The Truth About Mined Diamonds: What They Don’t Tell You

When people talk about mined diamonds, they often mention words like “forever,” “natural,” or “investment.” But rarely do we talk about the real cost — the one that doesn’t come with a price tag.

At Nangi, we believe in transparency. That includes sharing what traditional mining means for our planet and the people living on it. Because while diamonds may be beautiful, the way they’re sourced matters.

The Environmental Cost of Diamond Mining

Mining is one of the most environmentally destructive industries in the world. It leaves massive scars on landscapes, pollutes ecosystems, and emits huge volumes of greenhouse gases. Here are just a few sobering facts:

• De Beers emits 1.9 million tons of CO₂ every year, more than some entire countries. → Wall Street Journal, 2016
• In Canada, a lake was completely drained to mine diamonds below it, killing more than 18,000 fish. → Wall Street Journal, 2016
• In 2021, De Beers pleaded guilty to failing to report mercury pollution, which may have impacted waterways and communities. → CBC News, 2021
  

These are not isolated cases. They are symptoms of an industry that relies on extracting finite resources from the earth — often at the expense of nature and local communities.

The Social Consequences: Who Really Profits?

Historically, the diamond trade has fueled conflict, enabled corruption, and exploited workers. In many countries, it still does. That’s why a former Tiffany & Co. CEO called diamond mining one of the industries with the largest social and environmental footprints.

As Pope Francis once noted, mining often results in

“the extraction of wealth from land that paradoxically does not produce wealth for the local populations who remain poor.”

The truth is, many mined diamonds come from countries where profits don’t support local communities, but instead flow into powerful corporate hands or governments with questionable track records.

A Better Way Forward

At Nangi, we believe that modern technology allows us to do better.

That’s why we use lab-grown diamonds — identical to mined ones in every way, but without the environmental destruction or murky ethics. While no diamond (lab or mined) comes with zero impact, we believe in reducing harm where we can.

Lab-grown diamonds offer traceability, transparency, and a clear conscience — without compromising beauty.

Informed Luxury

You deserve to know what you’re wearing and where it comes from.

Choosing a lab-grown diamond isn’t just a style decision. It’s a statement about what matters to you — people, the planet, and a more responsible kind of luxury.

Because we believe beauty shouldn’t cost the earth.