The Ethics of Diamond Mining: How Natural Diamonds Benefit People in Mining Regions

The diamond mining industry is often thought of as unethical. However, the negative perceptions that some people may have — about economic inequalities across the supply chain, colonialism, corruption, and other legacy issues — are outdated.

Today, diamond companies are heavily regulated and very invested in the economic and social prosperity of the communities where they do business, generating significant socioeconomic contributions for many countries. In fact, rough diamonds are the main source of revenue for these regions, creating livelihoods for millions of people.

The natural diamond industry supports local communities through employment and training as well as health and education programs. Diamond companies ensure that local communities share in the success of the mine while it is in operation, and help the community to prepare for their future after the mine closes. Below, just a few examples of how the diamond industry is helping the people in the regions where stones are mined.

In Botswana, where most Kwiat diamonds are mined, diamonds represent about 30% of GDP and approximately 80% of total exports. Eighty percent of proceeds are reinvested into the community, funding roads, hospitals, supply of water and energy, and local sports and culture. This revenue also provides free schooling for every child — that’s more than 500,000 kids. Diamond mining in Botswana has contributed to a rise in per capita income, which has gone from about $80 per year in 1967 to $6,000 per year in 2008.

The revenue from natural diamond mining is also helping to fight HIV and AIDS in Botswana. Debswana Diamond Company Limited, a joint venture between De Beers and the government of Botswana (and a supplier to Kwiat), launched the De Beers Group HIV Disease Management Program in 2001. The initiative, designed to prevent, detect, and treat HIV and AIDs, provides employees and their families with free antiretroviral treatment. It’s been very effective — in 2015, only 26% of employees knew their HIV status; three years later, 89% of employees knew whether they carried the virus. In 2020, the company celebrated more than 11 years of no babies being born with HIV to De Beers Group employees or their spouses.

Another diamond mining success story is Namibia, which also benefits socioeconomically from the natural diamond industry. Diamonds generate 20% of Namibia’s revenue from foreign exports. As of 2021, diamonds were Namibia’s most profitable product in the mining sector, accounting for almost 68% of mineral output and 45% of foreign exchange earnings — the total revenue received from Namibia’s international transactions, including exports, services, and investments.

Diamond mining is the largest private sector industry in Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT). In 2020, it provided 24% of the region’s total GDP, contributing not only to wages, but also to construction, transportation, retail, and real estate. Since 1996, NWT diamond mines have contributed more than $24 billion to the economy, with almost $17 billion going toward NWT businesses and $7.5 billion to Indigenous-owned businesses in the province.

Kwiat offers a revolutionary, transparent way to buy a perfectly cut diamond that’s been tracked every step of the way to ensure it is ethically mined from a known origin. Kwiat Tiara Diamonds™ support the economies of mining regions, benefitting schools, hospitals, and other community resources.

The process is simple. First, we’ll help you choose a diamond from a conflict-free country, such as Botswana, Canada, South Africa, Namibia, or Australia. Next, Kwiat experts will determine how to perfectly cut your desired shape from the rough diamond, maximizing size without sacrificing beauty. Finally, after the diamond is meticulously cut, we’ll set it in a stunning ring, custom designed and crafted to your exact specifications.

While rough diamonds benefit their countries of origin, at Kwiat, we also want our finished rings to do good. So, with each Kwiat Tiara Diamond™ sold, Kwiat makes a donation to the non-profit organization charity: water, which supplies a family with clean drinking water. Clean water means economic and social development, healthier populations, and brighter futures for families in rural communities.