Skeie's Jewelers Commitment

Ethically Sourced Diamonds

Here at Skeie’s Jewelers, we not only consider the impact we have on our local community, we also value the impact our jewelry has on a broader socio-economic scale internationally. Our mission is to provide exquisite jewelry, all while utilizing ethical practices that benefit and empower global communities and economies.

Skeie's Jewelers Stands by Ukraine

At Skeie's Jewelers, we are committed to responsible sourcing and ethical practice in our supply chain. Given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the Executive Order from President Biden, we will not be sourcing diamonds from Russia or Russian mining companies.

We believe it is essential to prioritize transparency and support the stability and well-being of affected regions. By refraining from sourcing diamonds from Russia, we aim to contribute to peaceful resolutions and uphold our commitment to promoting ethical and sustainable business practices.

Our Commitment to Social Responsibility

Ethics

Diamonds

All of our diamonds are vetted through the Kimberley Process, which ensures that the diamonds we receive are ethically sourced and have not been mined in war zones to be used for financing conflicts and human rights abuses.

You can read more about the Kimberley Process and its critical framework for combating the trade of conflict diamonds here.

We are proud to have a trained gemologist on hand with over 40 years of experience in the jewelry industry to ensure the diamonds we receive have a Kimberley Process Certificate, reaffirming our conflict-free diamond sourcing. 

In the past decade, many diamond mines have placed sustainability and a positive socio-economic impact as a high importance. These are just a few ways that diamond mines have been taking steps to leaving a positive socio-economic impact.

Arctic Canadian Diamond Mining Company, Ekati Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Arctic Canadian is committed to sustainable development in local communities with four Impact Benefit Agreements with local indigenous communities. The IBAs set the foundation to manage the impacts and benefits associated with the Ekati Mine development in relation to the use of indigenous lands, and ensure economic benefits for traditional land users and neighboring indigenous communities in proximity to the mine site.

• The company is focused on the safety and well-being of employees and the communities in which they operate, mitigating the overall environmental impact and delivering ethically produced natural diamonds

• The Ekati Plus Community Development Program invests in innovative projects that support healthy, vibrant Northern communities identify their needs and opportunities and helping them achieve their goals by providing financial assistance or support for sustainable projects that benefit the people of the North.

• The company is building stronger indigenous communities by assisting Northerners in achieving their career goals with the Ekati Plus Post-Secondary Scholarship Program, an important part of strengthening Northwest Territories through education, growth, and development.

You can read more in-depth about Arctic Canadian and Ekati here.

Rio Tinto Mining Company, Diavik Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

• The Community Contribution Program is aimed at serving and strengthening the communities of the Northwest Territories and West Kitkimeot, providing support through business and educational development, health, safety, and wellness, and maintaining culture, arts and community pride.

• Over the past ten years, Diavik's scholarship programs have awarded over $2 million through over 1,400 individual scholarships to the residents of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut's West Kitikmeot region.

• As a part of Diavik's local commitments, indigenous people and northern residents receive hiring priority, committed to achieving at least 40% Indigenous employment and at least 66% Northern employment including contractors.

• Diavik operates one of the largest hybrid wind-diesel power facilities at a remote mine site in the world which has helped reduce the overall GHG emission by 84 thousand tons.

You can read more in-depth about Rio Tinto and Diavik here.

Both the Arctic Canadian Diamond Company and Rio Tinto are a part of the Socio-Economic Monitoring Agreement (SEMA), a partnership involving the governments and indigenous tribes in the mining areas. This has ensured the policies presented have been implemented and monitored.

Lucara Diamond Company, Karowe Mine, Botswana

• Lucara Diamonds prioritizes hiring local residents, providing employment opportunities and reducing the unemployment rates in Botswana.

• Significant community investments have been made by Lucara to support infrastructure development in Botswana, including projects such as building schools, health facilities, and community centers, improving access to essential services and enhancing the quality of life for local residents.

• The company has implemented various social programs and initiatives to support the well-being and development of communities in Botswana, including healthcare initiatives, educational scholarships, vocational training programs, and support for cultural and arts initiatives. Such efforts contribute to community empowerment, social cohesion, and the
preservation of cultural heritage.

• Lucara Diamonds actively supports local businesses and entrepreneurs through procurement and supplier development programs. By engaging with local industries, the company fosters economic diversification, stimulates entrepreneurship, and strengthens the local economy.

• Lucara Diamonds is committed to responsible environmental practices. The company implements measures to minimize the environmental impact of its operations and adheres to sustainable mining practices including land rehabilitation, biodiversity conservation, and water management initiatives that help protect the natural environment in Botswana.

You can read more in-depth about Lucara Diamonds and the Karowe mine here.

We prioritize sourcing our gemstones from vendors who are a part of American Gem Trade Association AGTA members. The AGTA is one of the most prominent gem associations, with over 1,100 members. Each member must adhere to a strict code of ethics in order to maintain membership, which includes  transparency with the consumer and ethical sourcing practices. You can read the AGTA Code of Ethics here

Upon request, we will provide a GIA certification for any gemstone we sell, to ensure accuracy and origins.

Organizations

Skeie’s Jewelers follows a strict guideline of ethics, as we are honored to be the trusted jeweler for thousands of guests throughout the past century. We are a proud member of the American Gem Society (AGS), which is one of the most prominent jewelry trade organizations that is dedicated to consumer protection. In order to maintain membership each jeweler must meet the strict guidelines placed by the AGS to ensure the consumer is put first.

•Provide full disclosure of all facts pertaining to the products they sell.

•Never intentionally deceive their employees, consumers, vendors, or business partners.

•Compete fairly and never speak unprofessionally about their competitors. Likewise, encourage their colleagues in the jewelry industry to embrace these principals.

•Resolve any customer complaints relating to the sale of a product.

•Not sell conflict diamonds. AGS jewelers must make every effort to fully comply with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the World Diamond Council System of Warranties.

•Continue their gemological and jewelry education, always improving their knowledge and keeping up with trends in jewelry and ethical business practices.

•Adhere to the Anti-money Laundering (AML) program, which is designed to comply with the USA Patriot Act.

Skeie’s Jewelers is a proud member of the Only Natural Diamond. The Only Natural Diamond aims to educate on the positive socio-economic impacts that natural diamonds have globally.