Questions & Answers

Read the Q&A below and if you have more questions please write on the Contact page.

• Can anyone apply for Membership?
• Industry professionals and licensed companies that trade/deal exclusively in natural diamonds and gemstones that are ethically sourced qualify for membership. There are no geographic restrictions and Membership/Certificates are valid anywhere in the world.

• Can all Members apply for Certified Ethical Trader status?
• Yes. The CET Certificate is designed for all the Members that find benefit from being certified for their ethical compliance.

• Can a DSO Certified Ethical Trader independently certify a diamond or a gemstone?
• Yes. A DSO Certified Ethical Trader can use the Product Certificates to assign ethical certification to their natural products that comply with the DSO Code of Practice.

• What are the Product Certifications?
• The Product Certification is a certificate that relates to a single product  (whether a gemstone or a jewel or a jewelled product) that meets DSO Code of Practice standards.

• What is the Product Certificate for?
• A Product Certificate tells the Customer two key information about the product: it is Natural and it is Ethically Sourced.

• What is the difference between the two DSO Diamonds Certificates?
• The DSO Diamond Natural Laboratory-Certified certificate (DSO/NMLTC/NCD/KPCC) is assigned to a product that is laboratory tested and laboratory certified.
  The DSO Diamond Natural Independently-Tested certificate (DSO/NM/NLG/KPCC) is assigned to a product that is uncertified by a laboratory and it has been independently tested and graded.
  Both certificates communicate to the Customer that the product is Natural and Ethically Sourced.

• Can the Product Certificates replace a Laboratory Certificate (e.g.: GIA, HRD etc.)?
• No. The Products Certificates are designed to support laboratory certification and they help the Customers to understand the ethical conformity and the ethical footprint of their products. A laboratory certificate (e.g.: GIA, HRD etc.) is a technical certificate of the gemstone and it does NOT indicate the ethical footprint of the gemstone.

• What are the Codes of Practice?
• Please, read Codes.

• Where do I find more information about ethical sourcing and KPC compliance?
• Please, follow the relevant links on the Code of Practice.

• Are Certificates and Membership updated every year?
• Yes, if your subscription has not expired, you will automatically receive the up-to-date certificate for the current year. Please, read our Terms & Conditions for more details.

• Do you have more questions?
• Please, read our Terms & Conditions  or write to us on the Contact Page and one of our operators will be in touch.