As a professional who has worked in the diamond industry for 4 1/2 years, I must say that you need to know ALL sides of a story BEFORE you go calling the industry "evil".

For starters Conflict Diamonds are nothing new. In fact the term was coined about 3 years ago (if that). They discovered that certain militia groups were selling diamonds and using their profits to aid in attacking groups. In other words, they were using the money to fund their own capaign. Hense why some people call these particular diamonds, "Blood Diamonds".

HOWEVER, what you don't know is that it's not just diamonds that are used in this conflict. For instance the main source of Natural Sapphires is Afghanistan...and the only source for Tanzanite is...Tanzania. My store, for instance, sells natural tanzanite with a GEM PASSPORT - which ensures that it is conflict free. As a matter of fact, a lot of the US stores are going out of their way to make sure their stones (diamonds or gems) are conflict free. However you also need to understand that a diamond does not just come out of the earth the way it is in the case. The diamond comes out in a piece of rough, which is then sent to a diamond cutter. That's why until recent years it was so hard to know which rough came from which mine. Canadian mines are conflict free, and such brand names as Hearts On Fire get all of their supply from their.

I'd also like to point out that diamonds are essential to not only the diamond industry, but other industries as well. What do you think is in tools? Diamonds. Not the pretty ones you and I love, but diamonds are a 10 on the Mohn's Hardness Scale and thus used in drill bits and such.

BTW - Yall better not drive...people have fought over oil!

In reguards to the question though - I'm confused?!?! The pendant is real or isn't? Is it Moisonite?

Hey, that was what I was about to say!

Mr Munch and I have been discussing jewelry a lot lately. We are avoiding conflict diamonds, and would actually prefer emeralds (our birthstone). I personally would prefer a lab-created diamond as a gift from someone else, 'cause at least no one was fighting over it.

My opinion was born after a few years working in jewelry. There's a huge difference in a diamond being used for a drill than to decorate my ears. But that's just me...

It depends on the circumstance. If it was just a nice gift, and he said to me, "These are CZ, but I still thought it was a really pretty necklace", and it WAS a really pretty necklace. I would have no problem with it.

HOWEVER... if he tried to pass it off as real diamonds, I would definitely be angry. Not only would he consider me to be a fool (since I work in a jewelry store), but I would think he was just trying to impress me and not concerned about what I would really want.

Also, I wouldn't want fake diamonds for an anniversary present. Birthday or V-Day would be OK.