Schooling, the Blue Checklist, AI, and the Name for Sincere Storytelling

I took the Eurostar from the Netherlands to Paris, my first CIBJO Congress, and felt at residence the second I walked into the Comet Bourse auditorium. Over three days, about 350 delegates gathered to open CIBJO’s centenary yr, to check notes, to argue respectfully, and to set course for an trade that should preserve incomes belief.

We met on October 27 and 28 at Comet Bourse and on October 29 at UFBJOP’s headquarters for the Basic Meeting. The evenings have been pure Paris: a gala dinner at Halles aux Grains beneath the glass dome of the Bourse du Commerce, Pinault Assortment and a “Style of Paris” buffet on the Palais du Luxembourg. I left with a full pocket book, a whole lot of inspiration, and sharper questions.

This version had a transparent backbone: shared language, client belief, and schooling. From the opening session onward, leaders insisted on precision in phrases, high quality in follow, and honesty in how we communicate to the general public. I heard it from model leaders, educators, laboratories, and individuals who spend their days on coverage and compliance. The tone was agency, and for me, hopeful.

The schooling panel felt like the guts of the congress. It highlighted coaching, ardour, and collaboration because the situations for a future that’s expert and moral. The message was not solely to show methods however to nurture curiosity and function. One line stayed with me: “We’re a small bridge between enterprise and schooling. Our duty is to assist college students uncover their ardour and produce it to gentle.”

The French perspective, rooted in craft

France confirmed depth and construction. L’École Boulle, the Haute École de Joaillerie, and the French Gemological Laboratory shared concrete outcomes. The Haute École de Joaillerie trains a whole bunch of scholars annually throughout its foremost campus in Paris and regional websites akin to Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, and Reims. Its diplomas are state-recognized, starting from superior bench expertise to 3D design and modeling.

The LFG, based in 1929, underlined its century-long service to professionals and the general public. “Gemology is about ardour — and sharing that zeal is our responsibility,” a consultant stated.

World networks, broader entry

L’École, College of Jewellery Arts, introduced an increasing community with everlasting campuses in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Dubai, plus touring packages in cities akin to Tokyo and New York. Greater than 350,000 individuals have joined its programs worldwide. The college combines exhibitions, lectures, and digital content material to make jewellery arts accessible. “Our objective is to transmit data and create new data,” defined its spokesperson.

{Qualifications} and shared requirements

The panel careworn the significance of acknowledged {qualifications} to professionalize the sector. France affords nationwide craftsmanship, design, and gemology diplomas, in addition to European-level certifications such because the FEEG Diploma (European Gemologist). Italy and others are constructing grasp’s packages, whereas France maintains university-level levels just like the DU de Gemmologie for superior analytical work.

Fixing inconsistency

Iris Van der Veken, Govt Director of the Watch & Jewelry Initiative 2030, known as for alignment and high quality over amount: “We see many fashions and approaches, however inconsistencies confuse staff, leaders, and retailers.” The room agreed that collaboration and shared assets beat fragmentation.

Storytelling, social media, and the bench

Schooling lives past school rooms. One speaker famous, “Use digital content material to share verified data and encourage each shoppers and professionals.” Others reminded us that gemology is tactile: “You need to contact the stones.” On-line studying helps; it doesn’t change.

Supply and sustainability contained in the curriculum

Edward Johnson of Gemfields urged educators to show materials origin and group influence. He invited academics to go to Gemfields’ Kagem emerald mine in Zambia. Everybody agreed that connecting gemology to sustainability is important for an enduring commerce.

The diamond terminology debate

A number of panelists raised the necessity to train clear terminology. “We aren’t right here to guage whether or not artificial is nice or dangerous,” stated one. “We’re right here to elucidate what it’s, factually. Schooling means telling the reality.”

The easy conclusion

The session closed with a reminder: “Schooling is teamwork. We’re constructing the long run collectively.” Ardour stays probably the most useful gem of all.

CIBJO introduced progress on the Blue Checklist, a shared vocabulary for accountable claims. After greater than 5 years of labor and a worldwide session, the committee now distinguishes between accountable, moral, and sustainable:

• Accountable = compliance with legal guidelines and requirements.
• Moral = going past compliance to incorporate human-rights and social duties.
• Sustainable = integrating environmental, social, and financial targets long-term.

Raluca Anghel stated, “You’ll be able to’t declare to be sustainable until you might be additionally moral and accountable.”

