Gold Art is one of the large Italian jewelry companies. It was born in the district of Arezzo in 1978 on the initiative of Domenico Tavanti. It was born as a company producing finished products for wholesalers, and since 2000 also producing semi-finished products. But thanks to some acquisitions of jewelry brands, Gold Art, in addition to producing on behalf of third parties, also creates jewelry to be sold directly to the public through brands such as Tavanti and Falcinelli, while 7Ar specializes in the production of super light tubes and Coi is active in the distribution of jewels.
One of the house specialties is diamond cutting. It is a gold processing which, through the incision made with diamond tips on the surface of the metal, makes the jewel shine by creating micro facets on the surface. Technological design has brought this manufacturing technique to excellent levels, allowing infinite patterns to be created not only on the sphere, but on any desired shape. This is demonstrated by the large necklaces, but also bracelets, earrings and rings, sometimes worked with the addition of colored enamels.
It is not necessary to explain why many Iranian women, those who are able, decide to go abroad. Roshanak Payrovi has chosen two new worlds: Italy and jewelry. And after the master’s degree in Jewelery Design in Arezzo, he deepened the micromosaic technique to the point of making it the characteristic of his creations. In Tuscany the young designer followed the teaching of the art historian Paolo Torriti and found the support of the jeweler-artist Alessio Boschi. You also chose to use the micromosaic technique under the guidance of Maestro Roberto Grieco, a Roman artist with over 30 years of experience.
The micro mosaic technique used in the past and rediscovered today is used to create jewelery inspired by ancient Persia. His first collection draws inspiration from Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BC), of which the ruins remain. It is located in the Marvdasht plains, near the southern Zagros Mountains of Iran. It is also one of the major cultural heritages of Iran and the world. Roshanak Payrovi made his debut at Vicenzaoro thanks to The8, a competition dedicated to IED students in Rome and Turin and promoted by Labigem, the Italian Gemology Laboratory.
Terzihan from the Grand Bazaar to the world
In the Seventies Murat Terzihan moved to Istanbul from Mardin, a small Turkish town on the border with Syria, where the family had been working jewelery for three centuries. In the large Turkish city overlooking the Bosphorus, Terzihan began working on the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world (it was founded in 1455). Several decades have passed and today Terzihan has evolved into a luxury jewelry house with boutiques and showrooms in Istanbul, Lisbon, Florida and retailers on five continents.
The company has not abandoned its artisanal vocation and continues to be led by the Terzihans, with the brothers Can and Cem as general manager and creative director who supported their father. The philosophy of the brand is to enhance the mix of Mesopotamian and Mediterranean roots, between sea and jewels. The style is eclectic, modern, and involves the use of colored stones, together with gold, with kaleidoscopic designs and high-contrast geometric volumes, with some echoes of art deco.
A film for Serafino Consoli
The Serafino Consoli brand presents a video, The Shape of Life, which in addition to being a vehicle for communicating jewellery, aims to become a manifesto of the values and history of the brand. Set between Monte Rosa and the Circolo Filologico of Milan, the cultural center of the city, the video is performed by the German dancer and choreographer Anne Jung, with elements of dance and sport: she competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The video is presented as testimony to the stylistic path undertaken by Serafino Consoli, a brand born in 1959 in a small jewelery shop in Northern Italy, in the province of Bergamo, which still bears the name of its founder today. The Brevetto and Serafino collections combine tradition and innovation: the technology introduced by the brand makes the jewelery extremely flexible, able to adapt to any size. In the Serafino collection, for example, the rings can be transformed into bracelets, with two ways of wearing the same jewel.
With The Shape of Life we wanted to create a new and innovative communication product. For its production we identified young professionals who brought their creativity and fresh ideas to overcome the concept of the classic commercial. Together we thought of this project, then shot and edited into a real film-manifesto which, in a few minutes and without unnecessary frills, speaks, interprets and transmits the concepts of nature, human relationships, changes. Because the shape of life is changeable like our rings, which last forever, adapting to the passing of time. For us The Shape of Life is not a simple and classic marketing initiative, it is a project that aims to accompany us and represent us as a company and people, because it investigates and compares the sensitivity and beauty that is in each of us.
