Conflict Diamonds & the Kimberley Process
When you choose an engagement ring from Kwiat, you’re making an investment in your future. At the same time, you are also ensuring respect and safety for the people who produce your ring and for the environment. We are proud to state that all Kwiat diamonds are natural, conflict-free, and ethically sourced.
Our Standards
From responsible sourcing to a clean supply chain, Kwiat observes the highest ethical standards in the diamond industry, and we only work with business partners who do the same. Everyone involved in creating our jewelry is aligned with this goal, which ensures that the raw materials we use—from diamonds, gemstones and precious metals right down to our packaging—come from suppliers that meet stringent regulations for human rights, environmental conservation, and social responsibility.
It’s About Respect
At Kwiat, we believe that respect is critical. First and foremost, we respect you, our customer. We also respect our employees, our community, those who source our materials, and those who create our jewelry, too. We show that respect by assuring our supply chain observes responsible practices and protects human rights at every step of production, and we only work with vendors whose ethical commitments align with our own.
Our Diamonds Are Always Conflict-Free
Every Kwiat diamond meets the most rigorous requirements for ethical trade. We use only the highest-quality natural diamonds sourced from responsible producers and vendors in countries compliant with the United Nations Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
We Stand Against Conflict Diamonds
In your research, you may have come across the terms “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds.” These terms refer to rough diamonds that are mined illegally in areas controlled by opposing forces and sold to finance wars against the recognized, legitimate governments of those nations. Through the Kimberley Process, blood diamonds are banned from export, import, and production. Kwiat strictly adheres to the Kimberley Process and only purchases rough diamonds from legitimate sources in compliance with all United Nations resolutions.
As of March 2022, we are modifying our supply chain to exclude all rough diamonds and GIA certified diamonds of Russian origin regardless of where they are cut and polished.
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What is The Kimberley Process?
At a conference in Kimberley, South Africa, in the year 2000, the South African diamond-producing states that created the Kimberley Process set out a framework to reduce the damaging social effects of conflict diamonds. In 2003, the United Nations established the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), a trade program designed to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain. There are currently 56 participants representing 82 countries in the Kimberley Process, along with the World Diamond Council and civil society groups, who all work together to prevent blood diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond trade. Additionally, the Kimberley Process & System of Warranties requires diamond suppliers and jewelry manufacturers to pass along a warranty statement each time a diamond changes hands so that the next buyer knows they are conflict-free.
Our Process
Kwiat manages all of the elements of the jewelry-creation process, from sourcing and production to quality control. We craft the majority of our jewelry in our Midtown Manhattan workshop in order to personally oversee design and manufacturing. We’re involved with the initial computer-assisted design (CAD), mold making, and final gemstone setting. Many of the skilled craftspeople on our team have worked with us for a decade or more.
We also produce select pieces in workshops around the world, where we’ve trained and partnered with individual jewelers for 15 to 30 years. These workshops understand our aesthetic, our commitment to quality, and the importance of social and environmental responsibility. Each business and its practices— from facilities in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Mumbai to Idar-Oberstein, Germany—have been carefully vetted for optimal working conditions and ethical sourcing. We personally vouch for their standards and quality controls, and we deem these workshops equal to our own in New York City.
Our Packaging
Even the packaging we use is sourced from environmentally conscious producers. Kwiat jewelry is packaged in Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper. The Forest Stewardship Council works to promote sustainable forestry using a system of inspection and timber tracking, guaranteeing that paper pulp is created in an eco-friendly manner.
