It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”
CRJC Partners with Kenyan Gem and Jewelry Suppliers
The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference and the Association of Women in Extractives Kenya will promote responsible practices and transparency in the gemstone industry.

Chicago—The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference takes place annually in the Windy City, but it hopes to create far-reaching, global changes in the jewelry industry.
The organization has announced a partnership with AWEIK, the Association of Women in Extractives Kenya, which produces the annual Kenya Gem and Jewellery Fair in Nairobi.
According to the CRJC, the two groups are collaborating to promote responsible practices and create a transparent supply chain in the Kenyan gem and mineral industry.
At the next Kenya Gem and Jewellery Fair, happening July 11-12 at the Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi, the CRJC will deliver a full day of programming for fairgoers on how to create shorter and more transparent supply chains.
CRJC founder Susan Wheeler will give presentations on how companies in Kenya and beyond can use responsible practices to connect with other likeminded companies around the globe, increasing business while minimizing negative impact from the gem and mineral trade.
Other speakers will be announced at a later date, the CRJC said.
AWEIK, which is an organization that focuses on connecting professional women in Kenya, will then send representatives to the next CRJ, happening Oct. 25-26, to speak at the conference and participate in the responsible gem fair that will precede it on Oct. 24.
The CRJC said that the partnership with AWEIK will help forge bonds across geographic and cultural distances.
It is looking for sponsors to help with the costs of bringing speakers from Kenya to the Chicago conference. More information is available online or by contacting Susan Wheeler directly at susan@susanwheelerdesign.com.
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