Adhering to Ethical Standards Tops Agenda at RJC Meeting
September 15, 13
(IDEX Online) – The efforts of diamond jewelry manufacturers and retailers to adhere to strict ethical standards were laid out at an event held by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) at the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair. 
Among the speakers was David Bouffard, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Signet Jewelers Ltd. He briefed the meeting, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, on the work of the Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol.
“We have 387 gold suppliers, and we ask them to validate, certify and audit their supplies to us and to also work with their sub-contractors to find out where their gold is coming from,” he said.
On the issue of diamonds, he said it was critical for the global diamond industry to work with the US government and European Union to ensure that diamonds “do not get folded up in legislation” as has gold via the Dodd-Frank Act in the United States. “We prefer that diamond industry deals with issues pertaining to diamonds, whether rough or polished.”
Meanwhile, Charles Chaussepied, a director of jewelry maker Piaget and co-Chair of the RJC’s Standards Committee, spoke on the issue of reputational risk and how to mitigate it.
He said that Piaget, which is part of Richemont, the world’s largest luxury goods group, has been aware of and involved with Corporate Social Responsibility issues since 2004. He commented that Piaget demands of its suppliers and partners to work to the same CSR levels.