The Blue Checklist additionally separates origin, supply, and provenance. Origin is the place a gem was mined, supply is how, and provenance combines each with accountability. “Provenance is the journey and the story we should always have the ability to inform our client,” stated Elodie Daguzan of the World Diamond Council.

Language sensitivity was additionally featured. Sarah Yood of the JVC really useful changing grandfathered with legacy materials due to the time period’s racial origins in U.S. regulation. Lisa Koenigsberg clarified that classic refers to jewellery 30–100 years previous, whereas vintage means at the least 100 years previous.

The time period recycled applies to post-consumer gems, diamonds, or pearls that re-enter the market. Metals’ definitions are nonetheless evolving.

On traceability, Ferial Zahid defined the distinction between chain of custody (bodily motion) and chain of accountability (individuals dealing with it). Each are required for true traceability. Blockchain can help however not assure it.

Until scientifically confirmed, the committee discouraged obscure phrases akin to eco-friendly, inexperienced, energy-efficient, and biodegradable. EU regulation now limits such language.

Coloured-stone traceability stays complicated. Ken Scarratt of CIBJO famous that over 90 % of coloured gems originate from small-scale miners and are sometimes blended in buying and selling facilities like Chanthaburi, Thailand. The panel endorsed sensible steps like batch-level traceability.

Public suggestions confirmed most definitions and can refine Model 1, which is deliberate for early 2026.

Honesty, transparency, and the mirror check

CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri spoke powerfully about integrity. “If one thing is leather-based, name it leather-based. If it’s artificial, say so,” he stated. Deceptive a client isn’t a advertising error however against the law.

He cited China’s natural-diamond droop as a warning about misplaced client belief. Rebuilding confidence, he stated, is everybody’s responsibility. “After I look within the mirror within the morning, I have to have the ability to meet my very own eyes.”

Cavalieri introduced a brand new College for Craftsmen in collaboration with Italian companions — Fondazione Man Intelligenti, the Politecnico of Arts and Crafts of Confcommercio Milan, and the CAPAC faculty — to protect artisanal expertise in Valenza. A Heart of Excellence in Excessive and French Jewellery can also be deliberate for 2026.

Nomenclature in France: a transparent line

Bernadette Pinet-Cuoq, Govt President of UFBJOP, reiterated France’s place: laboratory-grown is deceptive; artificial is right. The 2002 French decree defines a diamond as artificial when man-made, due to this fact a non-man-made diamond is pure. She linked this readability to client confidence and thanked CIBJO for the Blue Checklist tips that demand proof for phrases like origin.

The geopolitics panel, moderated by Avi Krawitz, traced how U.S. tariffs, Russian sanctions, and ESG guidelines ripple by the commerce. Feriel Zerouki (WDC/De Beers) defined the problem of lobbying Washington when many sectors compete for consideration. Karen Rentmeesters (AWDC) outlined ongoing bilateral offers, whereas Sara Yood (JVC) described exporters shifting gentle manufacturing to the Americas to satisfy “substantial transformation” necessities.

President Trump’s April 2025 tariff decree imposed a ten % base price, rising after August 7 to fifteen–50 % for key producers; India faces 50 % until it reduces Russian oil imports. Diamonds aren’t mined within the U.S., but shoppers bear the price. The EU, in the meantime, minimize tariffs on tough diamonds and coloured gems to zero beneath Annex 3 of its commerce deal.

A panel of leaders – David Kellie (NDC), Mahiar Borhanjoo (De Beers), Ravi Bhansali (Rosy Blue Belgium / AWDC Vice-President), Brijesh Shah (Hare Krishna Exports), Didier Backaert (Bonas Group), Wafa Jafri (DMCC), and Yoram Dvash (WFDB) – seemed squarely on the commerce’s crossroads.

Prime considerations have been alignment, financial instability, and client confusion about pure vs. artificial. Storytelling and authenticity have been named as core to rebuilding belief. Kellie warned of China’s weak restoration, and Bhansali highlighted misinformation and blended messages inside the commerce itself.

Shopper conduct has shifted towards experiences, but jewellery’s emotional energy endures. In China, financial anxiousness suppresses spending; in India, festive demand stays robust. Yoram Dvash famous China’s market drop of as much as 90 % in recent times, now stabilizing barely however nonetheless fragile.

On lab-grown, panelists insisted on readability. “In the event that they have been an identical, we wouldn’t want detection machines,” stated Borhanjoo. Bhansali lamented the pure sector’s poor storytelling of its group contributions. Jafri noticed alternative for studying throughout segments reasonably than rivalry. Dvash known as the worth collapse a wake-up name towards cooperation.

