Our Stanards

Conflict Diamonds

A conflict diamond is a diamond that originates from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognised governments. They are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments or in contravention of the decisions of the United Nations security council.

Rough diamond caches have often been used by rebel forces to finance arms purchases and other illegal activities. Once diamonds are brought to market their origin is difficult to trace and when polished they can no longer be identified. The countries most affected by conflict diamonds are Sierra Leone, Angola. Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. All countries where citizens have been terrorised, mutilated and killed by groups in control of the local diamond trade.

In 2000 South African countries with a legitimate diamond trade introduced the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) which tracks the origins of all rough diamonds attempting to halt the sale of stones from conflict areas. All rough diamonds entering a participating country are shipped in tamper proof crates and provide enough detailed information about their origin to prove they were not mined in a conflict zone.

Our policy...

Prestons of Bolton will only purchase loose polished diamonds from a source that can provide Kimberley certification. We have also written to our suppliers who provide either finished jewellery or luxury timepieces set with polished diamonds asking them to confirm that they comply to the Kimberley process. We will not knowingly purchase either loose or set diamonds that do not comply with the above.