The origin of a coloured gemstone, meaning the geographic location from which it was sourced, has held significance in the coloured gemstone trade for many decades. By being able to claim that a ruby was from Burma, a sapphire from Kashmir and an emerald from Colombia, dealers typically were able to exact a premium on the value of a gemstone. But today, with the market more conscious of product integrity, the elements of mining origin, as the starting point of any stone in the supply chain, becomes important. Problematic origins, or an absence of reliable information about a gemstone’s origin, may negatively affect its value.

The seminar, which took place during the VICENZAORO jewellery show in Vicenza, Italy, on January 19, 2025, investigated the broadening of demand for information about “origin,” and consider the elements required to identify and verify from where a coloured gemstone is sourced.

The seminar was moderated by Lisa Koenigsberg, President, Initiatives in Art and Culture. Panellists included Sara Yood, CEO & General Counsel, Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee (JVC); Tiffany Stevens, Chief Business Officer & Head of Sustainability, International Gemological Institute (IGI); Edward Johnson, Corporate Responsibility Director, Gemfields Group; Adriano Mol, Head, Center for Gemstone and Jewelry Design, University of Minas Gerais State  and Brand & Product Development, Cruzeiro Mine; and Kenneth Scarratt, President, CIBJO Sector A (gem materials).

The seminar was organized together with Initiatives in Art and Culture of New York.

The event was hosted by VicenzaOro’s organizer, the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), and is part of a joint CSR and sustainability educational programme for the jewellery industry, presented by CIBJO and IEG, which has been recognized by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.