I spent many years in the jewelry business. I know the processes, and means by which gold and gems are acquired. I left the business much as a result of the following information. Gold and gem mining is dirty, and corrupt. The price we pay for vanity/ego is too great. Mining requires the removal of LARGE amounts of earth; it's often then dumped into local streams and rivers. In the case of gold mining, chemicals are often used to derive the gold from the ore it is contained in, chemicals like cyanide . Mining is often done in third world nations where local laws are easy to subvert with enough money. The miners themselves are often mistreated local peoples who work tirelessly in the hope of getting that big find. When it comes to diamonds, you’re really getting ripped off here. The DeBeers Company has a monopoly on all the diamonds in the world; they even buy black market goods in order to maintain control. DeBeers has so many diamonds in storage that the actual value of a one carat diamond could be measures in the tens of dollars instead of the thousands. Before you buy another piece of jewelry please read the following article.