In
1991, something of a
windfall was created when it was discovered that
kimberlite pipes in
Canada's
Northwest Territories yielded
diamonds, rivaling both the
quality and
quantity of those typically found in other regions of the world, such as
Brazil,
South Africa and
Australia. Shortly thereafter, in
1998, the
pipes began to be mined, and the
moniker "Polar Bear Diamonds" was internationally
trademarked by
Sirius Diamonds,
Ltd. As it stands now, Sirius intends to increase diamond production from these mines, aiming to eventually supply 12% of the world's diamonds from this location.
The increasingly popular "Polar Bear" diamonds are a wholly-
Canadian product: mined in the
Arctic, cut and polished in
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and distributed by the aforementioned company, Sirius, which is a fully Canadian-owned business. Though reasonably more expensive than
traditional diamonds mined elsewhere in the world,
Polar Bear diamonds are nonetheless finding a growing
niche market around the world, as people become more and more familiar with the problems of "
blood" or "
conflict diamonds", both
politically-charged terms given to
diamonds that are mined through
slavery and exist as pawns in the continual, bloody power
regime struggles across many regions in
Africa.
Diamond mines in Canada, on the other hand, are said to be the most
industrially and
environmentally regulated mines in the world.
To provide measures of
authenticity, in addition to the standard
AGS and
GIA certifications, all Polar Bear diamonds include a near-
microscopic,
laser-etched polar bear and
serial number along the
girdle of the diamond. Furthermore, each diamond over 0.30
carats is accompanied by a "Certificate of Origin", affirming that the diamond was indeed mined in Canada's Northwest Territories.
Subjectively speaking, whether you buy much into the whole "
A Diamond is Forever" marketing, or whether you care much about the dirty business behind
De Beers, the Canadian diamonds do seem like interesting alternatives to the
norm. One can only wonder if the prices will go down as production increases...
Works Referenced:
- "About Sirius Diamonds" : http://www.siriusdiamonds.com/pages/mine_content.html
- "Molecular Expressions: The Birthstone Collection - Diamond" : http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/birthstones/pages/diamond.html