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INDUSTRY NEWS: AGS EXPANDS BATSON’S ROLE TO INCLUDE LAB; DEF ANNOUNCES GRANT, GOOD AWARDS; MORE December 19, 2012 (0 comments)

Ruth Batson Named CEO for AGS Labs; Position Expands Her Role
Las Vegas, NV—In a joint statement, the board of directors of the American Gem Society (AGS) and the board of managers of the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGS Labs), have named Ruth Batson, RJ, CEO of AGS, as CEO of AGS Laboratories. The role is in addition to her position at AGS.

AGS earlier this year acquired the outstanding shares of American Gem Society Laboratories, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. AGS previously held a 51 percent majority stake in AGS Labs since its formation in 1996.

Batson joined AGS in 1993 and in 2002 was appointed as executive director and CEO of the Society. “It will be a privilege to serve as the CEO of both of these organizations,” she said. “It is my goal to make sure that the combined forces of both the AGS and AGS Labs work more closely together to better service customers of the Lab and the members of the AGS.”

“Simply put, this appointment made sense,” said David Gardner, CGA, president of the AGS Board of Directors. “Ruth has led the American Gem Society as CEO for the last 10 years, and has been passionate about AGS Lab’s role in the industry. She now is empowered to act in the best interest of AGS Labs and its clients.”

“Ruth has been part of the AGS Laboratory since its inception in 1996. She understands that the success of the Lab is predicated on giving diamond buyers the most accurate diamond grading report in the world,” said Mark Moeller, CGA, and chairman of the AGS Laboratories board of managers. “Her appointment is long overdue.”

 

DEF Gives $10K to Tanzanian Education Charity

New York, NY—The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) has granted $10,000 to the Flaviana Matata Foundation, which empowers young orphan girls in Tanzania through education, skills training, and micro-finance projects. International fashion model and former Miss Universe Tanzania, Flaviana Matata, is the founder of the eponymous organization.

“When you empower a girl, you empower an entire community,” says Matata. “Providing opportunity for these young girls will encourage others to stay in school and vastly improve their chances for employment and productive livelihoods.”

Matata recently received the ‘Face of Africa’ award in recognition for her outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the African community, at the African Diaspora Awards on December 8 in New York City.
Separately, tickets are still available to DEF’s GOOD Awards on January 10 at Lavo in New York. The awards recognize industry leaders making a difference in Africa. Your participation will help DEF’s mission to empower the next generation of leaders in Africa (goodawards.org).

 

CIBJO Outlines Social Responsibility for Global Jewelry Industry

Bangkok, Thailand—At the third International Gem and Jewellery Conference just concluded, CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri outlined a comprehensive doctrine for corporate social responsibility in the global jewelry industry. He emphasized that even the simplest piece of jewelry—such as an 18k gold ring set with diamonds or gems—is comprised of many elements and a lapse of social responsibility for even one of the components compromises the entire piece.

In his ring example, he named more than 50 nations that may have had a role in its creation, from the gold, silver, and copper mined for the gold alloy to the gemstones mined and cut, to the design and manufacture of the finished product. If, for example, a gem was polished in a factory with poor ventilation and a worker’s lungs are damaged, the integrity of the entire product is threatened.

“If the consumer will not buy the ring because of only one small gemstone, then everybody else who was involved in creating that piece of jewelry will also pay the price,” he said, pointing out that on a global scale the number of individuals directly and indirectly employed by the greater jewelry industry runs into millions, and there are entire countries whose economic wellbeing is dependent upon jewelry products. Jewelry may be a luxury product but the jewelry industry is essential to many people’s livelihood.

“To be responsible corporate citizens in the modern jewelry business, three basic rules of practice must be followed: One, to defend the industry from the various challenges that could threaten our reputation and integrity; two, function as a positive influence, serving as a means for sustainable economic and social development in the communities and countries in which we are active; and, three, to be fully transparent in the way we operate our businesses and about what we sell," he said. At the same time, however, he cautioned against warranty systems that are prohibitively expensive for all but the most well funded of companies to implement.

 

Anglo American Group Foundation Supports Diamond Development Initiative 

Ottawa, Canada—The Anglo American Group Foundation and The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) announce that the Foundation has made a financial contribution to DDI's work in the field of artisanal diamond production.

The Anglo American Group Foundation aims to create sustainable livelihoods, targeting communities in a holistic way with long-term strategies and goals. In addition, the Foundation seeks collaboration with other organizations to maximize the impact of donations.

Charlotte Edgeworth, manager of the Foundation, commented: "Our support for the Diamond Development Initiative fits very well with our purpose to partner with leading development organizations."

DDI, founded in 2007, is a non-profit charitable organization working to improve the lives of Africa's 1.5 million artisanal diamond diggers and their families. The alluvial diamond fields of Africa are where conflict diamonds began, and while the Kimberley Process has done much to regulate the rough diamond trade, its mandate does not extend to the development problems facing artisanal diamond diggers. DDI is working with African governments, the Kimberley Process, African civil society and the diamond industry to bring artisanal miners into the formal economies of their countries, establish fair prices and safe working conditions, end child labor and promote human rights at the grass roots of the diamond pipeline.

More information on DDI is available at: www.ddiglobal.org.

 

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