Ivan Consoli, CEO of Serafino Consoli
The film is produced by the independent creative&production company Jumpp, written and directed by Nicola Martini, under the executive creative direction of Giovanni Verdicchio. The photographic direction is by Luca Costantini, the music is by Daniele De Virgilio.
The spring of Ribas Jewellery
Jewelery with a romantic design, inspired by the flower season: a classic jewelery tremble, proposed by Ribas Jewellery for spring 2024. Gold and diamonds are the classic ingredients of the recipe, with the addition of precious stones for a touch of colour. The brand, born in Tel Aviv in 2002 on the initiative of Patrik Ribas, carries the certification of the Israel Diamond Exchange, of which it is a member, as a guarantee of quality and competence: the city is one of the world’s diamond capitals. The company also has headquarters in Vilnius (Lithuania), creative offices in Tuscany and a flagship store in Florence.
The jewelry design is traditional, with tennis bracelets in white or yellow gold and eternity rings in yellow gold with diamonds and pink sapphires, to which are also added cross-shaped pendants studded with diamonds. More trendy are the piercings with two models, one in white gold on which there are three small flowers with diamonds and one in yellow gold with a central flower, where the four petals are made up of four 0.17 carat diamonds. The aim is to offer diamond jewelery at a relatively affordable price.
Dave Meleski, president and CEO of Richline Group, has been elected president of the Responsible Jewelery Council. RJC is the leading authority on global watch and jewelery standards, working with its members around the world to create a sustainable supply chain from mine to retail. It was formed in 2005 by 14 top-tier brands and financial institutions with the goal of transforming sustainability from an afterthought to a major driving force for change. Today it has over 1,800 member companies in 71 countries. Meleski replaces David Bouffard who leaves the position, after being elected in 2018 for two three-year terms.
This is a critical time for RJC to continue to grow and lead the global supply chain in setting the standards for our industry. Richline has been involved at board and committee levels since the RJC’s inception, and as a global manufacturing company with retail customers around the world, we have helped promote the importance of the RJC as our single voice for compliance standards.
Dave MeleskiIt has been an honor to serve as RJC President for six years – a truly challenging but rewarding experience of a lifetime, especially representing Signet, one of the RJC Founding Members. Companies like Signet and Richline, along with esteemed team members and boards of directors, have transformed the RJC over the past 20 years from an organization with 14 founding members when it launched in 2005 to an organization that grows stronger every month with over 1,800 members to date.
David Bouffard, outgoing RJC President and Signet Fellow of Industrial Affairs
Melanie Grant, executive director of the RJC, will report directly to Meleski. RJC would also like to thank Edward Asscher, honorary president of Asscher Diamonds, for volunteering to run for president and he will remain vice president of the organization.
Ribas Jewelery PR goes to Clara Garcovich
Ribas Jewelery will be followed by the communication agency Clara Garcovich. For Ribas Jewellery, a jewelery and diamond company founded in 2002, the agency will manage all integrated and cross-media communication activities, with media relations activities, press office and PR, Digital PR, Events.
Ribas Jewelery was founded in 2002 in Tel Aviv by Patrik Ribas, thanks to his great experience in the diamond and jewelery sector it is now a company recognized worldwide. With headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania, creative offices in Tuscany and a flagship store in Florence, Ribas Jewelery designs, creates, distributes and sells luxury gold jewelery made with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies and other precious stones. The brand’s objective is to make diamonds accessible to everyone, thanks to an attractive starting price positioning, despite the great quality of the product guaranteed by the Israeli Diamond Exchange of which Ribas Jewelery is a member.
Ribas Jewelery today is undergoing strong expansion, with three mono-brand stores in Vilnius, a store in Kaunas and a flagship store in Italy in Florence, a reference benchmark. We have recently finalized another four new openings in the Baltic countries, but the Italian market is fundamental above all in terms of positioning, hence the collaboration with the Clara Garcovich agency which aims to develop a new strategic communication plan.
Patrick Ribas
The agency, founded in 2002 by Clara Garcovich, deals with PR and integrated communication with a multidisciplinary and unconventional approach, specializing in the fashion, beauty, jewellery, lifestyle, travel & hospitality, food & beverage, design & architecture, automotive and finance sectors, capable of proposing and develop made-to-measure strategies thanks to a creative and innovative team of experts in the language of communication. Starting from 2023, the agency has expanded its services by adding a new consultancy branch for the strategic development of brands.
Women in the foreground with Ammanii
It is an unusual story that of Amany Shaker, who founded the Ammanii jewelry brand in 2015. She is Egyptian, she attended the American University in Cairo and obtained a Master’s Degree in Negotiational Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from California State University. Additionally, she created a social services program for parents and children affected by conflict. Finally, she was the Women’s Program Director of the International Church Of Christ in Los Angeles. And between Cairo and Los Angeles she carries out her creative activity in jewelry, inspired by her background in women’s empowerment.
For example, with a desire to tell stories and unite women by transcending cultural barriers, the brand recently introduced the Malikat collection, named after the Arabic word Queens. A collection that explicitly refers to the movement for women’s emancipation with a tribute to the queens of ancient Egypt, who guided the country, led armies and unified the people. The collection includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings handmade in vermeil, i.e. gold-plated silver, with the addition of semi-precious stones such as chrysoprase, tourmaline or topaz. The jewels are sold online and in the USA.
The goddess Aphrodite for Atelier Vm
«Aphrodite represents the irresistible power of love and the impulse to sexuality which are at the root of life itself. In every living creature the goddess, if she wants, knows how to ignite desire, which proceeds like a fire, overturning every rule”: words of Plato. More commonly, Aphrodite for the ancient Greeks or Venus for the Romans was the goddess of love and beauty, who reigns over emotions in spring and brings couples together.
The mythological goddess lives again in the Aphrodite collection of the Milanese brand Atelier Vm. Three jewels that are part of this line: a necklace in 18 or 9 carat yellow gold, with a curb chain, adjustable size between 42 and 40 centimeters, with a price of 640 euros (720 pounds, 800 dollars). The Aphrodite ring is in 9 carat yellow gold and ruby (price 300 euros, 340 pounds or 400 dollars). Finally, the Aphrodite earring, in 18k yellow gold and freshwater pearl (price: 160 euros, 180 pounds or 200 dollars).
The Progol3D Design Contest with Bulgari
New edition of the international competition aimed at the most important design schools in the jewelery world. Promoting the initiative is Progold, a Vicenza-based company specialized in the production and marketing of alloys and master alloys for jewellery. Objective: to push the gold and jewelery sector towards a more sustainable future thanks to the use of innovative technologies.
For the 2024 edition, the eighth, the competition will be able to make use of a prestigious partnership: Bulgari. The Roman Maison takes the field alongside Progold to support the creativity, technical competence and growth opportunity that this contest represents for the young generations. The theme identified for 2024 will be B-Evolution, a new life for the jewel inspired by the industrial universe seen through the eyes of Bulgari. A hymn to the power of creativity that blends movement and innovation in a unique piece of craftsmanship. Participants in the Progol3D Design Contest are asked to submit drawings or digital images of a jewel designed to be produced entirely through 3D printing. The projects must interpret new ways of thinking about jewelery and encourage progress: this is why the competition provides the design community with an excellent opportunity to visualize innovation-oriented ideas in the jewelery production of the future.
The eighth edition will also see the consolidation of a collaboration also had in the previous edition, the one with Platinum Guild International, an international organization that has at heart the development and sharing of technological knowledge to innovate the platinum jewelery sector as well as to promote its use and marketing. Participating will be over 150 projects designed by 74 students from seven schools from six countries. The technical jury is made up of experts from Progold, Bulgari and Platinum Guild International, who will select the winners who will have the opportunity to see their idea realized.
The award ceremony for the design contest is scheduled for January 21st during Vicenzaoro in the Palladio room – Hall 8 – at 3.30 pm.
President wanted for the RJC
Looking for president to deal with sustainability in the jewelery industry. If you are interested, you can contact the Responsible Jewelery Council, the world’s leading organization in defining sustainability standards for the sector. The new president will have to replace David Bouffard, who will leave on 30 April 2024 after six years. The identikit of the new president, capable of leading the team and board members into the future, includes a clear vision of the evolving landscape of the entire supply chain, from mining to retail, fine jewelery and watchmaking.
