Bring Diamonds on sustainable lab grown diamonds
The Condé Nast College, welcomed David Hardy and Finlay Lockie, co-founders of sustainable lab grown diamond brand Bring Diamonds, as industry speakers last week.
Bring Diamonds, is a nascent brand that is revolutionising our perceptions of diamonds, through radical transparency. Away from the horrors of blood diamonds, conflict diamonds and modern day slavery infringements, Bring Diamonds pioneering approach to diamond production and core brand ethos of radical transparency is set bring clarity to an industry plagued with ethical issues.
Introducing Bring Diamonds
Founded in 2019 by David Hardy, the Director and Co-Founder, whose background is in chemical engineering and risk management. David has used his experience to clean up the traditional energy industries through innovative sustainable solutions, which include carbon capture and storage, the decommissioning of nuclear, oil and gas legacies and clean technology for coal and gas power stations. Alongside David, Finlay Lockie CEO and Co-Founder of Bring Diamonds experience is in international commercial law and shipping. The pair met when David was working as a consultant to law firm Campbell Johnston Clark in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, now the location of the lab.
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Intrinsic to the creation of Bring Diamonds is a robust sustainable and ethical ethos, which runs throughout the DNA of the brand. A message which was repeated numerous times throughout the industry talk. This approach to business has helped to navigate the complexities of bringing the business to the market. A process which is constantly evolving and needing refinement due to the growing access to technology, across the sector.
Much of the scrutiny against Bring Diamonds is the on-going debate between the value of mined versus lab grown diamonds. The value of a diamond is ascertained through the same four stage measures of attractiveness, rarity, quality and formation. However the pair note that this is in fact not the area that people should be focused on, but rather how ethical the diamonds being produced are. Bring Diamonds have their own personal “goal to be the most ethical and sustainable diamonds on the market.” The debate should rather be focused on “ethical versus unethical diamonds”. The thinking should further extend to the way in which diamonds are polished and cut and not exclusively be seen as an origin debate.
Combating Greenwashing
Radical transparency is only achieved through a clear communication and openness to receive and expect scrutiny. For Bring Diamonds this scrutiny is not only welcomed, but encouraged. With both David and Finlay offering in person tours for students to come and see the diamonds being produced for themselves. A process which takes between 20 to 22 days to grow a batch of diamonds. Much like their mined sister counterparts, the certainty of the final product is never assured.
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Radical Transparency
Forget all talk and no action, David spoke of a commitment of “actual action”, a social responsibility that is centered on “doing the right thing”. A promise of conflict free, zero exploitation, excellent working conditions and socially responsible diamonds. Is reinforced through environmental initiatives designed to offset the manufacturing process. Bring Diamonds supports charities which work in reforestation, a cause which Finlay has been committed to for the last 50 years. Bring Diamonds have ambitions of creating their own forest in Scotland to offset their carbon emissions, a dream which has already become reality with the planting of the first trees. This is an important step to take with 10 tonnes of carbon picked up by a hectare of forest. Efforts which have not been appreciated by the local wildlife with a local deer viewing the first tree planted as an easy meal.
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Another advantage is the factory is based in the UK where currently David noted “54% of all national grid energy comes from low carbon sources”. At present the cutting is carried out in Antwerp by a local artisan. However, the team aims to have a supplier in the UK, a vital and important step as David noted. Currently diamond cutting is only done by 5 people in the UK and it is a skill on the brink of extinction here.
Despite a mixed “varied response,” from industry Bring Diamonds are focusing on their own approach of genuine openness and ethical diamond production. To encourage and foster a new conscious mindset within their consumers and set a new industry standard.
Key Takeaways
- Ethical diamonds vs. unethical diamonds is the new debate
- A sustainable diamond supply chain is achievable
- Brand scrutiny is a good thing
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