The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
Ahead of KP Plenary, the WDC Calls for Productive Dialogue
Kimberley Process participants need to start talking about broadening the scope of the process, the World Diamond Council’s acting president said.
New York--The World Diamond Council is calling for productive dialogue and the need for reform in the Kimberley Process ahead of the KP’s annual meeting, which is scheduled to begin Friday in Australia.
Speaking via conference call Wednesday morning, acting WDC President Stephane Fischler told reporters that there are three areas in need of reform within the KP, and No. 1 is broadening the scope of the process.
Currently, the KP defines “conflict” diamonds as those used by rebel groups to fund conflict against legitimate governments. But, as Fischler noted Wednesday, “We [the WDC] believe the nature of conflict has changed and so the scope should realign with that.”
In an interview via phone with National Jeweler later in the day, he elaborated.
The situation today is that there is less much rebel activity, Fischler said, and much more systematic, disruptive violence, particularly in artisanal diamond mining areas.
Members of the KP need to start listening more carefully to the countries where this type of violence is happening and work to make a difference on the ground, he said.
And the process itself needs to become more proactive than reactive, flagging areas of diamond production when the situation becomes unstable, instead of waiting until actual conflict has broken out.
The expanded definition was voted down at the meeting held in Washington that November.
Fischler told National Jeweler Wednesday that he doesn’t know if that vote was against the inclusion of human rights language so much as it was a “generic reluctance” to change the core focus of the definition, given that the KP has been very successful in doing what it set out to do--eradicate conflict diamonds as originally defined.
He said what the WDC is putting on the table now is broader--examining the general scope of the process, not just narrowly focusing on putting in more human rights language--and the organization isn’t looking to get bogged down in semantics. It’s open to all discussions on how to expand the KP’s reach.
While the WDC represents the diamond industry in the KP, the body does not have a vote; only the 81 countries that are KP members do. And under the KP’s complete consensus model, passing anything requires all 81 countries to agree to it.
When
“This isn’t a 48-hour or even a week’s discussion,” he said. “This is an incremental progress type of debate.”
On Wednesday’s call with reporters, Fischler addressed another area of reform that is needed within the KP: the establishment of a permanent secretariat based in a neutral country.
As it stands, an administrative support mechanism is in place to handle the operational aspects of the Kimberley Process. It is a function that’s reassigned every year as the chair of the process is passed from country to country. (Australia is the 2017 chair nation. Next year, Vice Chair the European Union is set to take over and India will become vice chair.)
He said a permanent secretariat will ensure more continuity, essentially giving the KP a “memory,” and that all member countries should contribute toward the cost of funding it.
The idea of a permanent secretariat is one that has been on the table for a couple of years.
At last year’s plenary, confusion surrounded the vote on this issue.
Following the meeting, the UAE, which chaired the process last year, issued a press release heralding that the KP had reached a “historic agreement” that included voting to approve the establishment of a permanent secretariat for the process.
The issue, however, still seems to be on the table, given that its passage is one of the WDC’s list of needed reforms for the process.
Asked about the confusion surrounding the vote at last year’s plenary, Fischler said, “The idea was launched; it wasn’t worked out in the way that I believe it’s worked out now.”
The KP Plenary is scheduled to start this Friday, Dec. 9 and continue until the 14th in Brisbane, Australia.
The Latest

The 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.

The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.


To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

Founder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.

If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.

The top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.

Gizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.

Luca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.

Following visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.

The “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

The New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.

Take a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.

The one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.

The California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.

Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.

The foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.

Assimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.

The De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”

The Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.

Industry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.

The winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.