SA Jewellery News (SAJN) • August 2024 • Jewellex Issue
SA jewellerynews
WE LOOK AT
Final countdown to Jewellex 2024
The hunt for African gems
Gem & jewellery quiz Are trade shows worth it? Absolutely!
JEWELLEX
ISSUE2024
“Offering an impressive selection of jewellery designs set in a rainbow of gemstone colours”
JPPE is a Cape Town-based family business servicing the jewellery industry since 1966. Our passion for gemstones and jewellery inspires us to create stunning designs for locals and tourists.
From Big Five-inspired jewellery to elegant pieces inspired by Africa to classic jewellery staples, we offer an impressive selection of designs set in a rainbow of colours and a broad selection of loose gemstones.
At JPPE, we have developed one of South Africa's most expansive ranges of gemstone jewellery. Catering for all tastes, we pride ourselves in developing quality ranges that align with global trends.
All of our jewellery is made in South Africa and is backed by a 100% service guarantee. Our vast range of styling can be ordered using a variety of gemstones in silver or 9ct, 14ct, or 18ct solid gold.
With the innovation of CAD designing and years of expertise from our masterful artisans, we can offer you craftsmanship on par with international standards.
Kyle Gilson Director
Paul Sales Representative
Sales Representative
premiums tailored to individual risk not market standards
IN-DEPTH INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDING
Proficient in security measures, as well as the operations of cash & valuables transit & storage
COMPETITIVE PRICING & EXCESSES
Tailored pricing based on specialised risk management
FOCUSED RISK MANAGEMENT
Protecting all parties’ interests through detailed knowledge & risk management strategies
WE RESHAPE VALUE WITH EVERY GRANULE
There was a time when value in the industry was measured only in purity, and weight, but today provenance and ethical background play an important part in value.
Which is why we are always evolving how we source our metal. Our commitment to responsible business practices and sourcing, allow us to not only preserve our business, but our people, product and planet.
12. NEWS
• Russia overtakes Botswana for rough production value in 2023
• Buyer incentive programme for SA buyers at Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong
• 123ct rough unearthed from Lesotho’s Letšeng mine
• Registration open for 2024 CIBJO Congress
• CIBJO Blue Book standards and practices to be spotlighted during course in Bangkok
18. FINAL COUNTDOWN TO JEWELLEX
SAJN asked Lorna Lloyd what visitors can expect at this year’s show and her vision for it, going forward
21. EXHIBITION EXCELLENCE
Nigel Smith, a results catalyst, aims to help people and businesses achieve goals by equipping them to innovate, relate, sell, coach and lead
24. JEWELLEX GEM & JEWELLERY QUIZ
Test your gem and jewellery knowledge with our special Jewellex Edition quiz!
28. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Improve your employees’ productivity
30. ARE TRADE SHOWS WORTH IT?
Exhibitions and trade shows are a unique chance for potential customers to see, touch and experience your product or service first-hand
35. OSCAR WINNING ACTRESS VISITS VENETIA MINE
Academy Award-winning actress and De Beers Global Ambassador, Lupita Nyong’o, visited Venetia diamond mine in Limpopo
39. WATCH OUT!
Rolex confirms commitment to SA
41.
THE HUNT FOR AFRICAN GEMS
No Stone Unturned: The Hunt for African Gems takes readers on a roller-coaster ride with 24 adventure stories based on true events
42.
DIGGING DOWN INTO THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS
A new chapter has started in the 24-year history of the Kimberley Process
46. BORN IN AFRICA
A comprehensive directory featuring information and contact details of all members of the Jewellery Manufacturing Association of South Africa
Design to deliver high quality trade services
Price List 2024 | All prices excluding 15% VAT CAD DESIGNS R 450.00 | R 575.00 | R 700.00 Design Changes - R 100.00
WAX
PRINTING R 0.65/mm3
GOLD CASTINGS
925 | 9ct | 14ct | 18ct | 22ct
Casting Fee Per Flask - Small R160.00 | Medium R 320.00 | Large R 500 |
Sprue-up Fee R 50.00
PLATINUM CASTINGS
PtAu | PtCu R 75.00/g
FINISHING SERVICES
925 | 9ct | 14ct | 18ct | 22ct
Semi-Finishing Fee - R 70.00/g
PtAu | PtCu
Semi-Finishing Fee - R 100.00/g
925 | 9ct | 14ct | 18ct | 22ct
Full Finishing Fee - R 160.00/g | 200.00/g | R 215.00/g | 230.00/g | 250.00/g
PtAu | PtCu
Finishing Fee - R 250.00/g
SETTING SERVICES
From R 35.00/stone | Removal of Stones R 15.00/stone
Editor: Adri Viviers
Tel: +27 (0)11 883-4627
Cell: 084-261-1805
E-mail: adri@isikhova.co.za
Managing Director: Imraan Mahomed
E-mail: imraanm@isikhova.co.za
Operations Director: Thuli Majola
Tel: +27 (0)11 883-4627
E-mail: thuli@isikhova.co.za
Advertising Sales:
Tel: +27 (0)11 883-4627
Cell: 083-450-6052
Copy Editor: Anne Phillips
Design and layout: Joanne Brook
E-mail: joanne@isikhova.co.za
Distribution: Ruth Dlamini
SA Jewellery News is published by: Isikhova Media (Pty) Ltd
Website: www.isikhova.co.za
Editor's note
WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BRING you our much-anticipated bumper Jewellex 2024 Edition! Jewellex Africa will be hosted by the Jewellery Council of SA at the Wanderers Club, Illovo, Johannesburg on 8-9 September and promises to be an unmissable event!
This issue, as always, brings readers exciting and relevant local and international industry news, but also focuses on helping both visitors and exhibitors prepare for this year’s Jewellex.
Lorna Lloyd, CEO of the JCSA, told us what visitors can expect at the show, why it is important for the local jewellery industry and her vision for the event, going forward. She has been involved in Jewellex for the past 30 years and played a significant role in reviving the annual trade exhibition after Covid-19.
Test your knowledge with our Jewellex jewellery and gem quiz and let us know how you did. Perhaps you can have a competition at the office with a prize for whoever knows their gems best. Everyone at SAJN ’s headquarters did the quiz as well! In this issue, we also ask whether trade shows worth it – and the answer
is: absolutely, provided they are planned correctly.
On 24 July, the JCSA held its 50th AGM and, with it, great excitement over the announcement that Johan Bezuidenhout was elected as the new Chairperson of the council. On behalf of the SAJN team, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to him and wish him all the best and success as he takes on these new challenges and responsibilities. Keep an eye out for our September 2024 issue, in which we’ll be talking to him about the industry and his new role.
Our Jewellex edition once again aims to be a great resource for those attending the event. We hope you enjoy reading it and find it helpful.
Adri Viviers
Leading refinery and jewellery manufacturing service provider, Metal Concentrators (MetCon), has introduced an innovative colour design approach to the South African jewellery industry. Ceramic offers a modern approach to coloured jewellery and has the benefits of colour variety, vibrance, strength and durability. For further information, turn to pages 4 & 5, or visit MetCon’s stand at Jewellex Africa, 8-9 September 2024, to discuss your colour journey with our sales team. Alternatively, e-mail: info@MetCon.co.za or visit: www.MetCon.co.za.
