We source diamonds directly from the cutting factories to ensure our ethical sourcing
NATURAL DIAMONDS
For centuries, India was the only know source of diamonds. It wasn't until 1730 that deposits outside of India were discovered. The earliest known reference to diamond is a Sanskrit manuscript, dated from 320-296 B.C., but diamonds have been known in India for at least 6,000 years. In fact, until the 1730s India was the world’s only known source of diamonds. The word used for diamonds in Sanskrit is “Vajara,” meaning “thunderbolt” which was the weapon of Lord Indra (god of rain and thunderstorms), which reveals much about the spiritual properties attributed in ancient India to diamonds. There is an interesting story behind diamonds being named Vajara. Diamonds were found in fields after thunderstorms had moved through an area of central India. The locals believed that the diamonds were formed by lightning strikes hitting the ground, and were therefore considered to be a gift from the gods.
ILA goes a step above the Kimberly Process and purchases our diamonds primarily from De Beers Global Sightholders (formerly known as Diamond Trading Company). As a sightholder they are contractually obliged to abide by the De Beers Best Practice Principles (BPP) and audited annually. The BPP Assurance Programme provides evidence to supply chain partners, consumers and other interested stakeholders that the exploration, extraction, sorting, cutting and polishing owned or controlled by the De Beers Group of Companies and by their Sightholders, are undertaken in a professional, ethical and environmentally friendly and accountable way. Critically, BPP provides a means of checking compliance with requirements relating to anti-money laundering and terrorism financing activities, as well as independent monitoring to ensure that the obligations of the Kimberley Process are satisfied. The BPP Requirements incorporate best practice measuring and reporting standards, such as the standard of Social Accountability International (SA8000) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The sightholder status allows them to source rough diamonds from responsible mines in Canada, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Russia, which we purchase after they have been cut and polished.
The sightholder status of the ILA diamond factories allows them to source rough diamonds from responsible mines in Canada, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Russia, which we purchase after they have been cut and polished.
Our natural diamonds are rigorously assorted to have exacting brilliance and to fall within our tolerance for color and clarity. Our made to order engagement rings are crafted with your choice of GIA certified diamonds. GIA, or the Gemological Institute of America, has the strictest standards of any laboratory and is ILA's choice of certification.
Lab Grown Diamonds
ILA offers specific styles with lab grown diamonds. We truly believe that Lab Grown Diamonds offer a more sustainable option to natural diamonds that also comes with a more affordable price point. Our designs are clearly labeled when they contain lab grown options.
Grown above ground, our Lab Grown Diamonds are by nature sustainable. This bypassing of the mining process, that can add to the carbon footprint of a diamond, results in the most sustainable diamond that we offer.
Using state-of-the-art technology diamonds are create in a plasma with temperatures akin to the surface of the sun. Carbon atoms are deposited on a crystal lattice of a natural diamond and slowly grows it in size. One by one, the atoms layer on top of a thin foundation of diamond. Atom by atom, it grows into a pure, jewelry-grade diamond identical in crystal structure to that of a diamond extracted from the Earth.
With our industry first AI, we match the identical Natural Diamond to the identical Lab Grown Diamond, so you can see the price savings for all of our made to order engagement rings, pendants, and ear studs.