Conflict diamonds are un-cut or rough diamonds that have been used by rebel movements or their allies to finance "conflict" aimed at undermining legitimate governments. The proportion of conflict diamond has always been very small and has been shrinking dramatically in recent years because of a variety of factors including cease-fires in the Sierra Leone and Angola regions, as well as reforms and new practices adopted by the diamond industry.
Customers can be confident that comprehensive measures have been taken to assure that the diamonds that we sell are "conflict" free. Since 2000, Siebke Hoyt has required vendors to sign an agreement pledging that they will not knowingly buy or sell "conflict" diamonds. Beginning in 2003, we took that requirement a step farther as supporters of the Kimberley Process and the System of Warranties, an industry program of self-regulation.