With fewer than two weeks to go to the opening of the 2015 CIBJO Congress in Salvador, Brazil, on May 4, 2015, the seventh of the CIBJO commissions’ Special Reports has been released. Prepared by the CIBJO Coral Commission, headed by Vicenzo Liverino, the report announces that a new Coral Blue Book will be presented for consideration at the event.

The Coral Blue Book will become the sixth and latest volume in the CIBJO Blue Book series, which provides definitive sets of grading standards and nomenclature for an industry in which there is an almost complete absence of harmonized system endorsed by International Standards Organisation (ISO). CIBJO’s other Blue Books cover diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls, precious metals and gemmological laboratories.

“The purpose of the CIBJO Coral Commission is to both preserve and develop trading in coral, and jewellery comprising coral, through the development and codifying of regulations and standards that promote consumer confidence and fair trade,” wrote Mr. Liverino.

“The Coral Blue Book will be an integral part of this process. It has been designed to provide knowledge about the product, as well as to assist all those involved in the trade, by recording the accepted and common trade practices, and creating a set of standard nomenclature for the industry throughout the world,” he continued.

To download a full copy of the report, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Photo Caption: A coral necklace by Bulgari. Part of the Faerber Collection.

With fewer than three weeks to go to the opening of the 2015 CIBJO Congress in Salvador, Brazil, on May 4, 2015, the sixth of the CIBJO commissions’ Special Reports has been released. Prepared by the CIBJO Pearl Commission, headed by Kenneth Scarratt, the report outlines the agenda of the commission at the gathering, including updating the Pearl Blue Book and considering the creation of a harmonized pearl grading system.

Mr. Scarratt quotes the introduction to the Pearl Blue Book, which notes: “The standard/rules is nonjudgmental and the definitions and clause contained therein are formatted and worded only to ensure that each pearl bought or sold is done so with clarity and honesty. The stability of the market place depends upon the use of the proper nomenclature and the declaration of all known facts that ensure a fully informed purchase or sale.”

The lack of a single, uniform pearl grading system is a challenge to the pearl market. It was explained by the CIBJO Pearl Commission Vice President, Jeanne Lecourt. “Rapid globalization of the pearl culturing industry during 1970s saw various pearls beginning to be cultured in many countries using various species of the pearl-oyster,” she stated. “Treatment techniques were also transferred from Japan to overseas countries. This has been favourable for the consumers, as they now enjoy a wide selection of various types of cultured pearls. However, if they are not supplied with adequate information on the kind of the pearls, and their quality and treatments, they will inevitably be confused which may result in a distrust of cultured pearls.”

To download a full copy of the report, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

National jewellery associations from Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden have come to together as united bloc within CIBJO, with the goal of raising the profile of the jewellery industry and trade in the Scandinavian region and collectively increasing their level of involvement in the World Jewellery Confederation.

Called the Nordic Jewellery Federation, the new body gathers under its umbrella the National Board of the Jewellery and Watch Trade from Denmark, the Norwegian Goldsmith and Jewellers Association, the Finnish Goldsmith Association, and the Swedish Jewellery and Watch Industry Association. While the Danish and Norwegian organisations were already active in CIBJO, the new body brings the Finnish and Swedish Associations into the confederation.

The decision to establish the Nordic Jewellery Federation was made at at a meeting of the various associations in Stockholm, Sweden, which was attended by CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri, who had strongly lobbied for the establishment of such an organisation.

“Establishing the Nordic Jewellery Federation will strengthen the bonds between neighbouring countries. It will also give the Nordic countries a stronger position in the international jewellery market,” said Ingebjørg Alfsen, CEO of the Norwegian Goldsmith and Jewellers Association.

“This is most positive step, both the for the jewellery business in the various Nordic countries and for our international community,” said Dr. Cavalieri. “We not only are talking about a highly economically developed area with a population of more than 25 million, but also of a region that is increasingly influential in terms jewellery design and manufacturing, with a long tradition as a consumer of our products. The Nordic countries are also role models for compliance with contemporary standards of Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability.”

Photo Caption: Representatives of the founding member organisations of the Nordic Jewellery Federation at the inaugural meeting in Stockholm (from left):  Trine Thorning, Denmark; Björn Carlsson, Sweden; Henrik Kihlman, Finland; Annie Bengtson, Sweden; Linda Klein, Sweden; Jens R. Møller, Denmark, Ingebjørg Alfsén, Norway; CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri  and Lena Carlsson, Sweden.