Story Highlight
– CIBJO Congress set for October 27, 2025, in Paris.
– Ethics Commission report highlights four business integrity dimensions.
– Technology aids integrity but poses potential risks.
– Blockchain can ensure provenance; AI may introduce biases.
– Integrity essential for consumer trust and industry success.
Full Story
With the 2025 CIBJO Congress set to commence in Paris on October 27, a new report from the CIBJO Ethics Commission has been published, spotlighting essential issues surrounding business integrity within the jewellery and watch sectors. The publication, the sixth in a series of pre-congress Special Reports, has been developed under the leadership of Sara Yood.
The report identifies four significant areas of focus: the importance of anti-money laundering practices and financial transparency, ethical marketing and the risks linked to greenwashing, consumer disclosure, and safeguarding product integrity, alongside the application of technology and transparency tools.
Ms. Yood emphasises the immediacy of these matters, stating, “Today, no issue is more urgent than ensuring integrity and transparency across the supply chain.” She notes that as consumer expectations shift and regulatory measures become more stringent, the jewellery industry must reinforce its dedication to ethical practices that safeguard both businesses and their clientele.
The potential benefits of modern technologies in bolstering integrity within the jewellery trade are significant, according to Ms. Yood. She cites blockchain technology as a means of offering secure, unalterable records of product origins, while artificial intelligence (AI) could enhance the consistency of grading and pricing.
Conversely, she also highlights the risks tied to reliance on technology. “Blockchain systems rely on the accuracy of the data input. False or incomplete information at the source compromises the entire chain,” she cautions. Additionally, she expresses concern that AI systems might perpetuate biases or lack the transparency needed in their operational frameworks.
“Integrity and transparency are not abstract ideals – they are necessities for the jewellery industry to continue to succeed,” asserts Ms. Yood in the report. She warns that without these values, trust from consumers will fade, leading to stricter regulations and a potential decline in the industry’s symbolic significance. However, she believes that maintaining these principles will ensure that jewellery remains a celebrated symbol of beauty and permanence across cultures.
For further details, the Special Report can be accessed here.