Meet the Industry

Independent and nonprofit, GIA is considered the world’s foremost authority in gemology. Established in 1931, GIA is known as the creator of the famous 4Cs: Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat Weight and the GIA International Diamond Grading System™, the global standard used to describe diamond quality. A leader in gemological research, GIA translates its expert knowledge into world class professional training and benchmark grading and identification services, considered the most accurate and impartial gem reports available.

Through its flagship scientific journal, Gems & Gemology, GIA publishes the latest peer-reviewed research on diamonds and colored stones, including where they are found, their special characteristics, and new techniques to identify simulants, synthetics and treatments.

GIA is dedicated to advancing gemological knowledge and upholding the highest standards of integrity. Its research, education, and grading reports serve to protect everyone who buys or sells gems.

Read articles from GIA:
Play-of-Color Opal, Gemstone Enhancement Detection: Thermal Enhancement and Diffusion Treatment

Describing itself as the “United Nations of the jewelry business,” CIBJO, the World Jewelry Confederation, represents the interests of all individuals, organizations and companies earning their livelihoods from jewelry, gemstones and precious metals. Its membership made up largely by national jewelry trade organizations from more than 40 countries around the world. CIBJO covers the entire jewelry, gemstone and precious metals sectors vertically, from mine to marketplace, and horizontally within each of the component sectors in the various production, manufacturing and trading centers. Most of the international jewelry sector’s leading corporations and service providers are also affiliated to CIBJO as commercial members.

In 2006, CIBJO became the only organization in the international diamond, gemstone and jewelry sectors ever to receive official consultative status with the United Nations.

Founded in Paris in 1926 to the present day, CIBJO’s mission has been to encourage harmonization, promote international cooperation in the jewelry industry and to consider issues that concern the trade worldwide. Foremost among these is the protection of consumer confidence.

The harmonization of industry standards has been a critical element of CIBJO’s mission. To advance the goal of universal standards and terminology in the jewelry industry, CIBJO developed its Blue Book system, which involves definitive set of standards for the grading, methodology and nomenclature of diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls and other organic materials and precious metals, as well as for the operation of gem labs.

CIBJO has been actively involved in the development a recognized sets of terminology by the International Standards Organization (ISO), but this is a long and difficult process. In the absence of clear ISO-approved terminology, it is the CIBJO Blue Books that are most commonly referred to in official forums, including courts of law.

CIBJO acts to uphold the confidence of consumers in the jewelry industry by supporting initiatives and programs that address other threats, such as money laundering; questionable gemological and assaying standards and fraudulent hallmarks; health issues, particular as they may arise in the mine or factory; damage to the environment, most specifically in the developing world, where the mining and industrial regulatory systems are often lax; and employment practices, particularly where the hiring of children is involved.

In 2008 CIBJO established the World Jewelry Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF), together with the United Nations, the purpose of which is to provide training and education in Corporate Social Responsibility for the international jewelry sector. Together with the United Nations Institute for Training and research, CIBJO was the driving force behind the establishment of a Center of Excellence in CSR Eduction for the diamond and jewelry industries in the city of Antwerp in 2011.