Articles and News
Industry News From D.E.F., World Diamond Council, Jewelry Industry Summit, JA, More March 23, 2016 (0 comments)
Dorothée Gizenga And Chow Tai Fook To Be Honored At ‘Diamonds Do Good’ Awards
New York, NY—The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F) will honor two industry luminaries at its upcoming Diamonds Do Good Awards Gala June 2 in Las Vegas. D.E.F. will present its “Diamonds Do Good” Awards for Sustainable Practices to Dorothée Gizenga of the Diamond Development Initiative (left), and for Community Development to Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook.
D.E.F’s “Diamonds Do Good” Sustainable Practices Award recognizes commitment to ethical and sustainable practices in the diamond industry. Dorothée Gizenga’s work with the Diamond Development Initiative epitomizes this ideal. As part of DDI’s creation and development and its first executive director, Gizenga has committed herself to DDI’s mission to transform artisanal mining into a source of sustainable development. Now a Canadian citizen, Gizenga was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and went on to earn degrees in chemistry and economics before taking the helm of DDI in 2008.
D.E.F’s “Diamonds Do Good” Community Development Award is given for the development of impactful community programs to empower individuals and future generations. Chow Tai Fook supports community development as an integral part of its corporate social responsibility and is committed to help promote positive changes for communities in China. Its continuous support to UNICEF, whose programs in China focus largely on healthcare for children and mothers in rural villages in China, is an example of this commitment.
Kent Wong of Chow Tai Fook, the world's largest jewelry retailer, visits a UNICEF project in rural China.
Gizenga and Chow Tai Fook join Nathan R. Light in receiving Diamonds Do Good Awards at the gala. Light will receive D.E.F’s Diamonds Do Good Lifetime Achievement Award. Premier Presenting Sponsors of the Gala include Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, De Beers Group of Companies and Signet Jewelers Limited. Patron Sponsor includes JCK.
The event will be held Thursday, June 2 at the Four Seasons Ballroom in Las Vegas. For more information and to purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit diamondsdogoodawards.org.
World Diamond Council Condemns Attacks
New York, NY—The World Diamond Council (WDC) extends heartfelt condolences to the victims of the March 22 terror attacks at Zaventem Airport and Maelbeek metro station in Brussels, Belgium. The attacks hit close to home for the diamond industry, as the airport in particular is a key transportation hub for the diamond industry in Europe.
“We are devastated by these horrific acts of terrorism,” said Edward Asscher, president of the World Diamond Council. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their relatives. On behalf of our global membership, we send our sincere condolences to our partners from the Belgian diamond business and our friends at the European Union Headquarters with whom we work closely on the Kimberley Process, and to all who are impacted by these awful events.”
The diamond district in Antwerp, 25 miles from Brussels, is served by Zaventem Airport. Image: Wikipedia
Jewelry Industry Summit Launches New Sustainability Projects
New York, NY—The Jewelry Industry Summit concluded last week with a list of projects that various attendees committed to continue. The industry’s first open forum on sustainability and responsible sourcing took place March 11-13 in New York.
Among the projects is a Standards and Harmonization committee, which will align and coordinate various existing standards, and ensure that all companies have access to them, in order to ensure that new initiatives don't repeat work already done to identify and address industry supply chain issues.
Going forward, committees will address how to educate and convey responsible sourcing information to sales associates; create research on consumer attitudes about responsible sourcing and sustainability in the jewelry supply chain and communicate the industry’s accomplishments in these fields.
Specific issues within the supply chain to be addressed include helping gem cutters in developing countries with education and equipment to avoid silicosis (a disease that occurs from inhaling stone dust) and to initiative an artisanal colored gem mining site project in Brazil that adheres to responsible social, ethical, and environmental practices.
Summit attendees included miners, cutters, and manufacturers to wholesalers, designers and retailers of all sizes, that have already made significant commitments to responsible sourcing and sustainability. Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, banks, accountants, insurers, consultancies, associations, media, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also attended.
Jewelry industry members who did not attend the Jewelry Industry Summit can follow all updates on projects moving forward, via the Summit's Facebook page. Those who wish to receive a copy of the report from the inaugural summit should send an email with contact information and email address to Sara Yood at sara@jvclegal.org. A list of other contributors who made donations can be found at the Donor page of jewelryindustrysummit.com.
JA To Hold “Wine, Whiskey & Washington” Member Event In DC
New York, NY—Jewelers of America (JA) will present “Wine, Whiskey & Washington,” an exclusive members-only event to highlight Jewelers of America’s legislative advocacy work, and feature a special presentation on this year’s dramatic and historic presidential election with inside information from one of the top journalists covering the race. The event will be held Tuesday, April 12 (the eve of AGS Conclave). from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Top of the Town in Arlington, VA.
“In this historic election year, with jewelry industry leaders heading to D.C., this is a unique opportunity to shine a bright light on the work that is being done to fight for jewelers,” says JA President & CEO David J. Bonaparte. “With lawmakers making decisions on sales tax fairness and other key issues that will impact jewelry businesses today and long into the future, having an influence is critical.”
The evening is being sponsored by Synchrony Financial. Transportation to and from the AGS Conclave hotel, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, will be provided. For details and to purchase tickets and sponsorship packages, click here.
Gem-A Taps Museum Exec As New CEO
London, United Kingdom--The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) has announced the appointment of Alan Hart, FGA, DGA as the association’s new CEO, effective June 1. Hart is currently head of the Earth Sciences Collections at the Natural History Museum, London.
Hart started his career at the Natural History Museum in 1981 as assistant minerals scientific officer, progressing to his current position of principal curator of Gems and Minerals and head of Earth Sciences Collections in 2012. He is chair of the Museum’s Collections Committee and serves on various science executive boards, providing strategic and operational goals to improve standards, best practices and operational efficiencies.