Chopard and HRD Antwerp Join the RJC

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) recently announced that two international organizations headquartered in the European market have joined the Council’s membership. Chopard, one of the world's leading watch and jewellery brands and HRD Antwerp, a well recognized diamond laboratory, join more than 200 companies and trade associations as RJC members.

Under the RJC System, all Commercial Members of the RJC are required to be audited by accredited, third party auditors to verify their conformance with the RJC’s Code of Practices to become certified. The RJC Certification System is unmatched in any other industry for the quality and breadth of its scope and standards and the integrity and transparency of its developmental process. “l am delighted that Chopard and HRD Antwerp have become members of the Responsible Jewellery Council,” says Michael Rae, the RJC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Chopard’s membership of the RJC will reinforce the Council’s mission of responsible business practices amongst large and small industry players,” says Rae. “By joining and supporting the Responsible Jewellery Council, Chopard underlines its strong commitment to corporate responsibility and integrity,” says Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard. “HRD Antwerp will add an impressive level of expertise from the Belgian diamond industry to the RJC’s efforts. They have made a commitment to join with the RJC’s Standards Committee on developing standards for gemmological laboratories and assayers in 2010-2011,” says Rae.

“We are proud to be a member of RJC and look forward to working together to ensure the responsible and ethical advancement of the industry. HRD Antwerp – Diamond Lab was the first ever diamond lab to be ISO certified and currently holds an ISO 17025 certificate. Grading labs have an obligation to the diamond industry and consumers to be independent, objective and consistent. HRD Antwerp - Diamond Lab has, since 1976, incorporated a set of procedures that guarantee the highest possible quality standards, which also underscores our commitment to the RJC standards,” says Georges Brys, General Manager, HRD Antwerp.