The appointment of the new RJC president is held as a special election and separately from the organisation’s main board elections. The search will conclude on Saturday 27 January, while the vote will take place in February 2024 and the new RJC president will be elected in March, when the handover with Bouffard will begin.
It has been an honor to serve as Chair of the RJC for almost six years – a truly rewarding experience given that I have been involved in the RJC from the beginning, with Signet as a founding member. The entire team and board of directors have transformed RJC from an organization consisting of 14 founding members when it launched in 2005, to an organization that is growing strong with over 1,700 members to date. As we search for a new President, I am confident that RJC has the best leadership for this new era in Executive Director Melanie Grant, who has over 20 years of experience and is internationally regarded as a leading authority on jewellery.
David Bouffard
RJC was formed in 2005 by 14 top brands and financial institutions with the goal of transforming sustainability from a sideshow to a major driver of change. Today we have over 1,700 member companies in 71 countries.
C & C, accomplished revolution
C & C Gioielli continues on its way with collections that are an evolution of the goldsmith tradition of Valenza, such as Archetipe II, The Evolution ♦
Valenza vs rest of the world: it is not a game, but a long race. No doubt the Piedmont area is an inexhaustible source of talent and there are companies who can use them, as in the case of C&C Gioielli, which in 2015 has made the 15 years since the breakthrough. The mark, in fact, was refounded by Antonello Cocuzza with a radical process of its business model. Valenza has a goldsmith tradition, but it needs also of the ability to stay in step with the time from an industrial point of view. In a nutshell: craftsmanship translated on a scale capable of competing with other brands.
But this to anyone who wants to wear jewel matters little. What he wants is a beautiful jewel, at a fair price. And speaking of fairness, it should be emphasized also the commitment of C&C Gioielli for the use of “conflict-free” stones, that is obtained with the respect of the ethical principles that agree to the Western world. An additional pleasure for the wearer. The style: classic. rose gold, white gold, diamonds. Some semi-precious stones, such as topaz, or nacre and rock crystal.
How to behave in a jewelry store
Do you want to buy a jewel? Know that jewelers judge your behavior and may be more or less available. Here’s what not to do when you enter a jewelery store ♦
What a jeweler thinks of you when you go into his store? You must know it: it’s important. Often between customer and jeweler there is a relationship that lasts for years: the engagement ring, the watch as a gift, the necklace for wedding anniversary… But, as with all businesses, even a good relationship may fall apart. A jewelry salesman does his job, and you have to do yours. So, you must remind what the jeweler wants from you. These six points summarize what is expected from you.
1 Even if the jeweler has a friendly relationship with you, do not forget it’s anyway a commercial activity. At the end of the day the jeweler look at what he earned. So, do not take the jeweler for a consultant or expert to consult casually. Many, for example, get into a store to ask for a value on a jewel that, maybe, they want to sell. It is not an attitude pleasing to the jeweler, unless he sold you that piece. Bring into the store a ring or a necklace purchased elsewhere may be fine once, if you are regular customers, but no more. Probably your jeweler has a same item you are asking to evaluate: showing a competitor’s product may irritate him.
2 The jeweler seeks to identify customer’s financial resources and on this basis propose rings, necklaces or earrings that can satisfy the needs. If he is a good professional, he’ll be able to offer a good price too. In return, however, he expects loyalty from the customer. It may be benefit for both parties.
3 Certainly, those who buy a jewel is not a jeweler or a gemologist. But jewelers are bothered by the complete ignorance on the subject. They will be ready to explain the characteristics of an object that you like and why its price. In return they expect the customer to understand why a piece of jewelry is more expensive than another, or more simple differences between different diamonds (of course, reading here helps you ). Then, if the client has some knowledge of basic the jeweler is more positive and, perhaps, more flexible about the price.
4 Regarding the price: when you look at a price tag, keep in mind how much it costs to set a warehouse, buy gold, precious stones, conceive original jewelry, charge the craftsmen for manufacturing. Manage a jewelry store, especially small ones, is a substantial investment in terms of capital equipment, that it is there in the form of rings and necklaces. The jeweler expects you to realize that keeping a store of precious is not how to run a bakery.
