Canadian diamonds provide a new alternative to people who want to buy diamonds, but are not comfortable with buying pieces that are potentially “conflict diamonds.”  A “conflict diamond,” by the UN’s definition, is a diamond mined by a non-legitimate government force in order to fund a rebellion.Additionally, some people are still concerned about the legitimate governments that deal in diamond mining and production, because there is a lot of talk about human rights violations under those governments as well.

While diamond production and mining has become far safer and more politically-correct in the past few years, one way to be absolutely sure that no wrong has been done by producing the diamond you buy is to seek out a Canadian diamond.Canadian diamonds account for only 15% of all the diamonds in the marketplace, yet they account for 80% of all Excellent and Ideal cut diamonds.

Other diamond miners and producers have caught on to the popularity of Canadian diamonds, and have tried to mislead consumers by marketing their diamonds (mined in places other than Canada) as Canadian diamonds, so there is now a bit of confusion in the diamond marketplace about how to recognize a Canadian diamond.  There are only two ways to be sure.

One way to be sure is the GNWT Certificate of Authenticity.The GNWT (Government of the Northwest Territories) certification system tracks the diamond's journey all the way from extraction from the ground to its velvet cushion at the jeweler’s.This is important, because some diamonds mined in Canada are still sent to Asia or Africa for cutting and polishing – which puts you back into the sticky questionable human rights territory.GNWT-certified diamonds guarantee the diamond in question was mined in Canada, and handled ethically (most likely in Canada the entire time) all throughout the process.

The certificate bears the GNWT’s polar bear insignia and includes a Gemprint of the diamond.  A Gemprint is just what it sounds like – it is a “fingerprint” of the diamond:  a digital scan of the landscape of the diamond so you can be sure the diamond you’ve bought is actually the diamond that is certified.

To take the precautions one step further, each Canadian diamond that is mined, cut, and polished in the Northwest Territories of Canada come laser-imprinted with a unique serial number.  The number can only be seen with a microscope, so no worries about staring into your pretty gem and seeing somebody’s serial number.  The number is etched into the girdle of the diamond (which is the “rim between the flatter top and the pointed bottom”) and is proof-positive that the diamond is legitimately a Canadian diamond.

Again, while diamond mining and production practices have improved a great amount in past years, the extra piece of mind obtained from buying a Canadian diamond can make all the difference for someone who still has questions or concerns about typical diamonds that are mined in the usual places and could potentially be in league with those who have questionable business practices.  Additionally, Canadian diamonds are some of the cleanest, brightest, most perfect diamonds on the market.Isn’t knowing your special someone is getting an ethically handled diamond worth the extra effort?

Trying to find the right diamond wedding ring can be a tricky thing as there are so many stores you can shop at and even more styles and cuts to choose from once you’re there. Although the diamond may be the most important component of the ring, you’ll find that must choose metals and settings as well. Having a solid understanding of what you should be looking for when shopping around for a diamond ring will help make your trip more successful and ensure you walk away with a good buy instead of regrets.

If you want the process of finding a diamond wedding ring to be as smooth and easy as possible, it’s important that you know your diamonds. The “Four C’s” of diamonds are the most important facts to be aware of. This refers to the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight of a diamond.

Cut: There are a number of different cuts that your diamond wedding ring could have. This doesn’t refer to the shape of the diamond, but rather is a system of measuring the diamond’s brilliance. The quality of the cut will significantly impact the value of the diamond. While shopping, keep your eye out for the highest grade of cut you can afford.

Clarity: Then there is the clarity of a diamond which you also have to be concerned with. Most diamonds contain some inner flaws that occur during the formation process, and this is normal. However the visibility of these flaws is what determines the clarity of a diamond. Obviously, the fewer flaws you can see, the more valuable the diamond is going to be.

Color: When looking at the color of a diamond, you should try to find one that is as colorless and clear as possible. The whiter the diamond, the more valuable it is. These diamonds will reflect the light with greater brilliance. Of course, there are various shades of diamonds that you may be interested in from a purely aesthetic perspective, so if you prefer a slight tinge of color to your diamond, go for it.

Carats: When people look at a diamond wedding ring, most of the time they notice the size before the other characteristics. Of course, now that you know about the cut, clarity and color, you should realize that size isn’t everything. You will want to choose a diamond that isn’t too large for the finger it will adorn. And of course, there’s always your budget to consider.

There are so many choices in wedding rings these days, in both women’s, men’s and wedding ring sets. Finding the best wedding rings isn’t always easy!