The 2019 CIBJO Congress has taken place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manama, Bahrain, from November 18 to 20, with steering committee meetings taking place on November 16 and 17. It was attended by about 220 participants, with about 150 flying in from abroad.
Serving as the official venue for the meeting of the CIBJO Assembly of Delegates, the CIBJO Congress gathered together members of national jewellery and gemstone associations from the more than 40 countries and representatives of many of the industry’s most important commercial bodies that are members in the confederation. During the event, the organisation’s Diamond, Coloured Stones, Pearl, Coral, Precious Metals, Gemmological and Responsible Sourcing Blue Books, which are industry’s most widely accepted directories of uniform grading and business standards and nomenclature, were discussed and updated. Other subjects on the agenda included laboratory-grown diamonds, Fei Cui, technology and jewellery industry efforts to combat climate change.
2019 CIBJO CONGRESS REPORTS
CIBJO Congress 2019 opens in Bahrain with focus on climate change and environmental sustainability
The 2019 CIBJO Congress opened in Bahrain, with a call on the jewellery industry by CIBJO President Gaetano to take action on climate change, which he said was not an issue specific to the sector, but it is the “most important story of our time.”
Legacy of Bahrain’s historic pearl industry highlighted during 2019 CIBJO Congress opening
HE Khalid Al Rumaihi, CEO of Mumtalakat, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, said that that it established DANAT, Bahrain’s Institute for Pearls and Gemstones in 2017, as part of country’s effort to diversify the economy by reviving its almost 5,000 pearling industry, ending its reliance on oil
Sustainability crucial but customisation also vital, Responsible Sourcing Commission is told
The Responsible Sourcing Commission held it first official session on the opening day of the 2019 CIBJO Congress in Bahrain on November 19, after the body was formally established at the conclusion of the CIBJO Congress in Colombia in 2018.
Laboratory-Grown Diamond Working Group becomes primary focus of Diamond Commission
Commission President Udi Sheintal asked the CIBJO Congress participants what type of relationship they believe the long-standing Diamond Commission should have the new Laboratory-Grown Diamond Working Group.
Laboratory-Grown Diamond Working Group presents blueprint for set of working principles for new industry sector
There was intense interest in the first meeting of group headed by Wesley Hunt of the De Beers Group. He said the new body was “about us working together with differentiated products that consumers can understand.
Environmental concerns take centre stage at Marketing and Education Commission meeting
CIBJO’s green initiative aims to protect the world for future generations. “The world is changing so quickly. We are poisoning ourselves. I would like to encourage more organisations associated with CIBJO to sign up,” said Commission President Jonathan Kendall.
CIBJO Congress conducts special Fei Cui special session, looking to create international standards for trade in jade products
Some CIBJO members expressed their surprise at the size of the market which is estimated to be worth more than eight billion dollars, making Fei Cui the world’s largest gem category after diamonds. Almost all sales take place in China and other eastern markets.
Ethical practices and gold supply chain concerns focus of CIBJO Ethics Commission
Commission President Tiffany Stevens said that the emphasis on ethical business practices has evolved in the last year or so. There is an increasing reliance on international frameworks and standards, such as the the OECD principles that are referenced the new CIBJO Responsible Sourcing Blue Book.
DNA fingerprinting report becomes focus of discussion during Coral Commission session in Bahrain
DNA fingerprinting is a powerful tool for species identification and possibly geographic determination, and has proven effective in addressing misconceptions that shallow-water reef coral is the same as deep-water precious coral.
Pearl Commission focuses on American request to reconsider use of word’ cultured,’ as well as Keshi terminology
With the 2019 CIBJO Congress taking place in Bahrain, a historic pearling centre and most probably the world’s most prolific producer of natural pearls, the request by an American association that the use of the word “cultured” be reconsidered came to many as a surprise.
Gemmological Commission focuses on update of commercial colour-terms guidance document
Colour-terms used by the commercial bodies to define certain coloured gemstones have long been an issue of contention in gemmological circles, where specialists are concerned that few if any universal standards have been created to protect consumers.
Precious Metals Commission considers consequences of increasing government scrutiny in the United States
Over the past half year, the U.S. government has been signalling its intention to increase scrutiny of the jewellery trade, to ensure that it is complying with Anti-Money Laundering and other measures to prevent malign activity.
More accurate definitions of gem varieties focus of Coloured Stone Commission in Bahrain
“Where does beryl stop being an emerald and become a green beryl?” asked Coloured Stone Commission President Charles Abouchar, when opening the body’s session at the 2019 CIBJO Congress.