Johan Bezuidenhout elected as new JCSA Chairperson
Johan Bezuidenhout has been elected as the new Chairperson for the Jewellery Council of SA for the ensuing term.
Bezuidenhout, who is the Managing Director of Richline SA, was elected during
the council’s annual general meeting on 24 August in Illovo, Johannesburg.
With a career spanning more than two decades in the jewellery industry, Bezuidenhout has consistently demonstrated his commitment to it and his passion for driving growth.
Prior to joining Richline, he held key executive positions spanning multiple industries where he honed his skills in operations management, business development and strategic planning.
Beyond his professional achievements, he is deeply committed to corporate responsibility and ethical business practices. He actively champions initiatives that promote sustainability and community development.
The SAJN team extends our heartfelt congratulations to him and wishes him all the best and success as he takes on these new challenges and responsibilities.
* Keep an eye out for SAJN September 2024, in which we will be talking to Bezuidenhout about the industry and his new role.
123ct rough unearthed from Lesotho’s Letšeng mine
Gem Diamonds has recovered a 123,20ct type II white diamond from its Letšeng mine in Lesotho, the eighth stone greater than 100ct so far this year. Type II diamonds are the most valued and collectable precious gemstones, as they contain either very little or no nitrogen atoms in their crystal structure. London-listed Gem Diamonds owns 70% of Letšeng. The mine is famous for the production of large, exceptional white diamonds, making it the highest dollar-percarat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.
Registration open for 2024 CIBJO Congress
Fewer than four months remain before the start of the 2024 congress of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO). Delegates and other participants may register via the following dedicated congress website: www.cibjo.org/congress-2024/.
CIBJO’s 2024 annual congress will take place in Shanghai, China’s financial centre from 2-4 November. Pre-congress meetings will be held on 31 October and 1 November.
The hosts of the congress are the Donghao Lansheng Group and the China Gems & Jade Exchange.
The congress venue and the official hotel will be the Shangri-La Qiantan, in the heart of Shanghai’s New Bund International Business District in Pudong.
The dedicated website includes the congress programme, important travel information, background information about Shanghai and the congress venue, news and media.
An online registration form for the congress is available. Delegates will also be able to book hotel rooms at special congress rates using a link provided on the dedicated website.
CIBJO Congresses serve as the gathering place for the World Jewellery Confederation’s assembly of delegates. They are also the venue for the annual meetings of CIBJO’s sectoral commissions, where amendments can be introduced to the organisation’s definitive directories of international industry standards for diamonds, coloured stones, pearls, gem labs, precious metals, coral and responsible sourcing, known as the Blue Books.
Furthermore, the CIBJO Congress is where the programmes of World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation, as well as activities related to CIBJO’s ongoing cooperation with the UN and its development programme, are reported upon.
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Buyer incentive programme for SA buyers at Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong
The Jewellery Council of SA has negotiated free hotel accommodation at a four-star hotel in Hong Kong, hosted buyer badges, use of the buyer lounge and access to the fair reception for potential SA jewellery buyers who are members of the Jewellery Council at the Jewellery and Gem World HK Show in September.
Interested JCSA members can click on the link below for e-application for the hosted buyer programme.
Please note that the organisers of the show will only collect identity/passport
Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong
16-20/9/2024 18-22/9/2024
documents via the registration link: https://imjhk.imasia-passport.com
Hosted buyer application procedure:
1. Complete the visitor registration.
2. Complete the hosted buyer application form.
3. Successful applicants will receive an e-mail notification attached with a hotel deposit form (for guaranteeing arrival purposes).
4. Return the hotel deposit form to the appointed travel agent/designated hotel before the required date. NB: The application will be cancelled without notice in the event of failure to settle the hotel deposit.
AsiaWorld-Expo • Hong Kong (AWE) Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)
5. The appointed travel agent/designated hotel will send the hotel confirmation after guaranteeing the arrival.
6. Informa Markets will send an e-mail confirming pick-up arrangements of hosted buyer badges and related programme details one week prior to the show.
Read more about the show by visiting: https://jgw.exhibitions.jewellerynet.com/
One room (single/double/twin) and four nights' hotel accommodation for each company at designated four-star hotels in Hong Kong
Hosted buyer badge
Use of buyer lounge at the fairground Fair reception/Networking event (if any)
“Members who have any questions regarding the above can contact the Jewellery Council,” says Lorna Lloyd, JCSA CEO.
CIBJO Blue Book standards and practices to be spotlighted during course in Bangkok
A three-day course tailored for jewellery industry professionals, which will take place from 21-23 August 2024 at GIT in Bangkok, Thailand, will present ethical and sustainable best practices in the various sectors of the jewellery industry, as they are delineated in CIBJO’s Blue Books.
The course is being offered jointly by the recently-established CIBJO Academy and the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT).
The course will be presented by Kenneth Scarratt, Dean of the CIBJO Academy, GIT Deputy Director Thanong Leelawatanasuk and Dr Bhuwadol Wanthanachaisaieng, Chief of the Research & Standards Department.
Over the three-day programme, attendees will be provided with an overview of both technical and due diligence standards as they relate to precious metals, coloured stones, diamonds, pearls and precious coral, with an emphasis on transparent and unambiguous
disclosure, responsible sourcing and sustainable environmental practices. Additional units will look at the interconnectivity of the jewellery supply chain and certifiable compliance systems, with a special focus on the system developed by the Responsible Jewellery Council. The Blue Books themselves will serve as primary course materials and can be downloaded at no cost on the CIBJO website: https://cibjo.org/the-blue-books/
“The verifiable ensuring of consumer confidence in the gemstone and jewellery industries is playing an increasingly central role in the daily operations of companies and other organisations in our industry,” says Scarratt. “This course offers a great opportunity for participants to gain an understanding of the current industry-developed best practices that reside in CIBJO’s iconic Blue Books and how these, when adopted, help support both consumer and industry confidence in our products.”
“The GIT operates with transparency and maintains high standards of governance in the gem and jewellery industry,” says Sumed Prasongpongchai, CEO of the institute. “The collaboration between the CIBJO Academy and the GIT in offering courses on business operations with good governance will promote sustainability in the Thai gem and jewellery sector, adding significant value.”
The CIBJO Academy was established in 2023 to prepare the delivery of educational programmes and materials for jewellery professionals and the consuming public about standards, operating principles and the terminology developed within CIBJO’s various commissions and expert committees.
The GIT is a Thai government body whose mission is to create standards for certifying the quality of gems, jewellery and precious metals in order to enhance confidence in the quality of Thai gem and jewellery.
production value in 2023
Russia overtakes Botswana for rough
The value of Russia’s rough diamond production surpassed Botswana’s for the first time in 2023, despite sanctions and a weak market hindering the country’s diamond sales. These hindrances included the addition of the European Union to the list of those banning Russian diamonds and harsher rules by the USA regarding goods substantially changed in a third-party country, such as India.
