HH Magazine de la haute horlogerie - 2 February 2012
Some events mark a turning-point, a before and an after. The introduction of the Kimberley Process is one; the creation of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is certainly another. The former saw daylight in 2003 to alert the rough diamond trade to the fact that, for years, these precious stones had been used by rebel factions in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Angola to arm their troops, as dramatically portrayed in the film Blood Diamonds. Two years later, the RJC entered the fray. Its sights are trained on dirty gold, meaning the one-fifth of world production which is mined with complete disregard for health, safety and the environment.
Richemont blazes a trail
Judging by the news from the RJC, the initiative is spreading fast. Barely a week goes by without an announcement that certification has been awarded to new members from across the board, from mining and refining to end users, bringing membership to 350 companies. Joining the RJC from the world of fine watchmaking over recent months have been Bulgari, Boucheron, and Richemont brands Piaget, Baume & Mercier and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
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