5 Before getting into a jewelry store is good to be clear how much you are willing to spend. An uncertain idea about financial resources makes difficult for the jeweler, determine what is the most suitable product for you. In any case, aimless expect high quality jewelry on a budget too low.
6 The jewels are delicate and wear and tear. Necklaces, rings and bracelets needs regular maintenance and cleaning. Most jewelers cleans what you bought in their store for free. Others even offer a warranty on their products. But you must not believe that the jewels can last forever. It is not said. Household chores or every day life can ruin your jewels. And even a diamond, in certain conditions, may deteriorate. Do not blame your jeweler.
The unique pieces of Lotus Arts de Vivre
Jewels inspired by the exuberant Thai nature of Lotus Arts de Vivre ♦ ︎
The Bueren family, of German origin, moved to Bangkog in 1962 and founded Lotus Arts de Vivre. The initiative of Helen von Bueren was then continued by her sons Sri and Nicki. Unlike what one might imagine, the Maison’s goal was not to use the artisan skills of Thai goldsmiths to create European-style jewels at a lower cost. The jewels of Lotus Arts de Vivre are, instead, artistic creations that preserve the culture of ancient Siam, the Asian tradition and are inspired by the beauties of nature.
Born as a hobby, the Maison founded of Helen von Bueren has grown to become a success story. With no need to advertise, Lotus Arts de Vivre achieved success mainly through word of mouth. The brand is also committed to producing its creations with the largest possible number of natural materials, with the aim of transferring the beauty of nature to jewelry. For example, next to metals and precious stones, sometimes jewels use seeds, claws, walnuts, coconut shells, purebred skin, ostrich and emu eggs, beetle wings, ebony and teal woods, shells, bamboo and rattan.
Lotus Arts de Vivre is also proud to have resisted the temptation to enter mass production: instead, it remains a predominantly one-of-a-kind jewelery manufacturer. But, in addition to jewelery, he has also extended production to home decorations, cutlery, travel accessories, sunglasses, new and antique furniture, shoes, belts, rugs produced in Kashmir.
The animals on Goshwara Ark
Goshwara, a New York-based high jewelry house specializing in collections based on colored gems, launches the Ark collection, which includes a series of jewels inspired by the wonders of nature. And, in particular, with jewels that interpret the animal kingdom, capturing its essence in a range of sapphires, rubies, diamonds and tsavorites. Featuring a curated selection of meticulously crafted animal-inspired brooch/pendant necklaces, each piece showcases the exceptional artistry of Sweta Jain, the designer who launched Goshwara in 2005. An inspiration that the creator fueled with her trips to Africa in search of gems. The jewels celebrate the animals that populate the planet, swim in the seas and soar in the skies.
I wanted to focus on the beauty and diversity of animals, while raising awareness about animal welfare and promoting kindness towards them. Today more than ever, it’s important to protect our environment. And being humane to animals is correlated to that. In addition, saving some of the species will give the future generations a chance to enjoy the beauty of these animals the way we had an opportunity to. To that effect, a part of the proceeds from the sale of pieces from the Ark Collection will be donated to animal and environment-related charities.
Sweta Jain, founder of Goshwara
For example, the cheetah-shaped pendant brooch from the Ark collection interprets the speed and grace of the feline, while the elephant recalls the wisdom of the great pachyderm. But the collection also includes a jewel dedicated to pets, such as dogs. Furthermore, Ark includes pendant brooches with turtle, fish and, for animals with wings, there are dragonfly, owl, eagle.
New website for Federorafi
New site, new graphics and new claim for the website of Federorafi, Italian Federation of Goldsmiths, Silversmiths, Jewelers and Manufacturers, an association led by Claudia Piaserico and part of the Confindustria galaxy: it brings together over 500 companies, with more than 6 thousand employees concentrated in the industrial districts of Vicenza, Arezzo, Valenza, Milan, Naples and Torre del Greco. The site was designed and created by Meneghini & Associati Inventia, an integrated communications agency, which also coined the claim: Industries of value. The intent is to underline the production process, structured, organized, and with a strong orientation towards innovation of the goldsmith companies that are part of it. And the value lies in the raw materials used, but also in the skill of processing metals and precious stones.