Last year, Russia produced 37,3 million carats of rough, with a total value of US$3,61 billion at an average price of US$97 per carat, according to recent statistics released by the Kimberley Process (KP). That compares with the 2022 output of 41,9 million carats with a total value of US$3,55 billion and an average price of US$85 per carat. Meanwhile, the value of production at Botswana’s mines slid, possibly due to a lower available output mix at De Beers’ Jwaneng deposit, which is in the middle of an expansion. In 2023, the country produced 25,1 million carats, with a total value of US$3,28 billion at an average price of US$131 per carat, while in 2022, output of 24,5 million carats was valued at US$4,7 billion and an average price set at US$192 per carat.
Global rough output fell 20% year-on-year to US$12,72 billion. By volume, production slipped 8% to 111,5 million carats. Total imports dropped 10% by volume, while global exports were down 9%.
The decline in exports reflected a 12% slump in the number of carats exported from Russia, a 24% drop from Botswana and a 45% decrease from South Africa. – Rapaport
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Final countdown to Jewellex 2024
With only a month to go until Jewellex Africa 2024, the premier trade fair of the South African jewellery industry, SAJN asked Lorna Lloyd what visitors can expect at this year’s show and her vision for the event going forward
HOSTED ANNUALLY BY THE JEWELLERY Council of South Africa (JCSA), this year’s Jewellex Africa will officially open its doors on Sunday, 8 September at the Wanderers Club, Illovo, Johannesburg. Lorna Lloyd, JCSA CEO, has been involved in Jewellex for the past 30 years and played a significant role in reviving the annual trade exhibition after Covid-19.
Why is Jewellex so important for the local jewellery industry?
Jewellex is South Africa’s premier jewellery and watch trade show, offering a unique opportunity to explore the latest products and trends under one roof over two days. More than just a fair, it serves as the only gathering place locally for industry professionals to foster business connections, build relationships and expand their networks.
What is involved in putting an event like Jewellex together?
Organising Jewellex is a year-long endeavour
that begins with securing venues and obtaining quotes. Budgeting is crucial to ensure that the show’s profitable, which in turn supports the sustainability of income for the Jewellery Council. Following this, we focus on securing sponsorships and building relationships with our customers – the exhibitors. It’s imperative that we prioritise the interests of both exhibitors and the buyers attending the show to foster a successful event.
What has the response been like for this year’s show?
It’s been exceptional! We’ve expanded the show significantly, not only utilising the ground level of the Wanderers Club, but also securing three additional venues on the first level. Currently, we’ve sold approximately 90% of the available space and are eagerly anticipating a highly successful event.
What can visitors expect at this year’s show?
The show will present a large variety of products and services, including high-end diamond and precious stone jewellery, locally produced and SMME jewellery, loose diamonds and gemstones, pearls, ceramics, refining services, technology equipment, analytical instruments, tools and equipment, specialised logistics services, international
We’ve
show services, local industry publishing, underwriting services, jewellery cleaning products, watches and clocks.
As the Financial Intelligence Centre Act is a hot topic and high-value goods dealers are required by law to comply, we've arranged a questions-and-answers session on Monday, 9 September by Deborah Dreyer who has extensive knowledge about this legislation.
Exhibitors have also been encouraged to offer “show specials” that will only be obtainable at the event.
We’re grateful to Rand Refinery, which will once again sponsor the Jewellex Business Breakfast on the first morning of the show (Sunday, 8 September) at 8.30am, and to our other sponsors: South African Diamonds and Precious Metals Regulator for the carrier bags, Brinks for sponsoring the lanyards, Cape Precious Metals for the registration, and Osprey Underwriting Managers for the drinks and snacks event on the Gala Deck on Sunday afternoon and branded pens.
economic environment, influenced by factors such as exchange rates and metal prices, presents another significant challenge. These factors require careful consideration and strategic planning to ensure the success of Jewellex amid fluctuating conditions.
How has the event changed since the first Jewellex you attended?
When I first began organising Jewellex, our methods were quite basic. We manually printed and distributed all marketing materials such as exhibitor manuals, applications and invitations to additional events such as dinners and training sessions via the postal service. We also relied heavily on hand-delivery and faxing information to the trade. Back then, the industry thrived in a significantly different environment. We utilised a hall which measured 5 000 m². Our footprint today has reduced to less than 1 000 m², which reflects the current state of the industry.
Mining houses and banks consistently supported the industry by sponsoring significant projects such as industry events and gala dinners which were held during the show weekend. However, today’s environment reflects a more cautious and restrained approach.
What is your vision for Jewellex going forward?
What are the biggest challenges you face when organising Jewellex?
The main challenges we face include selecting a venue that accommodates the needs of both exhibitors and buyers effectively. Additionally, forecasting the show’s response in an unpredictable
I believe that expecting Jewellex to achieve the same level of achievement as it did many years ago is unrealistic, given the changes in the industry. However, I remain hopeful that as the local industry expands, Jewellex can also experience growth. Establishing an international presence with Jewellex exhibitors and buyers would significantly benefit both our industry and Jewellex’s future prospects.
expanded the show significantly, not only utilising the ground level of the Wanderers Club, but also securing three additional venues on the first level.
Exhibition excellence
Nigel Smith, a results catalyst, aims to help people and businesses achieve goals by equipping them to innovate, relate, sell, coach and lead
“AS JEWELLEX FAST APPROACHES, THE BEST tip we’ve probably all received in the past regarding exhibition planning is: prepare and plan as much as possible well ahead of time in order to maximise opportunities for success,” says Smith. “Sound and wise advice, no doubt, especially for those of us who tend to occasionally operate in JIT (just-in-time) mode. I therefore suggest beginning planning and preparing for the event now.”
Smith also offers the following tips for exhibitors:
• Products don’t sell – people do. You may have the best merchandise and the greatest space, place and layout, but it still comes down to the people manning your exhibition stand. Never leave your stall without friendly, professional, engaging, helpful, grateful and knowledgeable staff in it. They exhibit and sell, not the products.
• Reduce physical barriers to the bare minimum. Barriers are often a natural consequence of design and security, but if you can create an inviting, open and freeflowing atmosphere, you will have a better opportunity to maximise connection, inclusion and proximity.
• Keep your visitors/customers as the central reason and focal point of your exhibition. Look out for them, look forward to them and look after them. Never make visitors
compete for your attention – avoid cellphones, food, magazines, personal conversations, computers and anything else that could distract you from pure customercentricity. Also ensure that you introduce yourself to visitors – be personal and connect.
• Treat every visitor as if they were the only one you will have for the whole show. Do not make assumptions about anyone. Also, even when you are on a break from your stall and grabbing a bite to eat or taking a rest, in the lift to the parking area, or whatever, remember that you are still exhibiting. Keep wearing your identification tag and your smile. Buy a visitor a cup of coffee when standing in the queue at the café. Chat to them outside the venue. Help them carry their parcels or offer to pay for their parking. The point is: you are not limited to a stall – you are on display all the time, so use it to your advantage and make someone’s day and exhibition.
