***star***: Jewelers of America Updates Member Guidance on Diamonds, Gold

RAPAPORT... Press Release, NEW YORK: Jewelers of America, the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry retail marketplace, has revised its member guidance documents on both conflict diamonds and responsible gold. The materials provide the latest information on each issue, encourage store owners to keep themselves and their staff up-to-date on how each can impact their business, and offer talking points to assist retailers in addressing various stakeholders.

Jewelers of America sent out the materials to members in two separate packets. Both feature “What You Need to Know” and “What You Need to Do” documents, which include simple bullet points on key information, and separate “Talking Points” to help jewelers answer questions from consumers, the press, or human rights groups.

“As consumers become increasingly concerned about where their products come from, professional jewelers must stay informed so that they can assure customers that the jewelry they buy—often meant as a symbol of love—is not tainted by practices that are harmful to individuals or the environment,” says Matthew A. Runci, president and CEO of Jewelers of America.

Jewelers of America has been on the forefront of efforts to improve and protect the reputation of the industry and the integrity of the supply chain. The association worked with the trade, governments and NGO’s to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and was a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, which encourages all companies in the diamond and gold jewelry supply chain, from mine to retail, to be audited on their ethical, social and environmental standards.

The responsible gold member guidance, in addition to the basic information and talking points, includes a “Responsible Gold Sample Policy Statement” that members can cut and paste onto their own letterheads and give to consumers, display in-store or post to their websites. The statement outlines members' commitments to a responsible gold supply chain.

The conflict diamonds member guidance also includes: a “Conflict Diamonds Self-Assessment Checklist” to help retailers quickly assess their adherence to the SoW; the association’s sample letter to suppliers to help members communicate to suppliers about their obligations to the Kimberley Process; and a “Sample Conflict Diamonds Policy Statement,” which they can cut and paste onto their own letterheads and give to consumers, display in-store or post to their websites.

Jewelers of America members can access the updated documents by logging into the members-only section of its website, www.jewelers.org.

For more information, contact:

Robert Headley
Chief Operating Officer
rheadley@jewelers.org

Susan Thea Posnock
Public Affairs Manager
sposnock@jewelers.org
(646) 658-5806

About Jewelers of America:
Jewelers of America is the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry retail marketplace. Jewelers of America's primary purpose is to improve consumer confidence in the jewelry industry by: serving as a forum for discussion and analysis of issues; playing a leadership role in public, government and industry affairs; advocating professionalism, including high ethical, social and environmental standards; and facilitating members' access to education. For more information about Jewelers of America, visit www.jewelers.org .

Rapaport News is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of any Press Release. Press Releases are not written by us and are provided as a service to our clients.