Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.
‘Conflict’ minerals seminar added to Vicenzaoro
CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, announced Monday that a session addressing the regulation of minerals from areas of conflict in Africa and their impact on the jewelry industry will be held during the Vicenzaoro winter trade show this January.
Vicenza, Italy--CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, announced Monday that a session addressing the regulation of minerals from areas of conflict in Africa and their impact on the jewelry industry will be held during the Vicenzaoro winter trade show this January.
Titled “Conflict mineral legislation in the Europe and the United States: How it impacts on both the domestic and export jewellery business,” the seminar is being organized by Fiera di Vicenza, the Responsible Jewellery Council, CIBJO and Confindustria Federorafi.
It will take place Jan. 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Palladio Room at Fiera di Vicenza.
Corrado Facco, managing director of Fiera di Vicenza, and Gaetano Cavalieri, president of CIBJO, will serve as moderators for the session.
Panelists include Marieke van der Mijn, standards coordinator at the Responsible Jewellery Council; Michael Allchin, chief executive and assay master at the Birmingham Assay Office and the president of the CIBJO Precious Metals Commission; Philip Olden, responsible for managing the development and implementation of responsible sourcing protocols for gold at Signet Jewelers; and Maria Benedetta Francesconi of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and a representative of Confindustria Federorafi.
Fiera di Vicenza, the host of the event, was accredited in March through CIBJO to plan and implement a United Nations-endorsed Corporate Social Responsibility program for the international jewelry industry.
Both the United States and the European Union have passed “conflict” mineral legislation in recent years in reaction to ongoing violence in parts of Africa.
The U.S. law was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in August 2012. It addresses trade in minerals--specifically gold, tungsten, tantalum and tin--produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the nine neighboring countries where violence occurs around the transportation and production of these minerals.
The law dictates that companies that are listed with the SEC and use any of these minerals in products they manufacture or contract to manufacture must conduct an inquiry into the source of their minerals.
Depending on the results of the inquiry, the companies also might be required to conduct supply chain due diligence to determine if the minerals they handled benefitted armed groups in one of the 10 covered countries, and to report publicly if their products are not “conflict free.”
The Jewelers Vigilance Committee has an online guide for those that have questions about the U.S.’s conflict mineral law.
The Latest

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.


The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.

The online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.

The opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.

The “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.

Robert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.

The announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.