Editor’s Note
This article is part of a series profiling key international organizations. CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, is the sector’s oldest global body, founded in 1926. It primarily represents national trade associations and sets crucial industry standards.
CIBJO is the oldest international organization in the jewelry sector, having been established in 1926. Its membership is made up largely of national jewelry trade organizations from more than 40 countries around the world. Many international jewelry sector’s private corporations and service providers are also affiliated to CIBJO through commercial membership. CIBJO’s purpose is to encourage harmonization of standards in the jewelry trade and to promote international cooperation in the jewelry industry for the protection of consumer confidence. In particular, CIBJO developed its Blue Book system, which contains standards in such areas as the grading, methodology and nomenclature of diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls and other organic materials.
The object of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses is to protect the interests of its 30 affiliated diamond bourses and their individual members, and to further the amicable settlement or arbitration of differences and disputes between the individual members of the affiliated bourses and between the affiliated bourses. In furtherance of this object, it is the aim of the world federation to participate in the promotion of world trade and to encourage the establishment of bourses, with the view of eventual affiliation of all centers where diamonds are actively traded.
The primary mission of the World Diamond Council (WDC) is to represent the diamond and jewelry industry in the development and implementation of regulatory and voluntary systems that control the trade in diamonds embargoed by the United Nations, or are otherwise covered by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). It thus supports efforts to prevent the trade in “conflict diamonds.”
Its membership includes businesses and representative organizations from around the globe, along the entire diamond value chain, from rough diamond producers to retail jewelers.
WDC is the diamond industry’s representative in the tripartite coalition of the Kimberley Process (KP), which also includes representatives of governments and civil society. The KP is responsible for the governance of the KPCS, by which member governments implement safeguards on shipments of rough diamonds, and only those certified as “conflict free” can be traded in the respective markets.
To support the efficacy of the KPCS, supporting industry alignment and responsibility, and preserving the integrity of the value chain, WDC established the System of Warranties (SoW). It extends the effectiveness of the KP beyond the export and import of rough diamonds, and promotes human rights, fair labor practices, AML and anti-corruption.
WDC assists the KP with technical, financial and other support, and serves as the central point for informing and educating the industry about systems that prevent the trade in conflict diamonds.
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is the world’s leading standard setting organization for the jewelry and watch industry. The membership organization brings together companies of different shapes and sizes, across the global jewelry supply chain from mine to retail.
All members are required to follow and become certified against the RJC’s industry-wide Code of Practices standard, spanning the full jewelry supply chain from mine to retail. The Code of Practices is the tool used to assess the management and business practices of members, focusing on business ethics, responsible supply chains, human rights, due diligence, labor rights, working conditions, health, safety and environmental management. The robust certification process is independently audited by third-party auditors and is ISEAL accredited, ensuring RJC members uphold the highest standards. By adhering to the RJC Code of Practices, certified companies respect a range of principles and standards, including: ILO Labour Standards, OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Minerals & Metals, UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, UN Global Compact, and contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. The RJC stands for, and stands up for integrity: through supply chains, in their work with stakeholders, and of their membership. Through their standards and partnerships, the RJC is helping to transform the world’s jewelry supply chains to be more responsible and sustainable.
