CIBJO Congress Emphasizes Importance of Maintaining Consumer Confidence

Jewellery Boom in India & Elsewhere Welcomed
CIBJO Congress Emphasizes Importance of Maintaining Consumer Confidence

CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, concluded its annual Congress in Hong Kong, delivering a strong message that it will continue to take a leadership role on behalf on the entire jewellery and gemstones business worldwide in maintaining the consumer's confidence in the products in sells. The Congress was attended by 160 delegates from 29 countries. It was hosted by the Hong Kong Jewellery Manufacturers Association.

% "Increasingly difficult challenges will be presented to CIBJO and will require our attention," stated Gaetano Cavalieri, the CIBJO President, in his keynote address. "We'll need to be alert and on our toes, and quick to address any implication addressing the integrity of our business practices and our market share."

Link Sought with United Nations:

Cavalieri informed the Congress participants that CIBJO has applied for official consultative status with the Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. This status, which is based on Article 71 of the UN Charter, would enable CIBJO to make a contribution to the programs and goals of the United Nations by serving as a technical expert, adviser and consultant to governments and the UN Secretariat.

Jewellery Foundation:

In a landmark decision, the CIBJO Ethics Commission proposed a resolution, which was passed by the Congress, which decided that CIBJO will join other interested organizations in establishing a foundation for corporate responsibility for the jewellery industry. The foundation, which includes several of the largest players in the international gemstones and jewellery industry, is scheduled to be formally incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Jewellery Boom in India & Many Countries:

The Congress shared the view that the growth prospect of the jewellery industry is excellent. This was particularly relevant in the developing economies and consumer markets of China, India, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin/Middle East. To maximize this opportunity, delegates at the Congress stressed, the industry must maintain the consumers' confidence in the integrity of the products they are purchasing. This, it was said, can only be achieved if the industry operates to the highest standards of ethics and best practice.

Full Disclosure Underlined:

With the emergence of new products into the market and the potential for consumer confusion, there was unanimous agreement on the need for full product disclosure at all stages of the supply chain to the final consumer. The use of clear and unequivocal descriptors is essential. In this respect, a number of significant achievements were recorded at the Congress, foremost among them the approval of revisions to CIBJO's Gemstone Blue Book. A new edition of the Gemstone Blue Book will now be produced. Also relating to disclosure, the Congress reiterated its call upon member organizations to require their members to fully disclose synthetic and treated diamonds on all transaction invoices, according to CIBJO rules.

Develop Ability to Detect:

The essential counterpart to disclosure is the ability to detect and differentiate products, and in this respect it was recognized that the gemological laboratories play a vital role, and detection equipment such as DTC's Diamond Sure and DiamondView and HRD's D-Screen are of major significance for both the trade and laboratories alike.

Next Congress in Canada:

The 2006 CIBJO Congress will take place in Vancouver, Canada, in July of next year. The Congress General Assembly accepted an invitation from the South African delegation to hold its 2007 Congress in South Africa.


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