• Go big and then go home. Have fun and be uniquely different – get your team to brainstorm creative ways to draw visitors in and make their experience memorable. Set yourselves alight, so to speak, because people will love to see you illuminate. Keep asking yourself what you can give your visitors to create genuine reciprocity. Simple and small can work wonders.
• Use all the social media platforms available and applicable at the exhibition – be as visual as possible in every dimension.
• Watch and listen – use what is going on in the exhibition as a connection point with visitors. Ask great open questions about why they are attending, what they have experienced and enjoyed so far and what they looking forward to, and build it into your own story to engage with them. Listen more than you talk.
Tips for visitors/customers:
• Have an open mind and try to visit a few stands you thought of overlooking – it is often in the outliers and unplanned deviations that excitement and possibilities exist.
• However, it is still wise and beneficial to have a plan so that you can maximise your time and energies to enjoy the full extent of your exhibition expectations and experience.
• Ask questions about the stories, the background, the beliefs and the reasons behind the exhibitions.
• Take an extra carry-bag!
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• For more serious buyers, make an appointment with an exhibitor for a specific time and place where you can discuss matters at length and negotiate.
• Network, gather information and take notes – have your own business cards to give away.
• Make use of the social media platforms on offer.
• Brag to your family about how many steps you walked during the event.
• Remember where you parked and find your parking ticket before leaving! Here’s to the best-ever jewellery and watch exhibition – roll on Jewellex 2024!
Jewellex gem and jewellery quiz
Test your gem and jewellery knowledge with our special Jewellex edition quiz! Write down your answers and check them on page 51
1. What is the name of the ring design that features only one diamond or gemstone?
A) Halo design
B) Solitaire
C) Trilogy
D) Eternity ring
2. Which is the largest diamond ever found?
A) Kohinoor
B) Great Mogul
C) Orloff
D) Cullinan
3. Which metal used as alloy in white gold causes an allergic reaction in some people?
A) Nickel
B) Cadmium
C) Magnesium
D) Cobalt
4. What jewellery piece is a silambu?
A) Anklet
B) Bracelet
C) Headpiece
D) Pendant
5. What is the modern birthstone for the month of June?
A) Bloodstone
B) Sardonyx
C) Alexandrite
D) Tourmaline
6. Which precious gem is sometimes called the “sailor’s stone”?
A) Blue zircon
B) Sapphire
C) Moonstone
D) Aquamarine
7. What colour is malachite?
A) Blue
B) Green
C) Yellow
D) Brown
8. Which country was nicknamed the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire?
A) Pakistan
B) India
C) Bengal
D) West India
9. If a diamond is described as a Princess cut, is it…
A) Oval?
B) Heart?
C) Square?
D) Round?
10. Which gemstone did the Greeks believe prevented drunkenness?
(Top tip – it doesn’t!)
A) Amethyst
B) Garnet
C) Moonstone
D) Peridot
11. Which gemstone has a name that comes from pomegranates?
A) Morganite
B) Ruby
C) Garnet
D) Rose quartz
13. Which month has opal and tourmaline as its birthstones?
A) April
B) July
C) November
D) October
14. Where would you need to travel to buy an aquamarine directly from a local?
A) France
B) Brazil
12. This kind of piercing is said to help relieve migraines. What is it?
A) Daith
B) Helix
C) Rook
D) Conch
C) Belarus
D) Japan
15. You already know that diamonds are the hardest gemstone, but what is the next-hardest?
A) Emerald
B) Sapphire
C) Aquamarine
D) Amethyst
16. When you first have your ears pierced, what type of earrings are used?
A) Studs
B) Barbells
C) Huggies
D) Dangles
17. Which of the following is not one of the colours of sapphire?
A) Pink
B) Orange
C) Yellow
D) Red
18. What colour is morganite?
A) Light blue
B) Pale yellow
C) Orange
D) Light pink
19. When it comes to stones, what does the Mohs scale measure?
A) Lustre
B) Reflection
C) Hardness
D) Weight
20. Which of these pieces of jewellery is known as the world’s most expensive necklace?
A) Heart of the Ocean
B) L’Incomparable
C) Heart of the Kingdom
D) A Heritage in Bloom
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Improve your employees’ productivity
Arjen de Bruin, Group CEO at OIM Consulting, specialists in organisational improvement through frontline leader coaching and development, believes that if you adopt a people-first approach, productivity is the natural by-product
ASK ANY COMPANY HEAD OR BUSINESS leader how important employee productivity is to them and they will tell you that it is right up there with a strong bottom line and a good coffee machine. Yet productivity, in itself, should not be the starting point: that should be the people.
So says Arjen de Bruin, Group CEO at OIM Consulting, specialists in organisational improvement through front-line leader
coaching and development. He believes that if you adopt a people-first approach, productivity is the natural by-product.
He sees the same challenges across the various industries in which the consultancy operates. “Productivity’s always been linked to other issues, so we conduct a thorough assessment prior to rolling out our programme, to assess where the problem lies.
“Within mining and manufacturing, as well as warehouse distribution and fast-moving consumer goods, we see a similar competency profile among employees. Planning and organising is typically the poorest competency across the board, followed by analysis, problem-solving and, finally, leadership and development, with only 17% of workers classed as proficient in their roles. We’ve seen how these areas curtail organisational productivity,” he says.
“Supervisors are used to operating in a reactive manner; they’re assertive and able to handle problems that arise, but they’re not always able to plan effectively and prevent a problem from occurring, which results in time wastage.”
In financial services, the same problems rear their heads, but in a somewhat different order. “Among the staff who form part of the backoffice operations, we find that
De Bruin also stresses that within these industries, assertiveness typically ranks highly.
(Left): Arjen de Bruin, Group CEO at OIM Consulting.
planning and organising are typically where they should be, but assertiveness is low. This means that when it comes to critical decisionmaking, confidence is lacking – and this can negatively impact outcomes.”
De Bruin notes that South Africans can also be somewhat erratic when it comes to productivity. “We have periods of extreme output, but then sometimes take the pedal off the metal. We’re also not inherently processdriven; we need something to make absolute sense to us in order to adhere to it – and that can derail us when it comes to our efforts in the workplace.”
However, he adds that overall, South Africans have a good work ethic. “We’ve seen that when employees are empowered with tools and coached to be more consistent in planning and organising, as well as other areas such as analysis and problem-solving, there’s a sharp uptick in productivity,” he says.
De Bruin shares three tips for companies seeking to get the most out of their employees:
Employees must see how their performance is linked to the big picture
Performance is linked to purpose. Your employees need to see how what they do each day ties into the big picture; how it matters
The first step is always to clearly define what your company stands for, creating
structure and alignment. Employees then need to be brought into the process and shown how these values translate into dayto-day action and behaviour. The energy of employees needs to be focused frequently and leaders need to be visible, engaged and continuously carrying the culture of the organisation.
Employees also need to see how their performance and the company’s operations or strategy relate to their own lives and the benefits it can bring them. For example, if the company reaches target, there might be a financial incentive for them, such as a bonus, or they might acquire a new skill and feel more empowered in their role.
