Zimbabwe diamonds - an update

In response to Mugabe’s statement that Zimbabwe will keep selling their diamonds with or without certification (see post below), the Kimberley Process (KP) have agreed to reinstate their certification of the Marange diamond fields.

KP had withdrawn their certification from Zimbabwe last year as people were kicked off the land so that the government could take possession of the mines. Since then the dictatorship has set up companies to manage the mines and so by definition there is no longer any conflict in the area.

Rather than looking at the deeper human rights abuses that are still apparent in the area, the KP position is that they are able to apply the certification as the diamonds are not being used to fund conflict, as they are in neighbouring Congo. They are, however, in this situation being used to fund a government who are using the diamonds to stay in power, rather than to secure a stable economy for the country. The narrow definition of conflict that the Kimberley Process are working from excludes basic human rights abuses.

Human rights campaigners were hoping that the previous refusal of KP to certify the diamonds would lead to the demilitarising of the mines. We feel this is a missed opportunity for KP to become an ethical mark, where they could have expanded their definition of conflict to include human rights abuses.

This situation throws into disrepute the credibility of the certification. There will be pollution of the rest of the supply chain with unethical stones which means diamonds that have been sourced with human rights abuses of the small scale miner and that fund violent undemocratic regimes are certified as ‘conflict free’ and mixed into global pipelines.

At CRED we have always seen the Kimberley Process certification of diamonds as a starting point, and as it doesn’t certify environmental and social standards we go above and beyond this basic marker to see that additional standards for planet and people are adhered to for all the precious stones that we source.

Unless you buy your diamonds from companies such as CRED which have transparent traceability back to the mine, then you have no guarentee that the diamonds were mined in a completely 'conflict-free' situation. Demand to know the source of your stone, and the social and envronmental situation it was mined under.

What are your thoughts on the actions of the Kimberly Process in this situation? Let us know by leaving us a comment below.

Blood Diamonds, the story continues.

Having initially respected the Kimberly Process ban and committing to suspending diamond exports, yesterday Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe announced that the country will resume diamond sales, despite its lack of KP certification.

The Kimberley Process suspended diamond exports from Zimbabwe earlier in the year in response to allegations of atrocities committed by security forces in the Marange diamond fields in the east of the country.

Global Witness campaigner Elly Harrowell said:
"Over the past three years, the national army has visited appalling abuses on civilians in Marange's diamond fields. Nobody has been held to account for these crimes, and now it turns out that the joint venture companies nominally brought in to improve conditions are directly linked to the Zanu PF and military elite. Thanks to the impunity and violence in Zimbabwe, blood diamonds are back on the international market."

The situation bought the challenge for the Kimberly Process into sharp focus; on one-side trade lobbyists pushing for KP certification to be reinstated and on the other, human rights campaigners still concerned about the situation on the ground.

CRED Jewellery founder, Greg Valerio, stated:
“This is a test of the Kimberly Process, will it bow to the economic drivers of the invisible diamond dealers or will it up hold the values of human rights and non violence that are amongst its founding principles”

At CRED Jewellery we have been calling for greater transparency in the diamond supply chain for years. We believe that the ethical integrity of the precious materials we work with is as important as their physical qualities. We work directly with as our sources and have a warranty from mine to shine as a minimum.

With Zimbabwe now projected to potentially contribute around 25 percent of the global diamond supply the two questions I have are; who is going buy and process the rough, and how will the KP ensure that their certified goods are not polluted?

Beautiful bangles

We have been enjoying beautiful weather over the last few weeks, embracing the trends for maxi dresses and bright prints. Show off your arms with our pick of our best 5 fairtrade bangles and bracelets, from stacker bangles to chunky bracelets.

Go Graphic with a group of Hex Stacking Bangles. Create a geometric maze and coordinate both the 100% recycled silver and fairtrade gold plated versions on your arms. Handmade in Nepal

Give us a wave. Be inspired by the summer surf and complete your beach babe look with the chunky silver Wave Bangle made from 100% recycled silver. The Wave Collection is the creation of new designer Laura Strand exclusively for CRED Jewellery.

Ahoy there! Embrace the nautical trend with our rope effect Twist Hex Stacking Bangle. Also available as a 100% recycled silver bracelet and fairtrade gold plated. Part of the Saphara summer collection.




African Charm. Continue the African spirit this summer has seen from the World Cup with the Mali Link Bracelet, inspired by the patterns made by a bird eye view of the Niger delta.

Classic style with a contemporary twist - the Harigni Step Bangle gives a geometric edge to the traditional celtic bangle - Made in Nepal from 100% recycled silver.


See more bangles as part of the CRED Collections and Designer Collections