Sapphires have been valued as gemstones for centuries and much lore has surrounded them in cultures all over the world. The Ten Commandments were said to be written on sapphire tablets and the ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the sky.

Sapphires, more than any other gemstone, have been the prized possessions of royalty. Kings used to wear sapphires around their neck as protection against harm and sapphire jewelry has been given for royal engagements to many women, most recently to Princess Anne and Princess Diana.

Blue sapphires have always been the most recognizable and popular, however sapphires come in many colors including pink, orange, green, yellow, colorless and purple. A little known fact is that rubies are actually red sapphires. Both rubies and sapphires are varieties of the mineral Corundum.

Sapphires are one of the traditional birthstones for September and the wedding gift for a couple’s 5^th and 45^th anniversary. A sapphire is an excellent choice for use in engagement rings as it is the second hardest and most durable gemstone after diamond. Brilliant Earth sources all of our sapphires in accordance with fair trade and environmentally responsible principles, so you can feel confident that you are receiving a beautiful gemstone of ethical origin that will reflect your love and commitment to your special someone.

For more information about sapphires, view our sapphire education or view our collection of sapphire rings.

ShareThis

Colored gemstone mining is often conducted unscrupulously and in a manner that damages the environment and creates adverse labor and living conditions for miners and local community members. Our sapphire and emerald collections are obtained with minimal impact on the environment and positive impact on laborers and their communities.

• Visit http://www.brilliantearth.com/sapphire-issues.aspx to learn about how our fair trade, conflict-free and environmentally responsible sapphires are making a positive difference to the regions in which they are mined.
• Visit http://www.brilliantearth.com/ethical-emeralds.aspx to read about our socially and environmentally responsible Colombian emeralds. Learn about the efforts of our partnering gemologist to build communities and international standards for fair labor practices.

Brilliant Earth is proud to dedicate 5% of our profits to communities impacted by the jewelry trade. Visit http://www.brilliantearth.com/giving-back.aspx to learn about some of the ways in which we’re giving back, investing in communities, and mitigating injustice in the mining industry. You’ll read about some of the causes to which we donate, including numerous environmental initiatives, as well as programs that provide skilled job training and medical care for workers and their families. You’ll also find out how to get involved in promoting ethical and eco-friendly practices in the jewelry industry.

ShareThis

The UN labor agency estimates that there are now 100,000 to 250,000 child gold miners in West Africa alone. The Associated Press recently published a report on its yearlong investigation of child gold-mining laborers, during which journalists visited six of these bush mines in three West African countries and interviewed more than 150 child miners. They witnessed itinerant traders buying child-mined gold, then tracked the gold on its route to Mali’s capital city and then to Switzerland, where it enters the world market.

To read the full text of the Associated Press story, visit: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=5551166

At Brilliant Earth, we use recycled gold in our jewelry wherever possible, ensuring that no children were employed in its production, and preventing further damage to the environment. To read more about “dirty gold” and Brilliant Earth’s ongoing dedication to avoiding it, visit: http://www.brilliantearth.com/dispcont.aspx?pageid=ABOUT_GOLD#dirtygold

ShareThis

To read more about the process and findings of the assessment, visit: http://www.brilliantearth.com/canadian-diamonds-environmental-assessment.aspx

ShareThis

Madagascar is one of the world’s most prolific sources of rubies and sapphires, but it has had a huge problem with smuggling in the past, which prevented the stones’ revenue from filtering back into the country’s economy and relieving the widespread poverty of its people. In the wake of the giant emerald debacle, the government has decided to only allow export of cut and polished, or “transformed,” stones. The argument of the Ministry of Energy and Mines is that this policy will encourage development of the gemstone-cutting, or lapidary, industry in Madagascar. It is thought that the increased value of the transformed stones will benefit the local economy and the mining industry. The Ministry also hopes that the policy will encourage the establishment of foreign stone-cutting companies in Madagascar, employing local stone cutters and facilitating sustainable development.

ShareThis

Our two students, Tahiry and Sendra, are in their eighth and final week of lapidary training, after which they will move on to a course in Practical Gemology. Their trainers report that the pair is motivated and doing excellent work.

The scholarships also fund equipment and supplies needed for the students to set up their own lapidary workshops. Tahiry and Sendra are busy finding and equipping their workshop spaces and planning for the launch of launch their professional careers. We are proud of their hard work and excited for their futures! More updates to follow.

ShareThis

 On the Love, Earth^® website, consumers are invited to trace the origin of any piece in the collection – from the mine, through the manufacturing process, to its arrival at the Wal-Mart distribution center. Additionally, Love, Earth^® jewelry purchases are packaged in “earth-friendly” paper boxes or muslin bags with vegetable-based-ink tags.

