By choosing SDE or any other reputable vendor who’s known for ethically sourced diamonds, you can have peace of mind knowing your diamond is conflict-free and ethically sourced.

A diamond certificate verifies each diamond’s specifications, including its color grade, carat weight, clarity grade, and cut grade. The most well-known grading laboratories are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Hoge Raad Voor Diamant (HRD), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI).

A diamond's cost depends upon objective characteristics popularly known as the 4C's: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat. The relationship between these four characteristics determines the value of a diamond. Although it is commonly assumed that carat is the most important element of the 4C's, color, cut and clarity have a much greater impact on the appearance of a diamond.

Gemological Institute of America

Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls. A public benefit, nonprofit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry.

Hoge Raad voor Diamant

The history of HRD Antwerp is intertwined with that of The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). The latter is a private foundation, established in 1973 as the Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD) or Diamond High Council, at the initiative of the Belgian government and diamond industry representatives.

International Gemological Institute

IGI is the largest organization of its kind, operating 18 laboratory locations around the world grading finished jewelry, natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and gemstones - and 14 schools of gemology graduating thousands of new jewelry professionals each year.