CRJP to Join CIBJO As Associate Member
Diamonds.net, NY
(Rapaport…June 4, 2006) The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices (CRJP) have resolved their differences and agreed to hold different yet complementary roles in promoting proper business ethics and consumer confidence in the jewelry industry worldwide. As a result of the agreement, CRJP will become an associate member of CIBJO
Under the terms of the agreement, CIBJO, as the umbrella organization of the world jewelry industry and its leading associations, will continue to play the role of educator and communicator on matters of business responsibility. CIBJO will work to raise awareness of these topics at a high level in the industry at large, pursue educational efforts to disseminate information, and serve as a forum for the worldwide industry to debate its views on business responsibility.
CRJP, as a trade association comprised of specific organizations from the gold and diamond jewelry supply chain, will play a more narrowly defined role than CIBJO. CRJP’s specific focus will continue to be the creation of a supply chain initiative for the gold and diamond jewelry industry, from mine to retail.
The groups agreed that CIBJO’s role is to focus on industry’s quest to maintain consumer confidence from a broader perspective, while leaving the consideration of creating specific ways of accomplishing this to trade organizations like CRJP, which have a more grass-roots focus.
Upon conclusion of the agreement, CIBJO invited CRJP to become an associate member. CRJP agreed to join CIBJO prior to CIBJO’s Annual Congress, to be held July 24 to 27 2006, in Vancouver, Canada.
In addition, CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri has invited CRJP to organize a session on this subject matter at the Vancouver Congress on July 24. CRJP agreed and is currently planning its presentation.
“I would like to express my support for and endorsement of the specific role that CRJP plays, in creating a supply chain initiative for the gold and diamond jewelry industry,” said Dr. Cavalieri. “I welcome the group to our Vancouver meeting and I look forward to the information CRJP will bring to our various constituents.”
“CIBJO’s Annual Congress is an ideal arena for the industry worldwide to familiarize itself with recent developments as they relate to issues associated with business responsibility,” said Matthew A. Runci, CRJP chairman of the board, and CEO of Jewelers of America. “With his invitation for CRJP to join and attend the Vancouver Congress, Dr. Cavalieri has made a valuable contribution to our further progress in this important field,” said Runci.
On August 31, 2005, CIBJO announced that it was withdrawing its membership from the then recently formed CRJP. CIBJO had at the time said that it serves the interest of the jewelry, gemstones, and precious metals industries, and claimed that those who lack the means to obtain CRJP accreditation would be discriminated against.
