RJC to consider adding coloured stones to remit

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has announced it is considering adding coloured gemstones to its purview.

The body announced at Baswelworld that it has embarked on “a major new area of work on coloured gemstones and their potential inclusion into RJC’s material scope” which currently includes diamonds, gold and platinum group metals.

A task force has been convened under the direction of Anne-Marie Fleury, standards and impact director, which will advise and oversee a technical feasibility study on how coloured stones could best be covered within RJC’s approach.

Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, president of the World Jewellery Federation (CIBJO) has agreed to be special advisor to the study.

In a statement, the RJC said: “This initiative has been enthusiastically welcomed by many RJC members and external stakeholders involved in the coloured stones sector. It constitutes yet another step taken in our vision of a responsible world-wide supply chain in the jewellery industry.”

Andrew Bone, RJC executive director, added: “This project has been in the making for many years now, and Baselworld represented a perfect opportunity to announce the start of this long process.

“Expanding our material scope is essential to furthering our mission; as we continue to strive to become the recognised standards and certification organisation for supply chain integrity and dilligence in the jewellery industry.”