Certification
Certification in the jewellery trade refers to the formal validation of materials, processes, and expertise—from gemstone grading reports and precious metal fineness marks to professional qualifications and ethical supply-chain endorsements. These credentials matter to UK jewellery professionals for establishing trust, ensuring compliance, and supporting premium pricing. Jewellery Focus delivers in-depth coverage of certification in all its forms, including lab reports (GIA, IGI), UK hallmarking, Fairtrade/Fairmined and sustainability seals, accreditations from Gem‑A and other bodies, plus courier and security compliance standards. We explore how certification shapes sourcing decisions, retail disclosure obligations, consumer confidence, and regulatory audits—helping retailers, designers, gem dealers, manufacturers, and valuers understand pathways to accreditation and leverage trust-enhancing credentials in the UK market.
-
Jul- 2019 -8 JulyAnalysis
Why sustainability is the key to targeting millennial jewellery shoppers
Millennials have been called a generation of industry-killers. The buying trends of this iconoclastic age group have severely dented several industries, including beer, napkins and mayonnaise. The spending power (or, more importantly, non-spending power) of millennials shouldn’t be underestimated. Forbes declared them the generation with the highest buying potential. So,…
Read More » -
May- 2019 -17 MayProduct Launches
Kingston Jewellers seeking partners for own brand lab diamond range
Kingston Jewellers has announced five months after the launch of its Nova Lab Diamond Collection sales through the retail and online channels have “exceeded all expectations”. As such the firm has announced it is seeking a new partner for the venture and is relaunching a dedicated online B2C and B2B…
Read More » -
16 MayAppointments
RJC appoints new board and committee members at its 2019 AGM
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) held its first virtual annual general meeting this week – appointing a series of new board members. The event, held in partnership with leading software and audience engagement technology provider, Lumi, was broadcasted to all RJC member companies globally from Chatham House in London on…
Read More » -
Apr- 2019 -24 AprilEvents
CIBJO gives ‘comprehensive plan’ to promote responsible sourcing
The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) president, Gaetano Cavalieri, has outlined a “comprehensive” plan for promoting responsible sourcing practices during a plenary session at the 13th OECD Forum in Paris. The CIBJO president was speaking during a special session on the first day of the OECD forum at which select…
Read More » -
15 AprilRetailers
Graff unveils ‘world’s largest’ square emerald cut diamond
Multinational jeweller Graff has unveiled the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond, named the Graff Lesedi La Rona. The 302.37 carat gem is the largest highest colour, highest clarity diamond ever certified by the GIA, and according to the group required over 18 months of “meticulous craftsmanship” and marks an…
Read More » -
9 AprilAppointments
RJC appoints Iris Van der Veken as new executive director
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), has appointed Iris Van der Veken as its next executive director, effective immediately. The standard setting and certification body said Van der Veken has wide-ranging international experience in the diamond, gold, jewellery and fashion industries. She is also the first woman to become the organisation’s…
Read More » -
Nov- 2018 -29 NovemberFeatures
Company Q&A: International Gemmological Laboratory
What is the back history of the IGL? We opened the office in Jan 2014, but the company actually started back in 1981 in Canada. About eight years ago it also opened in Israel as a diamond exchange, and then we opened here this year. At the beginning of the…
Read More » -
Oct- 2018 -30 OctoberCurrent Affairs
Alrosa partners with De Beers to pilot Tracr programme
Tracr, the end-to-end diamond industry blockchain traceability platform being developed by De Beers Group has announced that Alrosa has joined the platform’s pilot programme. Alrosa will join industry leaders from the diamond manufacturing and retail sectors in creating the blockchain platform. Following the announcement of the Tracr pilot earlier this…
Read More » -
Sep- 2018 -27 SeptemberAppointments
Executive director Andrew Bone steps down from RJC
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has announced Andrew Bone will be stepping down as its executive director, effective 27 March 2019. Bone has been in the role since the spring of 2015. Under his leadership, RJC membership doubled and the organization said it has “laid the foundations for sustainable growth…
Read More » -
13 SeptemberFeatures
Whose fault was it anyway?
A young couple come into your shop looking for an engagement ring and after about 20 minutes the young man gets up and goes over to the watch counter Another couple were in and bought an engagement ring, but they never returned to buy their wedding rings A young lady…
Read More »