At Brilliant Earth, we love to see major retailers taking an initiative to make their supply chain visible to consumers. In doing so, they bring social and environmental issues to customers’ attention and get them thinking about the global impacts of the decisions they make as consumers. Nonetheless, there remain some unanswered questions about the practices of the mines that Wal-Mart sources from and the actual extent of their responsibility and alleged “sustainability.” We recently engaged in a conference call with Wal-Mart where they were urged to really scrutinize their sources, be careful about the difference between traceability and environmental responsibility, and to be careful of false claims regarding sustainability.

However, we’d call this a good start and a positive indication that the industry is ready for change. We’re always happy to see ethical issues brought to the attention of consumers.

ShareThis

ShareThis

RAPAPORT… China refuted The Age newspaper report out of Australia that claims Air Zimbabwe used flights to transport diamonds, ivory, and gold to Beijing in exchange for weapons.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao wrote in a statement, “The report proved to be malicious rumor.”

“As more foreign airlines fly to China in recent years, the relevant departments of the Chinese government have carried out management on all flights passing in and out of China according to the law.”

China forbids the use of civilian flights for illegal activity the ministry added.

Original article below:

Newspaper report: Zimbabwe uses Australian air space to trade with China

CANBERRA, Australia: A newspaper report Tuesday that claims Zimbabwe is using Australian airspace to trade with China has prompted Australia’s opposition leader to call for a ban on such flights.

The Age newspaper reported that for the past year, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s regime has regularly commandeered Air Zimbabwe flights and has flown them through Australian air space over the Indian Ocean to China via Singapore.

The report, citing unnamed Zimbabwe aviation sources, said the flights are free junkets for Mugabe supporters. They fly to Beijing and southern China to trade contraband such as ivory for weapons and luxury goods, the newspaper said.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith’s office could not be immediately contacted for comment Tuesday.

But opposition leader Brendan Nelson said the government must investigate the report and ban Zimbabwe flights from Australian airspace if it were true.

“We are all deeply concerned about the appalling treatment of Zimbabweans from torture through to murder; the complete corruption of the political system in Zimbabwe,” Nelson told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

“Every single thing that we can possibly do to bring good governance and order and political freedom to the people of Zimbabwe should be done,” he added.

A spokesman for the Zimbabwe embassy in Canberra was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

Australia is a vocal critic of Mugabe’s brutal suppression of political dissent in Zimbabwe and has imposed economic and travel sanctions against the Mugabe regime since 2002.

China and Russia this month vetoed in the United Nations U.S.-proposed sanctions against Zimbabwe’s leaders.

ShareThis

NEW YORK — Exactly one week after the United States House of Representatives passed the Block Burmese Jade Act, the Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved the bill, which blocks American companies from importing gemstones from Burma and expands financial sanctions against the country’s military junta.

The act, which was initially introduced in the Congress last year by late Congressman Tom Lantos, is now being sent to US President George W Bush to sign it into law. In the US Senate, the bill was introduced by Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Bush is expected to sign the Block Burmese Jade Act into law in coming days, knowledgeable sources said.

Graphic showing the main gem producing areas of Burma. The US Senate on Tuesday approved legislation to block gems from Burma entering the US via a third country. (Graphic: AFP)

Welcoming the passage of the bill by the Senate, Congressman Howard L Berman said:
“We cannot allow this (Burmese) regime to prosper financially while they continue to violate the human rights of their own people.” Berman, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the legislation in the House.

“This bill hits the Burmese leaders where it hurts—in the wallet. It’s our hope that these sanctions will push other countries to examine their own financial dealings with Burma,” said Berman, who was in New York on Tuesday leading a congressional delegation to the UN and meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Though it is already illegal for American companies to directly import Burmese products, the Block Burmese JADE Act will keep Burmese gems, including jade and rubies, from entering US markets via third-party countries.

Stopping US sales of these Burmese gems is expected to prevent the Burmese regime from earning hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The bill also makes Burmese regime leaders, military officers and their families ineligible for visas to the United States.

Congress began to consider the legislation in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, when the Burmese regime placed restrictions that severely limited the ability of international aid workers to help the tens of thousands of families that were affected.

Referring to the crackdown on monks last year and the junta’s decision to place restrictions on international aid for cyclone victims, Berman said: “These brutal actions demonstrate the regime’s moral bankruptcy, but unfortunately it is far from financially bankrupt.”

While the Burmese people live in abject poverty, Burma’s military leaders continue to take Burma’s vast natural resources as their own, he said.

The legislation has already received support from Jewelers of America, which represents more than 11,000 jewelry stores nationwide. Major retailers such as Tiffany’s and Bulgari have voluntarily implemented a ban. Similar restrictions have also been imposed by the European Union and Canada.

The unanimous passage of the bill by the Senate was welcomed by Burmese activists.

“The blood color of rubies not only brings Than Shwe’s military regime $300 million per year, it signifies all the blood lost by innocent civilians in our struggle for human rights,” said Aung Din, a former political prisoner and co-founder of the US Campaign for Burma.

“We want to thank the United States Congress for taking strong and meaningful action,” he said in a statement.

ShareThis