The site navigation experience is functional to the challenges that the gold sector will have to face in the coming years, from innovation and internationalisation. Without forgetting the need to recruit young people in a sector that unfairly suffers from little appeal for those entering the world of work. A section of the site is reserved for members to encourage meetings with new partners, also with the aim of opening a permanent discussion table between brands and manufacturing companies. The new projects on which the Federorafi Board intends to concentrate its commitment are highlighted: from sustainability, with the transparency and traceability of products, to respect for legality to combat actions that can affect the entrepreneurial fabric. The goldsmith sector is interpreted as one of the greatest expressions of Made in Italy precisely because it is able to transfer its creativity to the processing of precious metal.
The jewelery industry continues its run
Measuring the heartbeat of the jewelry industry in Italy. This is the objective of the periodic survey of the Italian Goldsmiths’ Club, carried out by Intesa Sanpaolo, the largest Italian bank. And the fourth edition of the investigation, presented as part of Vicenzaoro, took a photograph in pink tones, the color of optimism as well as of the female world. In summary, 39% of the operators consulted in the survey expect an increase in turnover in 2023, more or less the same as at the end of 2022. Positive expectations also for investments, expected to grow by one operator out of three, with peaks of 42% for larger companies. As confirmation, the jewelry sector in the first six months of the year grew in terms of turnover (+10.2%), better than the fashion system and the Italian manufacturing average. And in the first five months of 2023, gold jewelry exports exceeded 4 billion euros, up 9% in value and 2% in quantity.
The June edition of the survey on the sentiment of entrepreneurs in the gold sector confirms once again the positive forecasts, especially for medium-large companies and for the foreign market. Despite the uncertainty, one out of three companies has decided to increase investments: with this, smaller companies aim to respond to the ever-changing competitive context. For medium-large companies, the inclination to invest is mainly linked to the evolution of international markets and to technological and machinery updating. In consideration of the dynamism of the Italian sector in this particular historical phase, with the questionnaire we wanted to investigate the distinctive characteristics of Made in Italy considered most important by entrepreneurs, and the mix that emerges is extremely interesting, as is the cross-reading with the the list of critical issues reported. This double level of interpretation strongly brings out a crucial theme: the challenge of the lack of skilled labor represents a critical issue that directly impacts on the very concept of Made in Italy. It is confirmed that it is essential to tackle this problem in a strategic and collaborative way, promoting adequate training and the development of skills, in order to preserve the identity and value of Italian excellence on the international scene.
Giorgio Villa, President of the Italian Goldsmiths’ Club
In short, Made in Italy jewelry is in good health. A success which, according to the companies questioned, derives from the quality of the product (74%), the craftsmanship of the production (66%) and the professionalism of the workforce, which represents a key factor for more than half of those who replied (51% ). But this is also the weak point: there is a shortage of qualified manpower. Finding labor is perceived as an obstacle by 75% of medium-large companies.
After the brilliant results of 2022 with growth in turnover and exports in the order of 20% and even in a context of economic slowdown, the Italian gold sector continues to show a positive trend in 2023 with growth in turnover in the first six months of 10%, better than what was recorded by the fashion system (+7.2%) and manufacturing as a whole (+3.0%); also in terms of production, the sector shows stability with a value in line with the first half of 2022. The high competitiveness on foreign markets is confirmed as the driving force of the sector: in the period January-May 2023, gold jewelery exports well over 4 billion euros, up 8.6% in value and +1.6% in quantity. In this particular competitive context, the positioning of the sector, more oriented towards the high-end segment, has confirmed itself as a strength capable of capturing the demand for luxury goods which is less affected by the effects of inflationary tensions with prospects that remain positive. The uncertainty in the scenario remains high, but this sector has shown a good ability to respond to external tensions thanks to a production system that has been able to transform itself over time, gaining competitiveness: to face the challenges of the near future it will be important to continue investing with interventions aimed at supporting sustainability in all its forms (economic, environmental and social).
