Leading watch and jewellery brand Chopard and leading diamond laboratory HRD Antwerp have joined the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) membership. The RJC membership list boasts over 200 companies and trade associations.

Michael Rae, the RJC’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Chopard’s membership of the RJC will reinforce the Council’s mission of responsible business practices amongst large and small industry players.” Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, mentioned that “By joining and supporting the Responsible Jewellery Council, Chopard underlines its strong commitment to corporate responsibility and integrity”.

“HRD Antwerp will add an impressive level of expertise from the Belgian diamond industry to the RJC’s efforts. They have made a commitment to join with the RJC’s Standards Committee on developing standards for gemmological laboratories and assayers in 2010-2011,” says Rae. “We are proud to be a member of RJC and look forward to working together to ensure the responsible and ethical advancement of the industry,” says Georges Brys, General Manager, HRD Antwerp.

The RJC System requires that all RJC Commercial Members be audited by accredited, third party auditors to verify their conformance with the RJC’s Code of Practices to become certified.