Ethical Diamonds

Few symbols of love and devotion are as timeless as natural diamond engagement rings. These exquisite gemstones have formed over billions of years beneath the Earth’s surface under immense heat and pressure to become the rare treasures they are today. Every diamond carries a history, a journey, and a responsibility.

We are deeply proud that every natural diamond we offer is sourced through the Kimberley Process, ensuring it is conflict-free and responsible. Appleby Jewellers can identify the origin of your diamond, trace its journey from the mine and its impact on surrounding local communities. This ensures your diamond is not only a symbol of love, but also one chosen with integrity and respect for both people and planet.

Where Are NATURAL Diamonds Found?

The majority of our diamonds are sourced from Canada and Botswana.

Fewer than 30 active diamond mines operate worldwide today.

Knowing where a diamond comes from matters not just for geology, but for ethics. Responsible sourcing ensures that diamonds contribute positively to the communities where they are discovered.

The Billion Year Journey of a Natural Diamond

Billions of years ago, deep within the Earth’s mantle, carbon transformed under immense heat and pressure into nature’s most extraordinary creation, a natural diamond.

These geological marvels, formed long before life existed, embody Earth’s ancient history and unparalleled authenticity. Volcanic eruptions carried these treasures closer to the surface, where they awaited discovery. Today, diamonds are discovered in the remnants of ancient volcanoes known as kimberlite pipes. While natural diamonds are often called “mined” diamonds, some are recovered without the need for traditional mining methods.

1 - 3 Billion Years Old

To put that in perspective: diamonds formed long before dinosaurs, when the Earth itself was still young.

One-of-a-kind

Each natural diamond is shaped by a completely unique combination of inclusions , formed over billions of years deep within the Earth.

How Do Natural Diamonds Make a Difference?

Natural diamonds power economies, create opportunities, and support thriving, sustainable communities.

The natural diamond industry has a profound and measurable impact on global communities. It directly supports the livelihoods of 10 million people worldwide, and, on average, 80% of the value generated by responsible diamond recovery is retained locally. Benefiting communities both directly and indirectly, this translates into jobs, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social programs that sustain national economies.

10 Million

People supported worldwide

80%

Of value retained locally

Supporting Communities

When responsibly sourced, natural diamonds do far more than mark a personal milestone. They support real communities, fund essential services, and create long-term opportunity in the places where they are discovered.

The Botswana diamond industry made education a top priority in conjunction with the government. Botswana's diamond industry is central to its education system, funding free primary and subsidized secondary schooling, infrastructure (schools, smartboards, pools), teacher training, and scholarships, transforming the nation's literacy and development by reinvesting most diamond revenues into these public services.

The natural diamond industry, when properly regulated, creates sustainable employment, supports local economies, and invests in community infrastructure.

Botswana

One of the most important diamond-producing countries today, widely recognised for strong governance and the positive economic impact of diamond revenues on education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Through a long-standing partnership between the government and the diamond industry, diamond revenues in Botswana have helped fund:

Free universal education
Healthcare systems and hospitals
National infrastructure and clean water access
Stable employment and skills development

Canada

Canada is the world’s third-largest producer of diamonds. Most of those diamonds are found in the tundra region of the Northwest Territories, north of the 60th parallel, close to the Arctic Circle.

Canadian diamonds have the strictest environmental and labour regulations in the world, with strong protections in place for:

Worker safety and fair wages
Indigenous consultation and partnership
Environmental monitoring and land rehabilitation
Canadian diamond mines are a leader in sustainable mining practices.

The Kimberley Process

The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme established in 2003 to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds. Today, it represents a global commitment ensuring that every diamond exported and imported under the scheme is traceable, conflict-free, and responsibly traded.

Through strict controls and transparency, the Kimberley Process is widely recognised as one of the most significant ethical safeguards in the jewellery industry.

At Appleby, we are proud that every natural diamond we offer is sourced through the Kimberley Process. This guarantees that each stone is not only beautiful and rare, but also ethically acquired.

Beyond the Kimberley Process

Appleby Jewellers goes beyond Kimberley by:

Long-term trusted suppliers

All natural diamonds sold by Appleby comply with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, ensuring they are conflict-free. But we believe this is only the beginning. We work exclusively with trusted, established suppliers, avoid high-risk sourcing regions, and seek transparency at every stage of a diamond’s journey from mine to workshop.

Personal stone selection

We do not buy diamonds blindly or in bulk. Every Appleby diamond is hand-selected by eye, one stone at a time, by our experienced gemmologists who understand that true quality goes beyond the technical grades on a certificate. Only a very small percentage of diamonds ever meet our standards, not just for brilliance and balance, but for provenance and peace of mind.

What is Diamond Certification?

Diamond certification is a process in which a reputable gemological laboratory evaluates a diamond based on established standards. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), uses independent and precise grading systems to assess a diamond's key characteristics known as the 4Cs—cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. The result is a certification report, often referred to as a grading report, which gives you a detailed description of the diamond's qualities.

Understanding the Certification Process

This document helps guarantee that the diamond you are purchasing has been evaluated by experts, ensuring transparency and authenticity. By choosing a certified diamond, you are investing in a gemstone that has been thoroughly assessed according to the industry's most trusted standards.

By choosing a GIA certified diamond, you are investing in a gemstone that has been thoroughly assessed according to the industry's most trusted standards.

Why Is Diamond Certification Important?

Diamond certification is essential because it provides you with the assurance that the diamond you are buying meets specific quality criteria. Without certification, it can be difficult to know the specifics of diamond's quality. Certification offers peace of mind, especially when it comes to purchasing a valuable and long-term investment like a diamond.

With a GIA certification, you can be confident that the diamond has undergone rigorous testing by experienced gemologists. Additionally, certified diamonds are easier to insure and can be valuable for resale purposes, as they come with a trusted document outlining their key features.

The diamond industry is highly regulated to ensure ethical sourcing, with various organizations and certifications in place to monitor practices across the supply chain. These include strict adherence to environmental protection, fair working conditions, and human rights.

The natural diamond industry is highly regulated by independent bodies who have gone above and beyond in adopting standards and practices that safeguard ethical working conditions for employees and contractors, protecting the natural environment, and contributing to the sustainable growth of local communities.

Few symbols of love and devotion are as timeless as natural diamond engagement rings. These exquisite diamonds have formed over billions of years beneath the Earth’s surface under immense heat and pressure to become the rare treasures they are today.