Home Page

Email us

The Private Reserve
Ideal Cut Diamonds
In-Stock & Available:
Diamond Inventory


Ideal Cut Classifications
AGS Ideal 0 Cut
AGS-000/Triple 0 defined

Eighternity Diamonds
GIA Excellent / Ideal
Hearts & Arrows Ideals
Just Plain "Ideal"
The Ideal Differences

Fancy Shape Desc.
Asscher Cut Diamonds
Cushion Cut Diamonds
Princess Cut Diamonds

Private Reserve Terms:
Glossary of Terms
Inventory Introduction
No Sales Tax!    0.00%

Engagement Rings:
Overview of Styles
Tiffany Solitaires

Gold Solitaires
Platinum Solitaires

Knife Edge Solitaires

Cathedral Solitaires
Comfort Fit Solitaires
Half Round Bands

3 Stone Rings (DeBeers)

3 Stone Rings (Fancy)

Anniversary Rings

Eternity Rings


Designer Collection:
Designs by Tacori
Designs by D. Vatche
Designs by Viachi

Jewelry For Sale:
Diamond Earrings
Pearls
Colored Gems

Fashion Jewelry

Diamond Grading
The Expanded 4Cs

1. Cut = Light Return
2. Color
3. Clarity
4. Carat Weight

Clarity Characteristics
Degrees of Magnification
Diamond Grading Tools
Evaluating A Diamond
Fast Track to Brilliance

FireScope™
Fluorescence
Gem Ex Brilliance Scope
Grading for Real People
Holloway Cut Advisor
Polish
Proportions

Proportions Analysis
Sarin DiaMension
Symmetry

SymmetriScope™
The 60/60 Farce
Tolkowsky Range

Buyer Beware!
Chipped Diamonds

"Empty House Listers"

Re-Cut Diamonds
Secret Stuff
Treated Diamonds

When is "Ideal" not?

Diamond Price Tools
Paid Report Access

A word about pricing...
What is the "Rap Trap"?
What is Ho-Ho-Wholesale

What is a Site Sale?

Independent Laboratories
The GIA vs. the AGS

Important Stuff
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
0.00% Sales Tax!  Oh yea!

FAQ's or Fiction
Find an Appraiser
Kimberly Diamond Act
Ordering Information
Platinum Tips & Care
Privacy Policy
Ring Size Conversion
Shipping Information
Terms & Conditions
Time Zone 101

Trade-in Policy
What Do I Do Next?

Who Are These Nuts?
About Us
Ask A Fellow Netite
Contact Us
General Information

The Benefits of NiceIce
N.Y.D. Magazine says...
Services Offered

Visit Our Store!

Investigate Us
Jewelers Vigilance (JVC)
The Public Eye
Epinions.com

Interesting Stuff
Canadian Diamonds
Diavik Mine Canada
$295M DeBeers Settlement
Blood Diamond Movie
Sierra Leone Diamonds

The Legal Stuff
Copyright Notice

Terms & Conditions

Trade Affiliations:


Jewelers Vigilance


Jewelers of America


Manufacturing Jewelers
& Suppliers of America

StopBloodDiamonds.org Registered Jeweler

Friends, Competitors
& Shopping Favorites!

Exchange Links w/Us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

*

 

Diamonds of the Sierra Leone

The wealth of nations is not determined by the resources that lie beneath their soil, but by the resourcefulness of their people… Natural resources are morally neutral.  As such they can be a source of great good - as in Botswana and indeed, South Africa - or dreadful ill as in a number of other countries on this continent. The key element is not the resource itself, but how it is exploited and Africa provides telling examples of both.  An orderly mining regime, operating within a transparent and predictable legislative and fiscal framework, can be a major source of prosperity for governments and people.  Without it, mineral wealth - especially, but not exclusively in its more accessible forms - will be a magnet for the greedy and corrupt to line their own pockets at the expense of the people.

-- De Beers Group chairman, Nicky Oppenheimer in an address to the Commonwealth Business Forum, Johannesburg, November 1999.  Click here for the full text of this presentation.

Although Amnesty International has long focused upon the human injustices which resulted from illegal mining activities in the Sierra Leone during their civil war, the social consciousness of  the world was not really awakened to the tragedies of this issue until after the events of 9/11 when false accusations were made pertaining to terrorist activities being allegedly funded by the sale of black market diamond rough from the Sierra Leone.

Although it has been estimated that fewer than 1% of all the diamonds sold globally are sourced from illegal black market diamond rough, many political representatives and Hollywood stars have recently jumped up on the apparently hot political bandwagon of Blood Diamonds, in an apparent effort to promote their own popularity while riding upon the backs of the diamond miners who are merely trying to earn a legitimate living mining diamonds in the Sierra Leone.

Never mind the fact that the people who earn their living working for legitimate mining operations in the Sierra Leone had their lives and livelihood interrupted by the tragic events of the Sierra Leone civil war, now they have to endure the financial pressures placed upon them by "global concern" revolving around "blood diamonds" from the Sierra Leone and people who don't want to buy diamonds from the Sierra Leone because they "might be blood diamonds"... Frankly folks, this recent rash of "global concern" is too little and about ten years too late! The time to be concerned was in the late 1990's when the civil war was raging full force and the people of the Sierra Leone were being trampled upon by guerilla forces.  That was the time to speak up, that was the time to take action... What the people of the Sierra Leone need from us today is our financial support... Buy diamonds from legitimate sources, stop freaking out as to whether the diamond is from the Sierra Leone or not, and support non-governmental organizations which are fighting to stem the flow of HIV/AIDS because that IS a legitimate issue for the people living in the Sierra Leone today!

The diamond industry is vital to the Southern Africa economy" - Nelson Mandela

Here is how your diamond purchase helps the world...

65% of the world's diamonds come from African countries.

The $8.4 billion African diamond industry is one of the fundamental pillars of the African economy.

Diamond revenues in Botswana enable every child to receive free education up to age 13.

The diamond mining industry generates more than 40% of Namibia's annual export earnings.

The Diamond Development Initiative was established to improve working the working conditions of miners.

Approximately 5 million people have access to health care due to diamond revenues.

An estimated 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry.

Revenues from the diamond industry help provide necessary HIV / AIDS education and treatment.

The charity Jewelers for Children funds a community based care program for orphaned children in South Africa.

The people who earn their living by working in the diamond mines are not being suppressed by the diamond industry, they rely on the diamond industry for their livelihood.  Support them by buying your diamond jewelry from legitimate dealers who purchase the diamonds which they sell by legitimate means.  We support the Kimberly Diamond Act and are compliant with the requirements of the Kimberly Process.  All of the diamonds which we represent are purchased by legitimate means from legitimate, registered members of the diamond trade.


May we help you find the diamond of your dreams?
Send us an email diamonds@niceice.com and tell us what you are looking for.
Or give us a call at 206.319.8152 or Toll Free 877.844.5443

Copyright © 1996 - 2007 Nice Ice, Inc.

AGS® is a registered trademark of the American Gem Society (702) 255-6500
GIA® is a registered trademark of the Gemological Institute of America (760) 603-4000