Rolex & Conflict Diamonds

[The Golden Crown]

It is a serious question. Is there any previous case in which Rolex was caught or accused of using any conflict diamonds? I know they will manage things like that really well, but I was wondering if any luxury watch makers had any incident with conflict diamonds.

This was what I could only find, but did not really answer my question.
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=25070

Thanks for your help in advance.

[toph]

If any luxury goods seller has, it would be nigh on impossible to prove.
Even the non-conflict Diamonds in Africa often come from corrupt countries with corrupt governments. Dont you think they might just buy them from the conflict countries so so so cheaply and pass them off as there own at a higher price? I certainly do

[The Golden Crown]

Yea I know how that could work. I was wondering if there was any explicit incident.

[Boothroyd]

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=25070

Previous thread on topic, from 2007.

[Tools]

Are you looking for some conspiracy on the part of Rolex

[The Golden Crown]

Not for conspiracy. I am almost ready to purchase a two tone Sub with diamond dials which look stunning. i just wanted to know what I was buying and wanted the satisfaction of knowing that my stones would be conflict-free.

[toph]

Originally Posted by The Golden Crown

Not for conspiracy. I am almost ready to purchase a two tone Sub with diamond dials which look stunning. i just wanted to know what I was buying and wanted the satisfaction of knowing that my stones would be conflict-free.

I think swiss complicity in war crimes ended in about 1945. dont worry

[77T]

Originally Posted by The Golden Crown

Not for conspiracy. I am almost ready to purchase a two tone Sub with diamond dials which look stunning. i just wanted to know what I was buying and wanted the satisfaction of knowing that my stones would be conflict-free.

If the Sub is pre-2003 or 2004, then nobody could determine if the source was conflict-free diamonds.

After that you'd have to consider that the diamond buyers had a year or more of inventory in the pipeline.

As you know, all diamonds lose source info after being transported to facilities for cutting and polishing unless the wholesalers or retailers track via the "Process". At any point along the supply chain, it is easy for diamonds with questionable histories to be mixed into the diamond supply - even after they are verified. It's not a perfect system.

Maybe find a Sub without diamonds would be the only way to be sure.

[Boothroyd]

Originally Posted by 77T

It's not a perfect system.

Maybe find a Sub without diamonds would be the only way to be sure.

Seems like the logical answer to the quandary. Just don't buy a watch with diamond hour markers or embellishments. Problem solved.

[eddie_b]

Originally Posted by toph

I think swiss complicity in war crimes ended in about 1945. dont worry

I wouldn't really agree to that, think of all the dirty money that is laundered in Switzerland. I'm talking about all the former dictators from after WWII.

My opinion is that you won't really be able to find out whether the diamonds are conflict free or not. So if it bothers you that much, go without diamonds. Looks better anyways, me thinks.

[threemonkeys]

A very reasonable question. Now I'm somewhat curious as well.

[scarab007]

Originally Posted by The Golden Crown

Not for conspiracy. I am almost ready to purchase a two tone Sub with diamond dials which look stunning. i just wanted to know what I was buying and wanted the satisfaction of knowing that my stones would be conflict-free.

Conflict free, really? You are worried about that. Do you drive a car? What gas/oil do you use? That is causing a huge conflict for many decades. What clothes do you wear? All of it sourced and American made? I don't think so, you want me to show you some factories in Vietnam that make our clothes. Talk about conflict, if only people knew.

[Oyster1982]

Not something that would bother me, I think the serti dial looks great on the sub. I have a diamond ring from the 70's and god only knows where that stone came from. Good luck getting the sub.

[GradyPhilpott]

Okay, that does it.

I'm going to buy me a Serti dail Sub as soon as practicably possible.

[general]

How about conflict free oil product such as gas. I am sure we do not buy any oil from dictatorships in the middle east. Just some food for thought.

[threemonkeys]

Originally Posted by scarab007

Conflict free, really? You are worried about that. Do you drive a car? What gas/oil do you use? That is causing a huge conflict for many decades. What clothes do you wear? All of it sourced and American made? I don't think so, you want me to show you some factories in Vietnam that make our clothes. Talk about conflict, if only people knew.

It may seem silly to some, but small decisions made by all of us can have an impact. In regards to gas/oil, perhaps the OP drives a hybrid/electric car, takes mass transit, car pools, etc. Same with clothing - perhaps they make every effort to purchase 'made in America' products when possible.

These types of seemingly trivial decisions made by all of us can have a big impact in the aggregate.

