In an important step to confront Russian-mined stones, Botswana will become the second rough diamond verification “node,” after Antwerp. The decision was made during the annual Facets diamond conference in Antwerp.
Botswana’s president, Duma G. Boko, was attending the event for the first time, turning up Tuesday, emphasizing his nation’s commitment to enhancing accountability in stone supply chains. President Boko states that Botswana looks to ensure mining transparency. It wants diamonds not only to mesmerize with their aesthetics but also to stand for something ethical.
The G7’s ban on non-industrial diamond imports that were sourced or produced in Russia was enforced on January 1, 2024. The prohibition is just a small part of counter-aggression measures. The G7 members are Canada, Japan, France, the UK, Germany, the USA, and Italy.
As of March 1, the ban applies to not only stones mined in Russia but to those mined there but cut in a different country. A certification node was set up in Antwerp to validate and verify the stones’ origin.
In the past, using a single node to track diamonds caused delays and was a source of debate in the precious stone industry. Organizations such as the African Diamond Association, India’s Gem & Jewellery Council, De Beers, Antwerp, and Jewelers of America voiced alarm over a bottleneck and potential disruptions in the market.
In the face of these problems, a few additional verification centers are planned to be established in the future. In particular, after Ari Epstein stepped down as CEO of Antwerp, his successor, Ms. Rentmeesters, expressed her support for expanding the number of certification nodes.
According to her speech given on November 27, the Belgian Diamond Office plays as a transparency benchmark that strictly oversees imports and exports. It shares carefully cultivated technical knowledge and skills with other countries so they can uphold modern standards.
The teams from Belgium and Botswana have researched Botswana’s existing certification methods applied to rough diamonds. The countries are now collaborating to fill any gaps identified in their technology. The intention is to make Botswana’s certification node work early on in 2025.
This expansion is key to improving the integrity of the global diamond supply chain. With more certification centers, the stone industry strives to achieve transparency, thus boosting consumer confidence in the origin of stones, which end up in G7 countries.
This move strengthens Botswana’s position in the stone market and aligns with global ethical sourcing standards in the jewelry trade. It ensures that the diamond pieces that you purchase are 100% transparent.
