The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has seen a growth in its membership list and at present includes 130 companies and trade associations of the diamond and gold jewellery supply chain. The council received 52 new memberships in the first six months of 2009 including Fred Meyer Jewelers, Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Venus Jewel, Accurist Watches Limited and Eurocantera – a mining company.

Reports say that majority of the RJC membership is of small and medium sized companies, including independent retailers and single-location diamond cutting operations. Being a RJC member requires one to be audited by an accredited, third party auditor on the lines of RJC’s Code of Practices. Every member expresses his contribution and commitment to ethical, human rights, social and environmental performance in the jewellery industry, which seems to be increasing with the rise in the membership list.