Canadian Diamonds

In the early 1990s, vast deposits of diamonds were found in Canada’s North West Territories. In an effort to ensure that diamonds being sold as “Canadian” could be authenticated as such, the Canadian government enacted the Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct to track diamonds mined in the north. Each diamond is assigned an ID number which, along with an image of a maple leaf, is laser-etched on the girdle of the diamond, which consumers can use to trace their diamond via the Canadamark Authentication Program.

Canada is now the world’s third largest supplier of diamond roughs and its diamonds have gained a reputation for quality. Canadian diamonds are “clean,” not used to finance terror, war or weapons, and mined ethically. By buying a Canadian diamond, you are supporting environmentally sound mining practices and economic development in Canada’s north.

Any company that mines diamonds in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut must observe strong Canadian laws that protect the Arctic environment and the mine workers. Before diamond companies can build mines in Canada's Arctic, they are required to make a careful assessment of the environment. As part of the permit process, mining companies must demonstrate that their practices are sustainable and will have minimal impact on vegetation, air and water quality, and wildlife populations. Canadian mining companies lead the way in integrating sustainable development into their activities, the first mining industry in the world to develop and adopt a national environmental policy.

In addition to environmental policy, social and economic impacts on northern communities are also carefully examined. Workers at Ekati and Diavik receive market wages, benefits and work in a controlled, safe environments. Eskimo Arctic Ice diamonds follows these stringent regulations and all their diamonds are mined responsibly, ensuring Canadian diamonds are the “cleanest” in the world.