Stefania Trenti, Head of Industry Research, Intesa Sanpaolo Studies and Research Department
RJC Sustainability Toolkit
The Responsible Jewelery Council offers the first ESG (Environmental, social, and corporate governance) toolkit to association members. The Responsible Jewelery Council is a non-profit, standard-setting and certifying organization with approximately 1700 member companies working in the jewelery supply chain from gem mining to retail. The objective of the toolkit is to extend the commitment to comply with ESG standards to all members, providing all the information necessary for sustainable procurement, the mapping of the COP, i.e. the Conference of Parties, the annual meeting of the countries that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and of the SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals, i.e. the sustainable development objectives. It is a collection of 17 interconnected goals designed to be a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
The toolkit analyzes the scope and scope of all ESG reporting in an effort to equip RJC members with the knowledge to make an informed decision based on individual business needs. The Responsible Jewelery Council also points out that according to a McKinsey study, by 2025, 20-30% of global fine jewelery sales will be influenced by sustainability considerations, from environmental impact to ethical sourcing practices. This equates to a $110 billion business, which represents a three- to four-fold increase in sustainability-influenced purchases since 2019.
We are today with sustainability where we were with digital transformation 20 years ago. Those who embraced it thrived but also gained new and younger clients, those who dismissed it in many ways got left behind. Sustainability is the greatest single issue facing watches and jewellery today, and I want to help everyone understand what they can do to be part this movement.
Melanie Grant, executive director, Responsible Jewelery Council
Together with the opening of the new Colombo Jewelery Boutique in the heart of Monza, the Lombard company is renewing its management. The distribution company based in Casatenovo (Lecco), which distributes brands such as Rolex, Pomellato, Leo Pizzo, Chanel, Mikimoto and many others, now also sees the business of his daughters Caterina and Benedetta Colombo alongside Dario Colombo. Gioielleria Colombo was founded in 1948 and with Dario Colombo it has become over time a point of reference in the area. The opening of the new Boutique in the heart of the city of Monza is scheduled for the summer weeks, while Caterina and Benedetta Colombo bear witness to the generational turnover, but following the path already traced. Caterina, born in 1996, works as a commercial director, while Benedetta is the marketing manager.
Summit at Harvard University on sustainable jewelry
Jewelery and the environment, society, sustainability. By now, even the world of luxury is paying attention to the issues of equity and solidarity. An Answer is the first collaboration between The Responsible Jewelery Council (RJC), The Mineralogical and Geological Museum of Harvard University (MGMH), and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The collaboration is reflected in an event scheduled for June 23 at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Three leaders come together to explore the challenges, opportunities and future of responsible practice at the State of the Art Jewelry Summit.
Climate change and its implications on the supply chain, the business of technology and evolving consumer expectations: this unique day of panel discussions and presentations from global experts, academics and artists will share valuable insights into the value and desire they fuel the responsible jewels. Human rights, risk and conflict are also present and the day will conclude with representatives of the Young Diamantaires project discussing the future of the sector through the eyes of those who will inherit it.
Three women will host the summit: Melanie Grant, RJC Executive Director, Susan Jacques, President and CEO Gia, and Raquel Alonso-Perez Ph.D, Curatrix, MGMH at Harvard University. The line-up of speakers includes artist-jeweler and inventor Wallace Chan, Lucara Diamond president and CEO Eira Thomas, Harvard environmental science and engineering professor Dan Schrag, who will deliver the keynote address.
RJC will launch its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) toolkit at the summit, which will be available free of charge to all attendees. It is a project for applying concepts such as environment, social and governance to jewelry companies globally. The summit will bring together all sectors of the gem and jewelery industry to shape a collective approach and understanding of responsible jewellery. There will be a chance to network, brainstorm, listen and learn from current and future leaders at one of the world’s premier centers of learning, Harvard University.
I am thrilled that MGMH at Harvard University is hosting its first Responsible Jewelry Summit in partnership with RJC and Gia. Our mission is to unite art, science and industry so that we can face the future together. Growth must be more than economic.
Raquel Alonso-Perez, curator, Mineralogical and Geological Museum, Harvard University