Major US Trade Bodies Support World Diamond Mark

(IDEX Online) – The leaders of the major U.S. diamond industry organizations, the Diamond Dealers Club of New York (DDC) and the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America (DMIA), have pledged their support for the goals of the World Diamond Mark (WDM). 

Alex Popov, the chairman of the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDMF), met with DDC president, Reuven Kaufman, and DMIA president Ronnie VanderLinden during a visit to New York and briefed them on the WDM's progress. Both Kaufman and VanderLinden pledged their organizations' support for the WDM's objectives. 

"The American diamond and diamond jewelry industry caters to the world's largest, most sophisticated and most demanding consumer market," Popov said. "We are convinced that the WDM program and in particular the Authorized Diamond Dealer® concept will be instrumental in boosting consumer confidence in diamonds and diamond jewelry, and, just as important, improve our industry's competitive position in the luxury consumer product market."

Kaufman was positive about the WDM's chances of success. "We've seen a flurry of efforts to install alternative, generic diamond advertising and marketing campaigns that all have failed. The World Diamond Mark, we believe, will succeed."

Meanwhile, VanderLinden emphasized the need for an across-the-board consensus on an all-encompassing generic marketing and advertising campaign for diamond jewelry in the major consumer markets. "Here in the USA, we certainly have felt the lack of a generic, coordinated, consensual consumer campaign for diamond jewelry. We are certain that the WDM program, including the Authorized Diamond Dealer concept®, constitutes a solid business plan," he stated. 

The World Diamond Mark aims to help the diamond and jewelry industry to grow. It is based on three fundamental principles: the education of the jewelry retail business community about diamonds; confidence building with the consumer public with the WDM accreditation program and the creation of a generic marketing program to promote diamonds and diamond jewelry.