Tiffany continues to lead the number of news breaking events, which are related to its activities in the field of jewelry business.
In September, according to National Jeweler, its president Michael Kowalski spoke in the U.S. Congress on the problem of corals. He believes that the government will shed more light on threats to coral reef systems, so that consumers will demand, and retail jewelers will support, a stop to the coral jewelry trade.
But while Tiffany, according to Kowalski, remains committed to the cause, “most retail jewelers, and certainly most consumers, are still sadly unaware of the global destruction of coral, and their complicity in that destruction.”
Kowalski did say, however, that there is “enormous concern among consumers about the impact their consumption decisions have upon the environment,” and that when given the opportunity to make a responsible choice, he's confident most consumers will do so.
Kowalski added that more information is desperately needed to inform retailers and consumers about the destructive coral trade, and called on the Congress to do “much more to better define the threats to our marine ecosystems, and coral in particular.”
Specifically, Tiffany is hopeful that Red Coral (Corallium rubrum) will be listed under CITES Appendix II, which lists species that are not currently threatened with extinction but that might become so unless trade is closely controlled.
In conclusion, Kowalski said that as a jeweler, he feels that perhaps the greatest tragedy here is the insignificance of coral for the jewelry industry as a whole. And unlike gemstones, pearls, or precious metals, which are vitally important to the industry but can be produced responsibly, there is no such possibility for coral jewelry.
“To destroy our coral resources for something as insignificant as coral jewelry defies both scientific and economic logic, and simple common sense,” Kowalski summed up.
IDEX Online said the Tiffany & Co. Foundation established by the jewelry company announced the awarding of grants ranging from $500 000 to $1 250 000 to three organizations in three different
“The grants we announce today increase the Foundation’s support for the beautification of urban parks and gardens throughout the country,” said Fernanda Kellogg, Foundation president. “We recognize the role that green spaces and cultural sites play in lifting spirits and providing a sanctuary of natural beauty and elegance in the midst of urban life, and we are very pleased to partner with these organizations in creating new environments and restoring historic venues.”
Established in 2000, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations developing projects in the field of art and environment protection, including such as socially responsible mining and rehabilitation of marine and urban ecosystems.
In October, the
According to JCK online, many jewelry companies take part in the associated events and sponsor them. In October, the market offers a great number of jewelry reminding about the breast cancer problem.
Jewelry designer Jane Basch is donating five percent of sale proceeds from several occasion-tailored jewelry pieces to the Susan G. Komen Foundation (The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker in her sister’s memory, who died of breast cancer at the age of 36). Likewise, GK Designs and Mark Silverstein Imagines also make pieces where portions of sale proceeds benefit breast cancer research. These are just a few examples of how jewelers take part in this nation-wide campaign.
One of the most fashionable themes in jewelry ethics is the use of recycled precious metals and materials extracted in compliance with environmental requirements and under appropriate life and labor conditions for workers.
In October, the Wal-Mart sales network kicked off a long announced presentation of its new jewelry collection, www.israelidiamond.co.il. reported.
As is reported, Wal-Mart has drawn up a data base along the whole chain of products origin. The company’s operating system permits customers to enter a jewelry piece code on Wal-Mart’s Web-site and retrieve comprehensive information about their purchases. This move is aimed at improving transparency and backing up Wal-Mart’s intention to sell only well traced (legal) jewelry. The retail giant said it was going to sell jewelry manufactured of gold, silver and diamonds mined by companies, which were ready to live up to Wal-Mart’s requirements making their products comply with environmental standards.
The retailer aims to have 10 percent of its jewelry offerings open for customers’ control by 2010.
Online jewelry seller Danforth Diamond partnered with jewelry manufacturer Hoover & Strong to start manufacturing and selling jewelry completely made of recycled precious metals and complying with ecological requirements, the diamonds.net portal reported. Approximately 90 percent of the products on the danforthdiamond.com site carry the Harmony Recycled Precious Metals designation.
“The timing of those requests was uncanny and they confirmed a need for eco-friendly jewelry that wasn’t being met,” said Jill Renee, president of Danforth Diamond.
With the slogan “Our jewelry is refined - not mined” Danforth Diamond emphasizes that while mining displaces earth and upsets the ecosystem of the area being mined, refining precious metals uses far fewer resources and has a lesser impact on the environment.
“I believe this isn’t a trend; it’s the new way of doing business. There is no reason why all jewelry can’t be made from recycled material,” says Jill Renee.
To make Harmony Recycled Precious Metals jewelry the companies take unwanted or damaged jewelry, shavings and metal lost during the jewelry manufacture.
