【Milan, Italy】The Blue List – Definitive Glossary of Jewelry Terms

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Editor’s Note

The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) has launched a public consultation to finalize a key glossary for responsible sourcing and sustainability in the jewelry sector. We welcome this step toward greater industry transparency and encourage stakeholders to participate.

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Public Consultation Launched

(IDEX Online) – The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) today (5 May) opened a public consultation as it prepares to finalize a definitive glossary of terms related to responsible sourcing and sustainability in the jewelry, gemstone and precious metals industries.

Purpose and Timeline

It is called The Blue List: The Responsible Jewellery Supply Chain Lexicon and it is designed to protect consumer confidence by ensuring terminology is accurate, substantiated, and easy to understand, wherever it is used.
For the next four months, CIBJO will be accepting suggestions here from people working at all points along the supply chain – from mining companies to retailers.
The Blue List is due to be published in October and will, says CIBJO “serve as a living document, reviewed regularly and updated as regulatory needs evolve”.

Background and Development

The Milan-based CIBJO already publishes Blue Books – internationally recognized sets of standards and nomenclature covering diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls, coral, precious metals, and gemological laboratories.
A draft of The Blue List has been researched and prepared by CIBJO’s Nomenclature Committee over the last three years, drawing on widely used consumer-facing terms and conducted research drawing on international standards, legal analyses, and existing industry frameworks.

Addressing Industry Gaps
“The findings revealed significant gaps that created ambiguity and confusion across the supply chain,” said CIBJO in a statement.
“The draft Blue List directly addresses these gaps through a robust framework designed to ensure terminology is accurate, substantiated, and easy to understand.
“Ultimately, this initiative helps protect consumer confidence by ensuring that marketing claims are clear, credible, and universally understood.”
Leadership Perspective

Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, president of CIBJO, said:

“The Blue List is a vital step toward greater consistency and credibility in how our industry communicates about responsibility.
“With growing demand for transparency, the absence of clear, harmonised terminology has led to confusion, even among professionals. By providing universally agreed language and guidance for substantiation, we are creating a common ground that strengthens trust both within the industry and with the public.”
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⏰ Published on: May 16, 2025