With De Beers’ history in the diamond market and the evolution of the Kimberley Process, do you think the industry has truly moved beyond the era of “blood diamonds,” or are transparency issues still a problem?
Honestly, I think the diamond industry has mostly moved past that difficult era. The Kimberley Process definitely changed things for the better — it set up a global framework that made it harder for conflict diamonds to enter legitimate markets. Before that, there was almost no oversight, and consumers had no way to know where their diamonds came from.
So, while the “blood diamond” era as it once existed is mostly over, it’s not perfect yet. The difference now is that there’s global awareness and accountability — which keeps the pressure on companies to do better. Overall, I’d say the industry is in a much healthier and more ethical place than it was a couple of decades ago.