South Africans can be somewhat erratic when it comes to output. We have periods of extreme productivity, but then sometimes take the pedal off the metal.
Teach through training, entrench through coaching
De Bruin says that companies typically invest a great deal in training employees, sending them on courses and to workshops. However, without coaching, these remain cerebral; it is very difficult for these new habits and behaviours to embed themselves in the employee’s day-to-day conduct.
Coaching is integral, as it helps to entrench theoretical learnings through practical, real-life and – crucially – repeated application. People need guidance; if you want to see an uptick in your employees’ performance, look for programmes that offer coaching as a core component of the methodology.
Collaborate, do not dictate
De Bruin has found that the best way to get employees on your side is through collaboration. “The two worst styles of leadership are autocratic or laissez-faire, which means to let people do whatever they like.
“There needs to be engagement and collaboration; people need to feel that their input is heard and their insights valued. There also needs to be accountability. Yes, sometimes hard decisions need to be made, but consulting with employees beforehand helps bring them on board, which will ultimately be reflected in their performance and productivity. Valued employees are engaged and productive employees.”
Are trade shows worth it? Absolutely!
If planned correctly, trade shows are absolutely worth it. Exhibitions and trade shows are a unique chance for potential customers to see, touch and experience your product or service first-hand. Nine out of 10 visitors to these events have an influence on the buying of their company or organisation
YOUR COMPANY MIGHT MAKE A WIDE variety of the best jewellery, but at a trade show you are selling yourself: people have to buy your brand identity before they purchase your products. There are certain formalities to trade shows, but exhibition professionals believe that success hinges on the strategies used before, during and after the event.
Before the show
It is crucial that you identify your objectives. Are you launching a new product, raising the company profile, spreading brand awareness, contacting a new market, re-launching
existing products, conducting market research or measuring up the competition? What you want from the show will affect your decisions and how to proceed.
Planning
• The earlier you book your stand, the better the position you can secure.
• Work with the fair organisers to secure branding, staff passes, parking, etc.
• Find out what the organisers are doing and dovetail your marketing with theirs.
• Decide what you want in the form of a stand or shell scheme (mainly provided by the trade fair) or an open space to build
your own stand from scratch. This decision is normally based on budget and product.
• Find out about restrictions placed on stand designs by the organisers, ie do not glue things to the walls, respect fire and health regulations, etc.
• When planning your stand, follow the three-second rule: it takes three seconds for a visitor to pass your stand. Make sure they know what you do, notice your stand and have a good reason to visit it.
• Find a “hook” for the stand. Many other
companies offer similar products and you need to distinguish yourself so that visitors come to your stand, rather than others.
• Visitors love freebies! Stocking your stand with small, branded promotional gifts to give away is an effective way of imbedding your company message in people’s minds long after they have left the show. Other enticements could be as small as sweets, or as significant as special prices on products, give-aways, items never seen before, etc.
• Have training sessions with staff before the show to ensure they are knowledgeable about the products and that they also know how to ask questions which elicit more than just a “yes” or “no” from clients.
• Prior to the fair, promote your presence at the show on your website, social media and trade publications as widely as possible. It is often assumed that the fair organisers should do this, but in fact, it is up to the industry and exhibitors to spread the word and ensure that customers attend the show and their stand. Press releases to trade publications are also good marketing platforms to get the message out.
• When planning the show, select your best salespeople to man your stand for maximum impact.
• Set up meetings with clients at your stand before the show starts.
• Direct mail campaigns that give people a reason to visit your stand – for example, a redeemable gift code is always a good way to attract foot traffic.
During the show
This is a critical phase. You have invested good money in your display and human resources, so you need to get the best possible return on investment.
Managing a stand at an exhibition requires organisation and strong attention to detail. Before the big day, make sure you have ticked all the boxes, including the following:
• Good lighting. Dark stands are dead stands.
• Simple, but striking exhibits. Do not complicate the message you are trying to convey. It should be seen and noticed in three seconds.
• Research has shown that over 75% of an exhibition stand’s effectiveness and therefore return on investment comes down to the people manning it. Many companies invest in the product and stand, but overlook the critical element of human interaction.
• Staff must look professional and keep a rotation schedule. If they stay at the stand too long without a break, they will become bored and restless, so potential clients might walk away.
• Teach your staff the following body language tips:
Stand up and greet attendees in front of the booth.
– If seats are needed, use tall stools that create contact at standing eye level.
It takes three seconds for a visitor to pass your stand. Make sure they know what you do, notice your stand and have a good reason to visit it.
– Smile and make eye contact.
– Speak to trade show attendees, not colleagues.
– Sit down only if you are with a client who also wants to sit down.
– Do not cross your arms or legs and keep your hands out of your pockets.
– Avoid fidgeting and leaning against walls and furniture.
– Be enthusiastic and polite.
– Thank attendees for spending time at the stand when they arrive and leave.
• Ensure the stand is tidy and neat every day.
• Dress in a way that is professional, but friendly.
• Do not crowd the stand with too many staff.
• Your stand must have adequate space for the volume of traffic you attract.
• No personal belongings or litter should be on the stand in view of visitors.
• Staff must not be allowed to eat at the stand. They should do so at a cafeteria or away from your space.
Contact all the people you met during the trade fair. Send personalised e-mails to thank them for visiting and give them more information about your company and products.
• Encourage the staff at the stand to have occasional breaks outside, as many exhibition areas can become very stuffy.
• Ensure you have enough product at the stand. Also, have plenty of business cards and write the name of the show and your stand number on them when giving them to potential clients.
• Do not waste time with visitors who are clearly just viewing the products and are not seriously interested in buying them.
• Make water available for the staff manning the stands. It is easy to become dehydrated and lose concentration during the day.
• Make sure that essentials like pens, order books, staplers, scissors, Velcro, etc are available.
• During the trade fair, update your social media platform with news from the show.
• The best way of collecting data from visitors needs some thought. With visitors having little time to spare at trade shows, they will not want to stand writing down their mobile numbers or e-mail addresses. Instead, have a system that is simple and seamless. There are a number of data management systems available that can be used with a digital tablet or smartphone to keep your data centralised and accessible.
After the show
Many people overlook this critical step. Do the
following within a week of the event, or you will lose a lot of the value the show offered:
• Check to see whether all show leads have been followed up.
• Assess the results of the show against objectives.
• Evaluate the results against investment.
• Communicate these outcomes to the stand team and thank them for their efforts.
• Contact all the people you met during the trade fair. Send personalised e-mails to thank them for visiting and give them more information about your company and products. Offer a follow-up meeting as well. It is important to do this while everyone still remembers each other.
• Start working on your plans for the next trade show and identify mistakes made during the previous one that you need to avoid.
