Ellah Muchemwa: ADPA to launch Africa's first diamond mining standard next year

The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), which is based in Luanda, Angola, and represents the interests of mainly African diamond producers and those with the potential to produce diamonds, will next year launch the Sustainable Development...

04 november 2024

Dmitry Fedorov: I want our jewelry to be displayed at a museum in the future

Dmitry Fedorov is the founder of the eponymous jewelry house. His main focus is the creation of Orthodox-inspired premium luxury jewelry of high artistic merit. He told Rough&Polished about his journey in the jewelry industry, about choosing the ‘Orthodox...

28 october 2024

Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki

The president of the World Diamond Council takes time out of her busy schedule to tell Rough&Polished readers about the critical work of the WDC. Zerouki, the first female present of the body, which includes all the important industry organizations among...

14 october 2024

James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration

London-listed Botswana Diamonds has expressed optimism about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the exploration database in Botswana to look for new mineralised deposits. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough...

07 october 2024

Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products

Artur Salyakayev is an art entrepreneur, founder of the International Jewelry Academy (IJA) and the INCRUA jewelry company. He has initiated and developed successful projects in jewelry industry and services sector. He is also a leading expert...

30 september 2024

Aether creates world's first certified vegan diamonds

01 june 2021
Aether Diamonds has announced that it is the first company in the world to receive a vegan certification for its diamonds. The certification was granted in April by Vegan Action (vegan.org), which is one of the leading vegan certification organizations in the world, says a report in aetherdiamonds.com. 
According to Aether Diamonds, they are the world's first positive-impact diamonds, the first diamonds ever made from air, the first to remove harmful pollution from the atmosphere; and now the world's first certified vegan diamonds. The company claims to have introduced an ‘industry-changing concept’ with Aether that will define the future of fine jewellery.
According to the company, Aether diamonds are made using sustainably sourced energy and carbon sourced from air pollution. This results in a positive impact on the environment, leaving the planet in a better condition than before the Aether diamonds were created.
The company also claims that all mined diamonds destroy ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and all other lab-grown diamonds on the market are reliant on fossil fuels as their source of carbon. Aether's are the only available diamonds in the world that help reverse the historical damage done to ecosystems and the environment by the diamond industry, asserts the company. Aether says that it entered the fine jewellery market with an ambitious vision… one that brings integrity and new moral standards to a space that has been historically riddled with confusing claims about sustainability and ethical practices.
With the multiple 3rd party validations and its recent vegan status, Aether says that it aims to cut through the typical greenwashing in the marketplace and lead the diamond industry into a better future where both customers and the planet can benefit.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished