Natural Ethical Diamonds
The best things in life take time, diamonds take billions of years.
Imagine wearing a gem that's witnessed the dawn of time! There's nothing in the world as deeply romantic than gifting a real diamond. They're like earths secret love letters, crafted deep underground over billions of years. These stones are older than humans, older than dinosaurs, making each one a unique piece of our planet's legacy.
These natural phenomena are the most ancient and precious treasures you’ll ever touch, let alone own. When you propose with a real diamond, you're offering much more than a ring, it is tangible symbol of 'forever'. Every sparkling diamond has made epic journey from deep within the Earth to your finger.
The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Greeks, who named the stone ‘adamas,’ meaning unbreakable or unalterable—just like love—and believed diamonds were splinters from stars that fell from the sky.
Diamonds have been the ultimate symbol of love for centuries.
The intrinsic value of natural diamonds is unparalleled. Extraordinarily hard to find and expensive to recover, natural diamonds have only been found in remote regions of the world for over a century. Each unique diamond emanates a captivating, authentic, and timeless beauty that transcends generations and trends.
They are not just gems; they carry meaning, history, and status layers. For many, a natural diamond represents a connection to the Earth’s ancient past—something raw and unrefined that, through incredible geological forces, has been brought to perfection. A natural diamond is an artifact, a testament to time itself. The romanticism associated with such a piece is undeniable—the idea that this stone has been buried in the earth for billions of years, awaiting discovery, makes the diamond seem even more precious.
Their unmatched brilliance and durability symbolise the strength and permanence of a committed relationship.
Moreover, the rarity of natural diamonds adds to their allure, diamonds that are one-of-a-kind, just like your love story.
It is no wonder that diamonds have been the ultimate symbol of love, connection, celebration, and permanence for centuries. Natural diamonds hold their value over time. They become cherished heirlooms, passed down through generations.
What is a Natural Diamond?
A natural diamond is a rare and finite mineral formed by nature, consisting of a crystalline structure of pure carbon atoms. Known for being the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth, natural diamonds are celebrated for their incredible durability, brilliance, and exceptional rarity. Most natural diamonds range in age from one to three billion years, with some rare specimens being over 3.5 billion years old, making them older than humans and dinosaurs. Their unique formation process makes each natural diamond distinct and irreplaceable.
Diamonds have an extraordinary geological backstory unlike any other material found on earth. Billions of years ago, through extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth’s core, carbon was shaped into brilliant gems we call diamonds. Most natural diamonds—say 98 percent—come from a depth of about 150 to 200 kilometers, in the base of the thickest and oldest parts of continents. Some rare kinds of natural diamonds are formed at even greater depths, estimated to be as deep as 800 kilometers and perhaps more.
.
The first known engagement ring on record is from 1477, when famous European royal Archduke Maximilian of Austria, proposed to his love, Mary of Burgundy with a natural diamond set on a gold band. At that time, they did not have the tools to cut a diamond as we know it today, so it was mounted in its natural form. Maximilian wanted to symbolise his love and make the engagement known with the gem that had embodied love and endurance since its discovery. This rare gem began to take on a stronger identity that stood for commitment, romance, and everlasting love as the tradition for diamond engagement ring continued.
Every diamond we sell has has passed our strict selection process, and met our environmental and ethical criteria.
The Appleby family are deeply committed to ensuring all our diamonds are sourced in a manner that upholds the social, ethical and environmental ethics we share with our customers. With over 70 years of diamond expertise, we have earned a reputation for selecting the highest standard and quality in the diamonds we buy. We are one of the very few Irish companies who buy direct from the bourse (the diamond trading floor in Antwerp). Our stringent sourcing procedures, selection processes and certification requirements mean that the diamonds are certified and 100 per cent conflict-free. We inspect each diamond individually and validate it's associate certificates to ensure we know we are buying only the very best, conflict-free stones.
What is The Kimberly Process?
The Kimberley Process (KP) unites governments, industry, and civil society to eradicate the global trade of conflict diamonds. By enforcing rigorous certification protocols and compliance assessments, the KP ensures that all participating countries maintain high standards that keep conflict diamonds out of the international market. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is the mechanism the KP uses to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds. Launched in 2003, it is enforced individually by KP Participant countries to ensure that rough diamonds in the legitimate supply chain are KP-compliant. Each certificate guarantees that the diamonds are conflict-free, providing essential verification along the supply chain. This certification is a critical component of KPCS compliance..
.png?upscale=true&width=140&name=Frame%20119%20(3).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=140&name=Frame%20119%20(1).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=140&name=Frame%20119%20(2).png)
What is the natural diamond industry doing to reduce its carbon footprint and protect biodiversity?
The natural diamond industry is committed to decarbonize in line with global climate goals. Major diamond mining companies aim for carbon neutrality by 2030 and target net zero emissions by 2050.Modern global diamond industry uses land that equates to the size of New York City and protects and conserves biodiversity over 4X this size.