DATES: Sunday, 8th September & Monday, 9th September 2024
VENUE: The Wanderers Club, 21 North Street, Illovo, Johannesburg
BOOKINGS: elsad@jewellery.org.za or lornal@jewellery.org.za
Oscar-winning
actress visits Venetia mine
AT VENETIA, ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING diamond mines, Nyong’o was shown how each facet of the production value chain supports sustainable development. She was also taken on an immersive tour of the 32 000 ha Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve adjacent to the mine, which is owned and managed by De Beers and provides safe and protected habitat for a wide array of flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species, as part of the De Beers Group’s wide-ranging conservation efforts.
Nyong’o was shown how, through Venetia’s comprehensive social and labour plans, De Beers is empowering local communities around the mine through projects that support equal opportunities for women and girls, promote education and early childhood development, advance local entrepreneurs and provide essential infrastructure support such as water and road upgrades.
“I’ve had a relationship with De Beers
Academy Award-winning actress and De Beers Global Ambassador, Lupita Nyong'o, visited Venetia diamond mine in Limpopo last month
jewellery for a while now and I was very curious to go to the source and experience the journey a diamond makes first-hand,” said Nyong’o. “It was a pleasure meeting the people at the mine and I was especially struck by the female staff, who’re breaking barriers and having real success in a sector that’s traditionally been the realm of men. It was illuminating and inspiring to meet women from the surrounding communities who thrive in technical roles such as drill operators, geologists and engineers.”
“We were delighted to host Lupita at Venetia and to showcase our worldclass operations. There’ve been many misperceptions about diamond mining, so it was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to show her the best-practice employment and sustainability standards we have at Venetia, highlight some of the vital ways in which the mine supports and advances the local community, and take her to our majestic Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve,
which is home to some of South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife. We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact that natural diamonds have in our host countries and communities, where they’re a true catalyst for sustainable development,” said De Beers Group Managed Operations CEO, Moses Madondo.
Commencing production in 1993, Venetia is South Africa’s leading diamond mine, accounting for about 40% of the country’s natural diamond production. The mine is currently transitioning to underground operations to extend its life, as well as the jobs and benefits it provides, until at least the mid-2040s. The US$2,3 billion underground development project represents the biggest single investment in the country’s diamond mining industry in decades. The transition to underground operations also involves re-training Venetia’s more than 4 000-strong workforce in the new, high-tech skills needed to run the largely mechanised operation, supported by a dedicated centre of excellence.
Interesting facts
Marie-Antoinette, queen of France, asked Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1783 to make her a pocket watch which included every possible complication (of that time, of course). Breguet fell in love with the challenge and worked on the pocket watch for over 40 years.
Discovered in Brazil in 1938, the Vargas was Harry Winston’s second important diamond purchase. He pursued the 726,60ct rough across three continents before he was finally able to purchase the stone. Once the diamond was successfully split, Winston’s cleaver passed out from the enormous amount of stress associated with the cutting of the stone. In total, the Vargas resulted in 29 individual diamonds.
Peridot is one of the few gemstones only come in one colour, in this case, a shade of olive green. The intensity of this green depends on how much iron is in the gemstone’s crystal structure.
Panerai initially specialised in producing military watches and optical instruments for the Italian Navy. The brand's early watches were designed to withstand rigorous conditions, while providing high legibility and precision.
The chemical symbol for gold is Au. This abbreviation comes from Latin, as we currently believe people knew about gold since 3000 BC or so. The symbol Au comes from their old word aurum, which means "glowing", like a halo or aura.
Radhika Merchant, a businesswoman and daughter of Indian pharmaceutical tycoons, recently married Anant Ambani. Her blue diamond engagement ring features two heart-shaped diamonds on either side of a centre stone. The cost of the ring has not been disclosed.
The easiest way to test stainless steel jewellery is using a magnet. Because steel is magnetic, your jewellery should attach to the magnet. If this does not happen, you do not have stainless steel.
When stars explode or collide, they create the necessary energy and conditions to create gold. So all the gold that has been mined on earth originally arrived through a meteorite.
Rolex confirms commitment to SA
THE ROLEX WATCH COMPANY (SOUTH AFRICA) opened in 1948 in the centre of Johannesburg and relocated to Sandton in 1997.
The affiliate proudly represented the brand, its iconic products and core values for 76 years throughout Africa.
However, local markets and conjuncture have evolved and no longer warrant the presence of an official Rolex affiliate. The brand therefore closed its Sandton office in June 2024, but remains strongly committed to the development of the South African market.
True to its watch servicing tradition and philosophy, Rolex will continue to provide after-sales services in SA. As of 1 July 2024, the brand’s partner, The Vault, took over and centralised all maintenance and servicing activities for the country’s other official Rolex retailers. The Rolex Authorised Service Centre will continue operating at the same address in Johannesburg and with the same watchmakers known to the customers. Through its expertise and resources, The Vault team will uphold Rolex’s high standards for the entire market and will continue the brand’s long-term dedication to watch servicing excellence.
Despite closing its Sandton affiliate, luxury watch brand Rolex maintains its after-sales service centre and will strengthen its retail presence throughout the country
A host of scheduled openings scheduled for 2025
Rolex will not only remain active in the region through its official retailer network, but will also drive customer in-store experience to new heights with a series of projects that the brand will roll out across the country throughout 2025.
In Johannesburg, Rolex will inaugurate a 200 m² boutique in Sandton City with its partner SHEMER. Scheduled for opening in the second quarter of 2025, this will be Rolex’s first monobrand store in SA and will be located within the Diamond Walk, alongside other international luxury brands. Simultaneously, official retailer and long-time brand partner Charles Greig will completely overhaul its store in Hyde Park to include a new 65 m² Rolex shop-in-shop, which will also open in the second quarter of next year.
In Cape Town, Rolex will open a boutique at Charles Greig’s address at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in late 2025. Another
Scheduled for opening in Q2 2025, this will be Rolex’s first monobrand store in SA and will be located within the Diamond Walk.
official retailer, Van Deijl Jewellers, signed an agreement with the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre to increase its store footage, which will allow Rolex to develop a new 70 m² shop-in-shop. Rolex will also be spreading its retail footprint to Durban, where its partner The Vault will inaugurate a 60 m² corner in Umhlanga Arch.
The hunt for African gems
No Stone Unturned: The Hunt for African Gems (Austin Macauley Publishers) takes readers on a thrilling roller-coaster ride with 24 adventure stories based on true events spanning the past 60 years
NO STONE UNTURNED: THE HUNT FOR African Gems, recounted by captivating personalities from the gem trade to author Richa Goyal Sikri, captures the fast-paced and dramatic nature of the business, as well as historical moments related to notable gem deposits in Africa. Each story brings to life the exhilarating highs and perilous lows of the trade, offering an insightful look into the vibrant journey of coloured gemstones from mine to market.
“The spirit of adventure deep-rooted in the coloured gemstone industry is rarely captured, and the wonderful characters that make this industry so colourful too often take their stories to the grave,” says Gemfields’ CEO Sean Gilbertson. “Gemfields commissioned this book in 2020 to capture some of these stories and to honour legendary individuals from the industry and tell their tales of courage, luck, energy, passion and expertise. Sikri has diligently captured countless hours of stories and injected her energetic writing style to create a first-of-a-kind work that inspires and intrigues readers as they accompany marvellous personalities on journeys through the world of coloured gemstones.”
