Conflict Free Diamonds

At Brilliance, we work only with the industry's most reputable and regulated suppliers of high-quality diamonds, adhering to a strict zero-tolerance policy against conflict diamonds. We verify every diamond in our inventory to ensure that they are mined and processed in an environmentally and socially conscious manner.

Brilliance exceeds regulations set forth by initiatives such as the Kimberley Process, the Patriot Act, and other governmental and non-governmental measures against the illicit acquirement and distribution of diamonds, and we hold our suppliers to those same rigorous standards. We support all programs that encourage the development and regulation of the diamond trade, which continues to serve as a valuable source of employment and revenue for countries throughout the world.

Conflict diamonds first gained national exposure in the late 1990s, when the country of Sierra Leone was wracked with civil war. The brutal nine-year battle was sparked by, in part, the desire of insurgents to control the local diamond mines. In the years since, the term "conflict diamonds"? has been used to describe any diamonds that are illegally sold to fund hostile warfare, primarily in western and central Africa.

Since the Sierra Leone War, the ratio of conflict diamonds in the gemstone industry has decreased considerably, from up to 15% down to less than 1%. The most effective means of eradicating conflict diamonds from the market entirely is for jewelers and their suppliers to boycott the countries that sell them.

Kimberly Process & Patriot Act

The Kimberley Process is an initiative that was launched in conjunction with the United Nations and the gemstone industry in an effort to rid the market of conflict diamonds, which have historically been used for the illicit funding of brutal wars. The ultimate objective of the Kimberley Process is for all diamond trading to follow a stabilized, legitimate procedure while complying with all environmental and social regulations.

Today, approximately 99.8% of the world's diamond distributors adhere to all guidelines of the Kimberley Process as a means of boycotting conflict diamonds. Since its inception, the initiative has resulted in a significant decrease in the flow of conflict diamonds. In addition to working to eliminate conflict diamonds, the Kimberley Process has also worked to boost the economic development of impoverished countries by increasing the flow of legitimately acquired diamonds into the jewelry market.

Passed by Congress in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the USA Patriot Act grants federal officials more power to monitor communications and trade between countries. Among the Act's objectives is to impose regulations to prevent the laundering of money and high-value gems, including polished diamonds. The Patriot Act mandates that all U.S. jewelry distributors and sellers comply with the Kimberley Process to help ensure that the industry's diamonds are purchased from reputable suppliers. Brilliance is proud to be in full compliance with the Kimberley Process and Patriot Act, pledging to ship only conflict-free diamonds to our customers.

Recycled Precious Metals & Eco-Friendly Jewelry

Gold and platinum mining can be very harmful to the environment and depletes earth's natural resources, with almost 20 tons of ore required to produce a single engagement ring. In addition, many mines emit destructive substances such as cyanide and mercury, polluting nearby rivers and streams. Mining of precious metals has also been associated with inhumane labor practices and severe disregard for the indigenous communities in the areas surrounding the mines.

As part of our commitment to maintain the highest standards of environmental responsibility, all of our engagement rings and fine jewelry are comprised of 100% recycled precious metals.

By using recycled gold, platinum, and silver, we are decreasing the global demand for newly mined precious metals, thereby exhibiting our staunch support for ethical standards in jewelry production. Our recycled metals are gathered from post-consumer sources and refined back to their original, pure elements so that there is no degradation in quality. Using these metals, combined with our specialized in-house casting process, we produce the highest quality jewelry that is the hallmark of Brilliance.