CIBJO Congress 2019 wraps up in Bahrain with creation of Laboratory-Grown Diamond and Technology Committees
It is imperative that the jewellery industry develop a better understanding of where things are headed, rather than having to react to situations brought about by technological developments, about which it often has shown itself to be not well informed, nor prepared, said CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri.
2019 CIBJO CONGRESS PHOTO GALLERIES
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS – DAY 2
WELCOMING COCKTAIL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS –
MEETING 1
OPENING SESSION
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING COMMISSION
DIAMOND COMMISSION
LABORATORY-GROWN DIAMOND WORKING GROUP
MARKETING AND EDUCATION COMMISSION
GALA DINNER
COLOURED STONE COMMISSION
FEU CUI SPECIAL SESSION
CORAL COMMISSION
ETHICS COMMISSION
GEMMOLOGICAL COMMISSION
PRECIOUS METALS COMMISSION
NATIONAL BAHRAIN DINNER
SECTOR A
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS –
MEETING 2
2019 CIBJO CONGRESS VIDEOS
VIDEO HIGHLIGHT REEL 1 FROM THE 2019 CIBJO CONGRESS
BAHRAIN, NOVEMBER 18-20, 2019
VIDEO HIGHLIGHT REEL 2 FROM THE 2019 CIBJO CONGRESS
BAHRAIN, NOVEMBER 18-20, 2019
OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2019 CIBJO CONGRESS IN BAHRAIN
NOVEMBER 18, 2019
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING SESSION OF THE 2019 CIBJO CONGRESS IN BAHRAIN
NOVEMBER 18, 2019
2019 CIBJO CONGRESS SPEECHES & PRESENTATIONS
DR. GAETANO CAVALIERI
President, CIBJO
Opening Session Address
November 18, 2019
Opening Session Presentation
November 18, 2019
LISE KINGO
Executive Director, UN Global Compact
Video address to Opening Session
November 18, 2019
KHALID AL RUMAIHI
CEO, Mumtalakat
Address to Opening Session
November 18, 2019
YASER ALSHARIFI
Chairman, DANAT, Bahrain Institute for Pearls & Gemstones
Address to Opening Session
November 18, 2019
PROFESSOR ENRICO GIOVANNINI
Department of Economics & Finance, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
Presentation to Opening Session
October 15, 2018
CHARLES BURGESS
President, EMS (formerly known as Mineria Texas Colombia)
Presentation to Opening Session
November 18, 2019
HANIFA MEZOUI
AICESIS, New-York Permanent Representative
IGO in Observer Status with United Nations ECOSOC
Presentation to Opening Ceremony
November 18, 2019
ERNEST BLOM
President, World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB)
Address to Opening Session
November 18, 2019
PHILIP OLDEN
President, CIBJO Responsible Sourcing Commission
Presentation to Responsible Sourcing Session
November 18, 2019
IRIS VAN DER VEKEN
Executive Director, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)
Presentation to Responsible Sourcing Session
November 18, 2019
FELIPE MORGADO
Senior Manager, Government Relations, UN Global Compact
Presentation to Responsible Sourcing Session
November 18, 2019
LEA RAVNKILDE MØLLER
Project Leader, Orbicon
Presentation to Responsible Sourcing Session
November 18, 2019
WESLEY HUNT
Chair, CIBJO Laboratory-Grown Diamond Working Group
Presentation to Laboratory-Grown Diamond Working Group Session
November 19, 2019
JONATHAN KENDALL
President, CIBJO Marketing & Education Commission
Presentation to Marketing & Education Commission Session
November 19, 2019
VINCENZO LIVERINO
President, CIBJO Coral Commission
RUI GALOPIM DE CARVALHO
Vice President, CIBJO Coral Commission
Presentation to Coral Commission Session
November 19, 2019
JEREMY SHEPERD
Board Member, Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA)
Presentation to Pearl Commission Session
November 19, 2019
2019 CIBJO CONGRESS HOST
As a reflection of Bahrain’s ancient pearling history and the strong desire to protect this heritage, DANAT was established as the guardian of global gemmological excellence. It plays a vital role in ensuring, protecting and enhancing public trust in pearls, gemstones and jewellery.
Home to one of the world’s most sophisticated gemmological laboratories, DANAT is an authority on industry standards, scientific knowledge and education, and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional and personal ethics. It is dedicated supporting the pearl and gemstone industry locally, regionally and internationally, developing a new generation of gemmologists, and providing knowledge and expertise to industry professional and gemmology enthusiasts.
It was established in 2017, under the aegis of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom.
DANAT’s vision is to become the world’s preferred institute for natural pearls and gemstones’ third-party verification services and scientific research.
2019 CIBJO CONGRESS SPONSORS
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