The author is an accomplished journalist and storyteller specialising in the gemstone and jewellery industry. “This book aims to shine a light on African gem deposits – the leading source of coloured gemstones globally – and the extraordinary individuals connected to each story,” she explains. “It unravels the mineral mysteries of the earth and the secrets of the gem trade, laced with humour and culture. Hopefully, the stories will transport you to a vibrant world, where you’ll learn, laugh, fall in love and, like me, never want to leave.”
The coloured gemstone industry is shrouded in mystery, says Sikri of the process of writing No Stone Unturned. “The first challenge was to identify the individuals with tales to tell, persuade them to participate and allow me to explore their memory palaces over several interviews, extracting vital details, which I combined with fictional elements to craft a story. The next part involved poring over scientific articles and conducting secondary research to distil the information gathered into a few sentences that would easily be understood. The final touch was writing an author’s note for each story, which updated readers not only on the protagonist in the story, but also on the featured gemstone, in most cases sharing previously unpublished information and industry insights in a simplified manner.”
Sikri holds a Bachelor’s degree in commerce and a Master’s degree in business administration. She has completed several courses with the Gemological Institute of America, including coloured stone grading and gem identification. She spent the first 20 years of her career in various leadership
positions within the travel and tourism industry, working with clients across Asia, Africa and other international markets.
In 2014, as a connoisseur of gems and jewellery, she began curating educational visits to mines and gem-cutting centres globally for groups of aficionados seeking to better understand the journey of a gem from source to market. Based on her experiences, Sikri débuted her unique storytelling style on Instagram in 2017, garnering widespread interest and engagement from the press and industry stakeholders.
Since 2018, she has pursued the second chapter in her career, giving talks, undertaking projects, involving herself in digital storytelling campaigns and writing articles for many notable organisations, including the Art Science Museum in Singapore, renowned jewellery companies such as Buccellati and Fabergé, publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Robb Report, India Today and Vogue, as well as prestigious industry bodies worldwide.
Sikri lives with her husband and son in Singapore and experiences FOMO every time anyone calls her from a gemstone mine. No Stone Unturned is her first book and is available from www.austinmacauley.com and online retail platforms such as Amazon.
AT A CEREMONY IN GABORONE ON 23 APRIL this year, Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi, signed a host country agreement which formalised the terms according to which the newly-created Kimberley Process (KP) Permanent Secretariat would operate on its territory. His counterpart signing the agreement was Bojung Tang, the Chinese official who just one month earlier had formally accepted the appointment as the KP’s first Executive Secretary, after having receiving the consensus support of the KP Plenary.
Thus began a new chapter in the 24year history of the KP, which – since its establishment in 2000 – had operated without a permanent administrative mechanism and not a single employee. However, the agreement also signalled the conclusion of an almost 11-year period, during which essential administrative services to the KP, its Chairperson and the heads of its various working groups had been provided
(Top): The Kimberley Process family at the KP Intersessional in Dubai, UAE, in May 2024. After 11 years having been served by the Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM), it was the first major gathering of KP members to take place with the support of a Permanent Secretariat. The 2012 Kimberley Process Plenary in Washington, DC, at which the ASM was formally introduced to the KP membership. (Photo credit: Kimberley Process)
Digging down into the Kimberley Process
This year, a new chapter began in the 24-year history of the Kimberley Process, which – since its establishment – had operated without a permanent administrative mechanism and not a single employee, writes Steven Benson for the World Diamond Council
by what was called an Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM), which had been funded and operated by World Diamond Council (WDC) members.
The fact that a permanent secretariat was so long in coming was largely due to the fact that the KP has never been a legal entity, but rather an impromptu coalition of countries, industry representatives and civil society bodies, who create and co-ordinate policies out of a sense of common concern. The KP’s considerable accomplishments were achieved despite its lack of structure. Functional power was vested in the serving Chairpersons, who were selected through consensus and whose
identity and physical location changed from year to year. Each one would create an ad hoc secretarial staff, usually made up of civil servants employed by the government of the country in which he or she was located.
It was an inefficient system, plagued by a steep learning curve that was inevitably created each time the location of the KP Chairperson shifted and a new group of KP administrators assembled. The need for a professional staff had been recognised early on, but the informal structure of the KP and the politicised nature of its decision-making system had made the establishment of such a body complicated.
A bare-bones stop-gap solution
The framework document of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which was endorsed at a United Nations ministerial meeting in Interlaken, Switzerland, on 5 November 2002, already referred to the necessity of establishing an effective support administration for the system that would be launched at the start of the following year. Yet it was not until 2010 that the KP Plenary eventually established an ad hoc Committee charged with “exploring the modalities of enhancing the efficiency of the KP with a view to providing administrative support”.
Even then, a permanent secretariat seemed the logical goal, but creating such a body was politically complex and considered unattainable in the short term. Thus, at the 2011 KP Plenary meeting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, a stop-gap solution was proposed. It involved the establishment of a barebones, quasisecretariat called the ASM.
The bulk of the groundwork for the formation of this body was covered during 2012, when the USA held the position of KP Chairperson in the person of Gillian Milovanovic, a former ambassador to Macedonia and to Mali.
The KP’s considerable accomplishments were achieved despite its lack of structure.
Speaking on 27 November 2012, during the opening session of the KP Plenary in Washington, DC, Milovanovic noted that “the KP is in great need of an ASM, whose role will be exclusively to provide administrative support and have no spokespersons or policy roles of any kind”.
“An ASM will help South Africa with its [incoming] chairmanship and should improve how the KP functions and provide continuity from one chairmanship to the next,” she added. “It’s my belief that now is the time for the KP to select an ASM and get it up and running. With the initial arrangement covering something like one year, both the plenary and the ASM itself will have the opportunity to test the concept in real situations and make any adjustments or changes needed as a result of actual experience.”
The industry steps forward
In her opening address to the 2012 Plenary meeting, the KP Chairperson provided only broad details about the identity of the party or parties who would be involved in running the ASM, but by then there was broad agreement that it would be the WDC, or – to be more precise – associations that were members of that council.
Industry was already actively supporting the KP Chairperson, with the Antwerp World Diamond Centre having financed the building of the KP website during 2012.
The final communiqué issued at the end of the KP Plenary in Washington, DC formalised the decision. Noting the plenary’s approval of an administrative decision on the “selection, engagement and operation of a KP ASM”, it named the WDC as the host of the ASM, initially for a period of one year. The appointment would be renewed periodically until 2023.
On 21 May 2013, the WDC and the KP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that established the ASM. WDC President Eli Izhakoff announced the agreement at the WDC annual meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel.
“There are some who may consider that, with the ASM, the structure we’re establishing is incongruous,” he said, “because it’s a permanent civil service that’s operated by private industry to support the operation of the KP, which – at national level – is government-operated. In effect, it means regulated working with the regulators to assist in their regulation.
(Above): Digging Down Into the Kimberley Process series by Steven Benson, WDC Communications.
