Diamond Mining
Impacts of Diamond Trade
The fascination with diamonds goes far into ancient history, but it was the 20th century that has really transformed the way we look at these shiny stones and the way they affect everyone who touches them. Unremarkable at first sight, they are truly revived as the skilled hands cut and polish them. At that point their lavish light becomes so striking, it no longer seems strange that they attract everyone's attention. From the people who mine and cut these sparklers, to the talented jewellery designers, to the millions of couples who choose a diamond to be a symbol of their love — everybody is enchanted by these stones.
The Fascination
Few people ever stop to appreciate how much our society has changed as a result of the introduction of diamonds into the commodity market. Just a century ago they were the prerogative of only the most privileged members of society. When the 3100 carat Cullinan diamond was found in Africa in 1905, it was given as a gift to the British royalty, presuming that it would be unacceptable for anyone else to own such a rare piece. Today even the largest of diamonds can be sold to anyone who appreciates their beauty and uniqueness.
The diamond engagement ring is the single most important cultural symbol brought about by the expansion of the diamond trade. Not only did it allow for an unprecedented amount of people to enjoy diamonds, it has also indirectly affected the changes in countries such as Japan as they embraced Western cultural traditions. A diamond engagement ring was a novelty in Japan before the end of World War II. But when it arrived, it brought more than luxury, it brought liberation from some of the less amiable Japanese customs. Eastern civilizations are known for their conservative approach to expression of emotions and actions, particularly for women. In part due to very smart advertising campaigns from diamond designers, Japanese women started demanding not only diamonds, but also the acceptance of their desires: cycling, hiking, swimming, being active, flirty and open about their emotions. Diamonds were seen as more than just symbols of love by the Japanese, they were symbols of freedom to do what they really like. The appeal of diamonds has just as much to do with their alluring symbolism as with their stunning visual display.
From Russia With Love
Russia was the second largest supplier of diamonds for most of the past century. It may not be obvious, but keeping the Russian diamonds coming to North America and Europe was not a trivial task during the Cold War. De Beers often played a major role in international relations when it came to large scale diamond imports and exports. It was mainly their neutral South African position that allowed for Russian diamonds to find their way to the American retail stores. Without them the deficit on the diamond market would be very considerable.
Three stone rings and eternity rings which are still very popular among many people, originated as a way to market Russian diamonds. Most of these stones were close to half a carat or less, much smaller than the one carat diamonds preferred for the solitaire rings. These smaller diamonds had to be incorporated into other forms of jewellery, which resulted in these long lasting new designs. A larger amount of smaller diamonds on the market also meant that more of them would be fashioned into solitaire rings, making them more affordable then ever before.
From North To South
At the end of the last century two new countries emerged as vital suppliers of diamonds: Australia and Canada. It may seem that in these peaceful and prosperous nations diamonds are just another commodity to trade, but that is far from being true. The irony is that both the Australian and the Canadian mines are located in the remote regions where the economical development was very slow prior to the introduction of the mines. Argyle mine is located in the desert and mountain region in Australia, while the Diavik and Ekati diamond mines are situated in the northern tundra of Canada. The Australian mine already established itself as an integral member in the diamond industry, while the Canadian mines have not yet reached their capacity.
Diamonds produced by these mines are very unusual. Most of the Canadian diamonds are of extremely high clarity grade and provide much more choices for those who are looking for top quality stones. The Australian mine is famous for its large deposits of fancy coloured diamonds, particularly pink, champagne and cognac shades. Approximately 95% of the world's supply of pink diamonds comes from the Argyle mine. This opens many new possibilities for the underdeveloped locations in Australia and Canada.
The Hope
While the people of North America, Europe and Asia enjoy the spectacular beauty of diamonds, for the people of many African countries the stones have offered a lot more than just sparkles. Diamond mining has transformed the Black Continent in unimaginable ways. Starting from the diamond rush in South Africa, it expanded into many other countries and became an essential element in their economies.
The recent history of many African nations is extremely turbulent. Civil wars ravaged the continent as the former colonies were replaced by independent states. Unfortunately, some of the precious stones mined in the conflict zones started being used against the very people who mined them. They were exchanged for arms that the rebel groups then used to prolong the bloodshed. Blood diamonds, we call them. Such injustice was not overlooked by the worldwide diamond industry. An international organization, World Diamond Council, was created to take control of diamond trading and eliminate conflict diamonds. Under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme all rough diamonds have to be accompanied by a proof of origin, certifying that they do not come from the conflict zones. The countries with ongoing civil wars are black listed from the trade until a stable government and peace are re-established.
While a small fraction of the mined diamonds was used by the warlords to fund the conflicts, it is the post-war period that transformed this unique resource into a symbol of hope for an exhausted and impoverished population. Most mines in Africa are co-owned by the local governments and bring revenue directly into their budgets. This means that millions of people have free education and healthcare as a result of the diamond exports. There is hope that very soon the problems of illiteracy, AIDS epidemics and poverty will be history, just like the violent conflicts that are slowly coming to a halt all over the continent. A diamond is not just a majestic symbol of love, it is a symbol of hope and support for those nations that struggle to rebuild their lives.
