Information - Diamond Certification |
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Benefits of Government Certification
It's proof that your diamond is a natural diamond: it is not synthetic, not colour-enhanced. It's proof that your diamond is cut to high quality standards. It's proof of ownership. Your GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED CANADIAN DIAMOND™ certificate carries a serial number, and is individually recorded in a confidential centralized database.
Who's involved:
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Look
for the GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED CANADIAN DIAMOND™ symbol. It distinguishes each CANADIAN DIAMOND
mined, cut and polished to exacting quality standards in Canada's
Arctic. Each and every diamond is monitored and inspected from mine
to manufacturer under this unique Government Diamond Certification
Program.  |
To support the growth of the diamond industry in the Northwest Territories, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has developed and implemented the world's first polished Diamond Certification Program. The GNWT certifies authentic Canadian diamonds mined, cut and polished in the Northwest Territories. All certified diamonds must meet a high standard of quality cut. |
To learn more about the Government of the Northwest Territories, please visit www.gov.nt.ca.
Diamond-cutting factories in Canada's Northwest Territories
Two factories in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories are currently participating in the Government Diamond Certification Program. These factories have brought some of the world's most experienced craftsmen to Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories, to turn the mines' output into polished diamonds of the highest quality, and to train northern workers.
Where is the Northwest Territories?
Just above the 60th parallel, and below the North Pole, Canada's Northwest Terrritories is an amazing travel destination. Great rivers, and fantastic, ever changing landscapes, immence boreal forests, wildlife in abundance and migration routes for millions of birds – these are just some of the sights to see in the NWT. Aboriginal tradition thrives in communities built on a rich fur-trade. Small and widely scattered, these communities are linked by roads, rivers or bush airlines. Starkly beautiful and intense, the Northwest Territories is pristine. Home of the breathtaking Aurora Borealis, diamonds, mountains, tundra, and the Arctic seacoast. The North is Canada’s undiscovered treasure Please visit www.explorenwt.com for more information on visiting Canada’s Northwest Territories
Canadian diamond mines
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The Ekati Diamond Mine™, owned by BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc., is Canada's first diamond mine, situated approximately 300 km northeast of Yellowknife. (To see where the mine is located, please click here). As of June 2006, Ekati has recovered approximately 31 million carats. The mine began operations in 1998 and is estimated to yield from 3 to 5 million carats annually. Many large diamonds have been recovered, including a 186 carat boart stone. The mine currently employs over 600 people. |
 Diavik |
North Americas second diamond mine, the Diavik Diamond Mine was completed in early 2003. At peak production, the Diavik Mine is expected to produce over 8 million carats of diamonds annually and mine life is expected to be from 16-22 years. Production will come from four ore bodies, called kimberlite pipes, discovered underwater just offshore of a 20 sq km island located in Lac de Gras, approximately 300 km northeast of Yellowknife. The Project is a joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (60 percent), a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc, and Aber Diamond Mines Ltd. (40 percent), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aber Diamond Corporation. As of June 2006, total diamond production had reached approximately 24 million carats. The mine employs over 760 people.
The Snap Lake Project, owned 100% by De Beers, will be the first entirely underground diamond mine in Canada. Construction of the mine is scheduled for completion in 2007. Full production is anticipated by the third quarter of 2008. Mine capacity will be at a projected average rate of 3,000 tonnes per day and have a mine life expected to be 20 years. The project is expected to employ about 500 people. For more information, visit www.debeerscanada.com.
How it works:
Government Certification
Through a stringent monitoring system, the Government of the Northwest Territories follows each and every GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED CANADIAN DIAMOND™ from the mine through to the diamond factories — the only program in the world to do this. Factories participating in the program are required to keep detailed records on each stone and are required to submit reports of purchases and processing of individual stones at key stages in the manufacturing process. The program also includes inspections at the factories to examine the diamonds and review the records.
Government Certified Canadian Diamonds are Certified by Government not Industry.
The GNWT Certification Program is administered by the Minerals, Oil and Gas division of Industry, Tourism and Investment. It also oversees rough diamond supply agreements, and monitoring of approved NWT manufacturer’s rough, cut and polished stones.
For more information please visit: http://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/diamond/index.htm
The Government of the Northwest Territories Official Certificate
An official Government Certificate accompanies each genuine GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED CANADIAN DIAMOND™ . It contains specific, individual information about the diamond, and the following message from the Premier of the Northwest Territories, the highest territorial government official:
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“The Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada, hereby certifies this diamond as a natural CANADIAN ARCTIC™ diamond that was mined, cut and polished in the Northwest Territories. This diamond has qualified for certification by meeting the high standard of cut and other requirements established by the Government of the Northwest Territories Monitoring and Certification Programs.” |
Look for the Government Certificate to ensure that you are getting a genuine GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED CANADIAN DIAMOND™.
The Craftsmen:
Diamond-cutting in Canada's North
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Two cutting and polishing factories are currently participating in the Government of the Northwest Territories Polished Diamond Certification Program. These factories have brought some of the world's most experienced craftsmen to Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories, to turn the mines' output into polished diamonds of the highest quality, and to train northern workers. The pursuit of excellence in cutting and polishing GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED CANADIAN DIAMOND™ has also prompted the development of an Occupational Standards and Certification Program for diamond polishers. Diamond polishers must meet high standards of skill and knowledge to receive Certification. This program is a world-first for the diamond industry. |
To learn more about the Occupational Standards and Certification Program, visit http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca.
Copyright ©2008 GNWT - Industry, Tourism and Investment