(Below): The 2012 Kimberley Process Plenary in Washington, DC, at which the ASM was formally introduced to the KP membership. (Photo credit: Kimberley Process)
“However, for those who’re veterans of the KP, this isn’t an unusual situation at all. The KP, which is administered and enforced by national governments, is designed to defend the integrity of a chain of distribution that’s inherently international. It’s we, the industry, who make it international, linking those various countries to one another. We have a vested interest in making the system work – and that system won’t work without us,” noted Izhakoff.
Dividing administrative duties
According to the MOU, the task of managing the ASM was split among four WDC members – Belgium’s AWDC, the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) Group of Companies, India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and the Diamond House of the Government of Ghana.
However, from the beginning, the AWDC was the key player, not only being designated the co-ordinator between the various ASM participants, but also acting as its focal point within the KP. It was furthermore charged with managing KP’s knowledge base and institutional memory, which included collecting and storing all official KP documents reflecting decisions and actions taken by the KP Chairperson, the plenary, working groups and ad hoc working groups, minutes of all official meetings, participants’ annual reports and reports of country review visits and missions. The AWDC was also made responsible for monitoring changes to national legislation in the member countries in support of the KP Certification Scheme, maintaining specimens of all national KP certificates, with updated authorised signatures and collecting and storing data relating to import/export confirmations. In addition, it was assigned the task of updating the KPCS website.
The KP may not have employed any staff, but to manage the considerable amount of work assigned to it, the AWDC employed a full-time ASM specialist.
The IDI was tasked with managing communications, including the distribution of notices from the KP Chairperson and other relevant information to participants and observers, responding to enquiries from members of the public and the media, and facilitating communications between and among members of working groups and ad hoc working groups.
For its part, the GJEPC was charged with providing logistical support for the KP
Chairperson and the chairpersons of working groups and ad hoc committees, including providing assistance in planning intersessional and plenary meetings, and assistance to the Chairperson of the Working Group on Monitoring in organising review visits.
The Diamond House of the Government of Ghana was assigned the task of providing technical assistance in producing countries. In 2016, the Diamond Development Initiative, the industry-supported organisation that works to improve the working conditions and lives of artisanal diamond diggers, was charged with co-ordinating the technical assistance function.
The mainstay of the ASM and the KP
For the 11 years that it operated as the KP’s primary administrative arm, the ASM was personified by its dedicated and highly efficient AWDC member of staff, Elke Ceulemans. She managed most of the work single-handedly, from the Belgian organisation’s headquarters in Antwerp and on the sidelines of the intersessional and plenary meetings, each year in a different country.
“Elke, you’ve been the embodiment of the ASM. Your hard work and dedication have been the engine of the KP,” said former WDC President Edward Asscher, describing her as the “mainstay of the ASM and, consequently, the KP”.
In her many years of service, Ceulemans fulfilled most of the KP’s day-to-day administrative functions, with the exception of the maintenance of the KP Statistics website. One of the most complex administrative tasks carried out by the KP, it was initially managed by the Canadian representative, who – upon his retirement –passed the baton to the government south of the border, the USA, which since then has uninterruptedly headed the Working Group of Statistics (WGS), supported by the International Trade Management Division of the US Census Bureau.
When she addressed the closing session of the KP plenary meeting at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 10 November 2023, WDC President Feriel Zerouki invited Ceulemans to join her on stage. “We all thank you for your stellar professionalism and the kindness you’ve afforded to us,” she said.
The long process of retiring the ASM The beginning of the end of the ASM’s role within the KP was long in coming. It began with the review and reform cycle that started in 2017, during which the ad hoc Committee overseeing the process established a subteam to investigate the establishment of a Permanent Secretariat. It was headed by a WDC representative.
The concept proposed by the sub-team was greenlighted at the KP Plenary meeting in New Delhi, India, in November 2019, which appointed a Technical Expert Team (TET) to recommend the location of the headquarters of the future secretariat.
On 5 November 2022, during the KP Plenary meeting in Gaborone, the TET – which was still chaired by the WDC – recommended that Botswana become the site of the prospective KP Permanent Secretariat, which was approved by consensus.
However, the ASM was not yet disbanded, for it took another year before Tang was recommended by the TET for the position of Secretary-General at the 2023 KP Plenary at Victoria Falls and before he took up office in Gaborone in April 2024.
Finally, the ASM, a Band-Aid solution which had functioned for more than a decade, could officially be retired.
The WDC wishes the new Permanent KP Secretariat and its Executive Secretary the very best of luck. Their success will be that of the entire KP.
(Above): The beginning of a new era. The KP’s first Executive Secretary, Bojun Tang, addressing the KP Intersessional in Dubai, UAE, in May 2024. (Photo credit: Kimberley Process)
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Jewellex gem & jewellery quiz: Answers
1. What is the name of the ring design that features only one diamond or gemstone? B: Solitaire
2. Which is the largest diamond ever found? D: Cullinan
3. Which metal used as alloy in white gold causes an allergic reaction in some people? A: Nickel
4. What jewellery piece is a silambu? A: Anklet
5. What is the modern birthstone for the month of June? C: Alexandrite
6. Which precious gem is sometimes called the “sailor’s stone”? D: Aquamarine
7. What colour is malachite? B: Green
8. Which country was nicknamed the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire? B: India
9. If a diamond is described as a Princess cut, it is… C: Square
10. Which gemstone did the Greeks believe prevented drunkenness? A: Amethyst
11. Which gemstone has a name that comes from pomegranates? C: Garnet
12. This kind of piercing is said to help relieve migraines. What is it? A: Daith
13. Which month has opal and tourmaline as its birthstones? D: October
14. Where would you need to travel to buy an aquamarine directly from a local? B: Brazil
15. You already know that diamonds are the hardest gemstone, but what is the next-hardest? B: Sapphire
16. When you first have your ears pierced, what type of earrings are used? A: Stud
17. Which of the following is not one of the colours of sapphire? D: Red
18. What colour is morganite? D: Light pink
19. When it comes to stones, what does the Mohs scale measure? C: Hardness
20. Which of these pieces of jewellery is known as the world’s most expensive necklace? B: L’Incomparable
Gem & Jewel.
A pproach risk with purpose.
The Gem & Jewel product provides a tailormade sustainable solution for jewellery related businesses that navigate the changing jewellery industry, market conditions and challenges exacerbated by crime and global economic influences.
Working with the jewellery industry requires a detailed understanding of its unique requirements and with years of experience in developing niche insurance products, Bryte is one of South Africa’s leaders in providing cover for retail, wholesale and manufacturing jewellers, gem cutters and setters, watch importers, coin dealers, tender houses and dealers, goldsmiths, diamond and metal processors and refiners.
Just as we know that one size does not fit all, we also appreciate that standard commercial cover is the wrong fit for these customers.
Contact us so we can show you what type of specialist cover the jewellery industry has enjoyed for over 23 years.
Bryte’s Jewellery and Precious Assets division is excited to offer you our Gem & Jewel cover, which is endorsed by the Jewellery Council.
Contact natasha.maroun@brytesa.com or robyn.lambert@brytesa.com and learn how we can assist.
