Kimberley Process

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is the cornerstone of international efforts to prevent “conflict diamonds” from entering the trade, ensuring rough diamonds are certified as conflict-free at every stage. Established by the UN in 2003, it now covers roughly 99.8% of global production through a system of government-issued certificates and records. Despite progress, it faces criticism—particularly for its narrow definition of conflict diamonds and lack of transparency and enforcement—prompting calls for broader ethical oversight. Jewellery Focus offers trade-focused coverage on the KPCS and its evolving impact on the UK jewellery sector, reporting on regulatory updates, compliance challenges, extensions like the World Diamond Council’s System of Warranties, campaign developments, and how UK retailers, importers, dealers, and valuers can navigate these frameworks. Our coverage equips professionals to understand certification requirements, respond to scrutiny, safeguard supply chain ethics, and align with consumer expectations.

Oct- 2016 -

7 October

Q&A Sessions

Tom Davis

COMPANY Q&A: Polished diamonds with Monnickendam

With more than 100 years in the industry, Monnickendam is one of the oldest and largest sellers of polished diamonds in the UK. Neil Holness, director of the company, talks to us about the company’s offering [divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] hen was the company founded? We were set up in…
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Jul- 2015 -

1 July

Appointments

Tom Davis

RJC appoints Andrew Bone as executive director

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has appointed a new executive director, Andrew Bone, as part of the organisation’s ongoing management restructure. Bone, who has extensive experience in the diamond and marketing sectors, has previously worked at De Beers and was also behind many industry initiatives including the Kimberley Process, the…
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May- 2015 -

19 May

Manufacturers

Tom Davis

WB The Creative Jewellery Group gains RJC certification

WB The Creative Jewellery Group has announced that all three of its companies have been granted certification by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). The group, whose subsidiaries are Domino, Weston Beamor and Gecko, employs some 180 staff. It says it has “long been committed to ethical business practices” and was…
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Nov- 2014 -

5 November

Trade Organisations

Tom Davis

DDI to manage Kimberley Process technical assistance

The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) has begun coordinating the ‘technical assistance’ function of the Kimberley Process with the help of a grant from Signet Jewellers. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is a joint government, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, especially those used…
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Oct- 2014 -

28 October

Trade Organisations

Tom Davis

Diamond bourses pull out of World Diamond Council AGM

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and seven others major organisations have announced they are pulling out of the World Diamond Council’s (WDC) annual general meeting, due to take place on 28 October. The organisations signed a joint letter to the Council announcing explaining that they did not want…
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Jul- 2013 -

3 July

Manufacturers

Lauren Morton

Avi Paz elected as president of the WDC

Avi Paz has succeeded Eli Izhakoff as president of the World Diamond Council (WDC), which is the body charged with leading the diamond and jewellery industry’s campaign to end the trade in conflict diamonds.
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May- 2013 -

29 May

Current Affairs

Jewellery Focus Staff

Central African Republic suspended from Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

Eli Izhakoff, president of the World Diamond Council, has supported without reservation the decision issued on 23 May by Ambassador Welile Nhlapo, chair of the Kimberley Process (KP), to suspend temporarily the Central African Republic (CAR) from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
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May- 2012 -

21 May

Trade Organisations

Jewellery Focus Staff

CIBJO supports WDC call to widen ‘conflict diamonds’ definition

Meeting on the final day of the 2012 World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) Congress in Vicenza, Italy, the General Assembly has added its support to widen the definition of 'conflict diamonds' in the statutes of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
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