Alrosa quits RJC board over Ukraine crisis
Alrosa has voluntarily stepped down as vice chair of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the standards authority announced Thursday [March 3].
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Should the industry still sell Russian goods?
Just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, diamond miner Alrosa—which is 33% owned by the Russian government—released its latest sustainability report, which talks about helping communities, respecting the environment, and prioritizing social responsibility.
Age of AI: automation in diamond grading
Artificial intelligence (AI) influences how we think, work and play, with algorithms guiding our behaviors online and in real life. Now AI is injecting scientific precision and computerized analysis into the traditionally subjective and manual diamond-grading process.
Boucheron, Sarine partner on traceability report
Sarine Technologies and French jeweler Boucheron have created a co-branded diamond report featuring grading information and provenance details.
Podcast: with special guest Iris Van Der Veken
In her three years as executive director of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), Iris Van der Veken has worked to align the organization — and the industry — with global efforts to tackle sustainability issues. While she admits that this is a daunting task, Van der Veken stresses it is a vital one for companies […]
A 5th certification for the RJC COP 2019 crowns Rubel & Ménasché’s commitment and good practices
Officially dated January 17, 2022, Rubel & Ménasché has just validated its 5th certification with the Responsible Jewellery Council, for its 2019 Code of Practices. This certification follows an audit which was successfully completed on September 16, 2021. Here, we explain Rubel & Ménasché’s motivations.
Anna Martin takes new role at GIA
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has appointed Anna Martin as senior vice president for institute and industry relations.
Pomellato to track its jewelry’s journey
Pomellato will trace its jewelry’s path from origin to purchase through a newly created app it called “the first of its kind” in the industry.
Kimberley Process adopts framework for “responsible sourcing”
While the recent Kimberley Process (KP) plenary didn’t make progress on one long-sought-after goal—widening the KP’s definition of conflict diamonds—it did pass a nonbinding declaration pushed by host country Russia that spells out the basics of “responsible diamond sourcing.”
In new campaign, GIA emphasizes emotion over education
The untitled marketing campaign tells consumers GIA has graded some of the most important diamonds in the world, including theirs.
Should Zimbabwe be made Kimberley Process Chair?
The recent Kimberley Process Plenary in Moscow featured—as expected—mostly familiar squabbles and an all-too-familiar lack of progress. But the famously fractious certification scheme greeted the most surprising announcement—Zimbabwe’s bid to be named vice chair, the traditional stepping stone to becoming chair—with an also-surprising lack of dissent.
Podcast: Behind De Beers’ strategy
The digital drive influencing the diamond industry is only going to intensify, stressed Neil Ventura, the company’s vice president of strategy and innovation, urging the trade to embrace these developments or risk being left behind.
