Story Highlight
– 2025 CIBJO Congress opens on October 27 in Paris.
– Ethical dimensions include anti-money laundering and marketing ethics.
– Technology can enhance jewellery industry integrity, warns about risks.
– Blockchain ensures provenance; AI improves pricing consistency.
– Integrity is crucial for maintaining consumer trust and industry value.
Full Story
With the countdown to the 2025 CIBJO Congress in Paris beginning, a new report from the CIBJO Ethics Commission has been unveiled, highlighting essential issues related to business integrity in the jewellery and watch sectors. The report, the sixth in a series leading up to the event on October 27, 2025, is authored by Sara Yood, who heads the commission.
The document identifies four vital areas concerning ethical practices: adherence to anti-money laundering regulations and financial transparency, marketing ethics alongside the risks of greenwashing, consumer transparency regarding product integrity, and the application of technology as a tool for transparency.
In her comments, Ms. Yood emphasises the pressing need for integrity within supply chains. “Today, no issue is more urgent than ensuring integrity and transparency across the supply chain,” she states. She points out that as consumer demands evolve and regulatory environments become stricter, the jewellery industry must maintain its dedication to ethical practices that safeguard both companies and consumers.
The integration of innovative technologies is highlighted as a significant opportunity for enhancing the sector’s integrity. Ms. Yood references blockchain technology, noting its potential to create reliable provenance records, while also acknowledging that artificial intelligence could improve consistency in grading and pricing for jewellery items.
However, she cautions that these technological advancements carry inherent risks. “Blockchain systems rely on the accuracy of the data input. False or incomplete information at the source compromises the entire chain,” she warns. Additionally, she notes potential biases within AI systems that may cloud decision-making processes.
The report’s conclusion stresses that integrity and transparency are fundamental to the jewellery industry’s ongoing success. Ms. Yood asserts, “Integrity and transparency are not abstract ideals – they are necessities for the jewellery industry to continue to succeed.” She further elaborates that the absence of these principles can lead to diminished consumer trust, increased regulatory scrutiny, and a decline in the industry’s symbolic value, while their presence ensures that jewellery remains a timeless representation of beauty and celebration.
A full version of the special report is available for those interested in further details.