What is our Position on Conflict Diamonds?
We cannot stress enough how important it is to us as a company to not have any contact whatsoever with conflict diamonds.
Harriet Kelsall has always been very passionate about this cause, even before it became trendy. Together with Alice Rochester, she is playing a significant part in the jewellery industry's drive towards a more ethical and environmentally responsible approach through her work with the Responsible Jewellery Council and the National Assocation of Goldsmiths.
Our Policy on Conflict Diamonds
Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design Ltd (HKJD) Policy on Conflict Diamonds States that the Company:
- Will trade only with companies that include warrantee declarations on their invoices for all new diamonds.
- Will not buy new diamonds from suspect sources or unknown suppliers, or which originate in countries that have not implemented the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
- Will not knowingly buy, sell or assist others to buy or sell conflict diamonds.
- Will ensure that all company personnel that buy or sell diamonds are well informed and educated in Kimberley Process regulations.
Stones will be sourced only from reputable dealers
Before undertaking any business with new stone dealers HKJD require the following written assurances:
- All of their diamonds are sold in accordance with the DTC Best Practice Principles (These cover child labour, safe working practices, conflict diamonds and also things like the issue of treated diamonds).
- No diamonds have been purchased in breach of UN resolutions Nos. 1173, 1176 and or the Kimberley Process.
- The intake of diamonds does not include any diamonds that have come from any area in Africa controlled by forces rebelling against the legitimate and internationally recognised government of the relevant country.
Alongside written assurances, any prospective supplier will be interviewed by Harriet Kelsall to insure that they share Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design's strong ethical stance on this matter. Unlike ordinary retailers who buy their stock from anonymous suppliers, we source our own stones individually for the jewellery that we handmake from diamond dealers we personally know and have built up trust with over many years.
Customers' own new stones
When designing a piece of jewellery around a customer's own gemstone that has been purchased new from a supplier not used by HKJD, HKJD must make sure that any loose diamonds come with Kimberley Process documentation.
We will not work with customer's own diamonds if there is a chance they are not ethically sourced. For customers who want to source diamonds elsewhere, HKJD require a written guarantee from their supplier that the stone is conflict free. Any reputable supplier will have no problem supplying this.
HKJD will not work with customer's own diamonds bought from stone dealers if there is a chance they are not ethically sourced.
Recycled stones
Reusing stones from existing jewellery is slightly different - there is no meaningful way of knowing their provenance and so we cannot ask for that guarantee.
In this case the following assurances are sort:
- The diamonds are still in their original mount.
- A written letter of assurance that the item was a family heirloom and that they are unable to verify the provenance of the stones.
Staff education
Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design has produced a staff handbook on the Kimberley Process. Each member of staff is required to read and understand the principles of the Kimberly Process.
The following assurances are printed on all Harriet Kelsall Commission Customer invoices:
All diamonds supplied by ourselves herein invoiced have been purchased by legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations resolutions. We hereby guarantee that these diamonds are conflict free, based upon personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds.
Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design Ltd has never knowingly sold conflict diamonds and to the best of our ability we will undertake reasonable measures to help prevent the sale of conflict diamonds in this country.