Unbiased retailers face succession and margin stress; consolidation is pure. Many sellers have develop into jewelers. Borhanjoo quoted Nicky Oppenheimer (former chairman of De Beers): “We’re a advertising firm that occurs to personal a mine.” Advertising and belief stay central.

Provide is extra fragmented. The brand new De Beers–Botswana settlement shifted extra output to Okavango Diamond Firm. Angola’s function is rising; tender homes carry each entry and volatility. Bhansali known as it “a extra clear but much less secure market.”

Wafa Jafri referenced the Luanda Accord for cooperation. Dvash urged unity: “We should work for the diamond itself, not for Belgium, Israel, or India, however for the trade as an entire.” Kellie closed: “Management means investing in storytelling, schooling, and emotional connection. The product is extraordinary; our process is to make individuals see that once more.”

The Africa panel was launched as a “market of alternative.” African audio system supplied one thing deeper — distinct nationwide identities, creators addressing their very own audiences, and a drive to chop and craft domestically. The dialogue revealed how seeing Africa as one market means lacking its wealthy variety and potential. (This statement relies on the October 28 session.)

The AI session, organized with Initiatives in Artwork and Tradition and moderated by David Brough, stayed sensible. Jacques Voorhees described retailers already utilizing AI for product copy and on-line service — “a salesman on-line.” He believes AI will change jobs, not take away them.

Marie-Christine Dorner (France) warned that AI can not create emotion however can improve groups and assist transmit savoir-faire. Mahia Abrahami (De Beers) known as AI a “good youngster” that learns quick when fed knowledge. De Beers makes use of it to research polish, symmetry, and lightweight efficiency — supporting, not changing, designers.

Daniel Nyfeler (Gübelin Gem Lab) confirmed how algorithms now course of spectra so consultants can deal with analysis. Gübelin plans to license its system to different labs — “democratizing experience.”

Stefan Fischler warned about inventive possession and cultural bias. Lisa Koenigsberg added that luxurious could re-center on craft and human contact. David Block (Sarine Applied sciences) argued that tech shifts create new roles;  cleavers turned planners, and there are 50,000 of them right this moment.

The committee’s abstract was balanced: AI can democratize knowledge however wants safe infrastructure and bias consciousness. Small companies ought to begin small and preserve a human within the loop.

Thoughts the hole: trade to counter, counter to client

Between trade panels and the retail ground, a lot will get misplaced in translation. Social media can bridge it, however provided that the fitting voices are concerned early. I consider we should always invite a wider group of creators, editors, and KOLs to co-design communication initiatives with budgets and clear briefs. Don’t guess how creators assume — ask them.

Reaching the subsequent technology

I consider in schooling, and I beloved listening to so many commitments. However I’m additionally a mom of a high-school pupil. College students hear from engineers and nurses in colleges however not often from jewelers or gemologists. How can we present a vibrant fifteen-year-old {that a} microscope might be as thrilling as a display? I dream of a touring caravan — a cellular lab with a lapidary wheel, a microscope, a CAD station, and a grasp restore bench. Deliver it to small cities. Let younger individuals contact the stones and see the long run we see.

Sustainability, with a calculator

One sentence echoed all through Paris: sustainability should additionally make enterprise sense. That doesn’t dilute ethics; it protects them. Clear definitions and verification assist beliefs survive invoices and deadlines.

A word on belonging

I felt proud to be there. Not as a result of we solved every little thing, however as a result of the work is seen. On my final day I walked with Aneta from Bliss from Paris, pointing at home windows like youngsters in entrance of a bakery. Paris was lovely. The congress was intense. I discovered so much — and left with a listing: a careers caravan for colleges, actual influencer labs at future congresses, and retail realities constructed into requirements talks.

Highlights

• Dates & venues: 27–29 Oct 2025, Paris. Comet Bourse & UFBJOP.
• Attendance: ~350 delegates, live-streamed worldwide.
• Schooling: France’s main colleges (HEJ, LFG, L’École), worldwide packages increasing.
• Blue Checklist: definitions finalized for Model 1 (2026).
• Keynotes: Cavalieri, Pinet-Cuoq, Vigneron, Daveu.
• Panels: Geopolitics, Diamonds, Africa, Schooling, AI.
• Subsequent congress: Vicenza, Italy — Sept 3–7, 2026.

My three proposals

1. A touring jewellery careers caravan for colleges exterior trade hubs.
2. Influencer and KOL co-design labs at future commerce occasions.
3. Retail voices inside each sustainability and requirements session.