Kumbaya, baby. Kumbaya.

[capote]

I think it is a valid - and interesting - question. Blood diamonds should be avoided IMO.

[MoBe]

If you want to play boycott politics with diamonds,,,,,,,,,,,,,don`t buy any.

[padi56]

Hope this thread is not going to turn political if it does thread will be closed the members responsible could be shown the door.

[shgems]

As a Jeweler all of our diamond suppliers give us statements on our invoices stating that the diamonds are sourced conflict free. The industry went to great lengths to put a system in place to prevent conflict diamonds from ending up in jewelry and watches. I'm sure Rolex follows the same practice. You have nothing to worry about. If you like the serti dial go for it and rest your mind. If you want me to pull an invoice and type the wording out I can but really not necessary. Kimberly Process google it.

[The Golden Crown]

hey guys lets please not get into oil and all that.. I dont drive right now actually, but my first car would still be a caddy.

Anyways, my intentions was to find out if there was any incident with the conflicts not just for Rolex but for other luxury brands.

[Keeperoftime]

Next we'll worry if the Rolex factory is as "Green" as APs

Not to make light of pain or strife, but one can't look for the possibility of fowl play in everything IMHO.

Let's please abandon this topic. This will ONLY get political.



No offense.

[tranny]

Originally Posted by Keeperoftime

fowl play

Fowl play

[tranny]

PS - My opinion on the topic... go for manufactured diamonds: superior quality, lower price, and no one dies for them. Only people brainwashed by DerBeers' marketing believe manufactured diamonds somehow have less intrinsic value than mined diamonds. The only difference is manufactured diamonds are FLAWLESS.

[Gary Busey]

Somebody may want to chime in. But i think conflict diamonds are more of a myth.
How are poor africans with shovels going to dig kimberlites? It makes no sense. And to suggest that such a large supply remains at the surface, readily exploitable by poor african workers is suspect at best.....

[mlotus95]

Don't buy it on the chance that it could be
You don't want blood on your hands or in this case
Wrist.

[capote]

Originally Posted by Gary Busey

Somebody may want to chime in. But i think conflict diamonds are more of a myth.
How are poor africans with shovels going to dig kimberlites? It makes no sense. And to suggest that such a large supply remains at the surface, readily exploitable by poor african workers is suspect at best.....

You make no sense. Africans with shovels? Here is UN's definition of a conflict diamond:

"Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council."

[A.J.R.]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Okay, that does it.

I'm going to buy me a Serti dail Sub as soon as practicably possible.

[LightOnAHill]

Originally Posted by Gary Busey

Somebody may want to chime in. But i think conflict diamonds are more of a myth.
How are poor africans with shovels going to dig kimberlites? It makes no sense. And to suggest that such a large supply remains at the surface, readily exploitable by poor african workers is suspect at best.....

Incorrect, I think.

There are massive areas where the diamond-rich crust is exposed to the surface.


And, what few people know is that most conflict diamonds are "sold" laundered through Israel. This is because there are US import restrictions for diamonds from certain locals in the world, but most of these locals sell to Israel, who then sells the diamonds without history onto the lose market.

My wife's diamond for her ring was bought in Israel from a jewish family that had lived in Israel a few generations and before that they had lived in Spain since the middle of the reconquista. A lot of the jews from Spain immigrated to Israel. IN fact, I purchased the diamond speaking spanish, which was odd to me at first, in Jerusalem.

Had it verified in the US for what it is, a fantastic D color .62 diamond, which sits in the plat setting I personally drew, wax molded through three iterations with a mold knifer and then sent to my plat molder. I'll have to post pics of her ring one of these days; a one-of-a-kind personal design.

Anyhow, I'm pretty sure that the diamond came from one of those regions, because most diamonds do, but by being sold through Israel, nobody knows.

And nobody has to "take responsibility."

It's not the diamonds fault!!!


If rolex uses diamonds sold through a laundrer, how is Rolex to know (or appear to know, even if they know) and IMO let's not take it up against rolex. Take it up with the black continent, if that'll do any good


What i've noticed, though, is that in my diamond dial, two of the diamonds glow in blacklight, and the rest don't, which from what I've read, means that two of the diamonds came from the same mine and have the same mineralization while the rest came from other mines and don't have that same mineralization.

Get the diamond dial; you'll love it. Don't worry about stuff far outside your sphere of influence. Life is far too short, especially for us that don't have billions nor the power to influence the necessary changes.

[nim]

How about conflict gold