[richlevy]

This site, http://www.fairjewelry.org/ , popped up on a search.

Try searching for 'ethical jewelry' and 'fair trade jewelry' using your favorite search engine.

I guess diamonds are the worst because there is a definite cartel (De Beers) that controls %40 of the market.

If she and you want to send a message and stick it to De Beers, you can go for lab-grown diamonds.

These guys http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com/ make diamond simulants. These guys http://www.apollodiamond.com/ and these guys http://www.gemesis.com/ manufacture real diamonds. I think Gemesis only makes yellow diamonds, but I could be wrong.

If I remember the articles correctly, there are actually two competing technologies for growing diamonds.

I'm surprised a South African hit squad hasn't taken these guys out yet. Most jewelers can't tell the difference, so in a way the 'natural' diamond is obsolete. It's pretty much what would happen if someone found an economical way to create gold.

Here's the wiki article on the companies and technologies involved.

BTW, if you have any cremated dead relatives or pets, there's always Lifegem.