A 43-carat sapphire brooch from the Vanderbilt collection was the top lot of the Geneva sale.
The Jewelry Glossary Project Is Live
Ten definitions related to sourcing are available for use. Here’s why the group behind the glossary will keep revising it.

Last year I came back from Tucson with a few observations, one of which was the increasing importance of the industry getting on the same page when it comes to key words used in conversations about sourcing.
What do we actually mean when we say ethical? Conflict? Recycled?
I later found out about a working group aiming to do just that—create a set of industry-accepted definitions for supply chain-related words.
Jewelry designer Emily Phillippy reached out after Tucson, and our conversation led to my blog post highlighting what the group is doing, including the survey they had deployed to gain feedback on the 10 definitions they were devising.
I now wanted to come back to the topic with a quick follow-up: The Jewelry Glossary Project is live.
The goal of the glossary, according to its website, is to create these shared definitions for use by the trade and the public. The group that has been working behind the scenes on the project for more than three years is comprised of jewelry designers, gemstone wholesalers, goldsmiths, educators and experts in the sector.
They’ve defined: ethical, conflict-free diamond, recycled, sustainability, Fair Trade Certified versus Fairtrade, and a handful of other terms, as they apply to the context of jewelry.
Visit the site, and check out the definitions.
If you have feedback or thoughts, reach out to the group at jewelryglossaryproject@gmail.com; they emphasize that the glossary is a work in progress.
Emily recently told me they are revising as they see fit and will release new versions regularly. Each version will be labeled as PDFs on the website so the history of each definition can be followed.
She added the group is currently revisiting a few of the definitions that received the most feedback from the survey and will be releasing those changes soon
They also hope to eventually add more definitions to the list.
For those traveling to Tucson in the coming weeks interested in learning more, the project will have a presence via participating gem show exhibitors and attendees, which will have Jewelry Glossary Project stickers with them.
The hope is people will stick them on their badges to help raise awareness.
Stickers will be at the following booths or with the following confirmed participants:
--Perpetuum Jewels, Ethical Gem Fair and Booth 2010 at GJX;
--Columbia Gem House, Ethical Gem Fair, Booth 1117 at AGTA GemFair and Booth R 158 at the Pueblo show;
--Diamondoodles, walking around AGTA;
--Gemology Geek, walking around AGTA;
--Robert Bentley Co., Ethical Gem Fair and Booth 322 at AGTA; and
--Enji Studio Jewelry, Booth DC3 at JCK Tucson.
The vendors/attendees also will have lists of the definitions with them for anyone who may want a hard copy.
The Latest

Rau is a fourth-generation art and antique dealer from M.S. Rau gallery whose first jewelry collection merges artifacts with modern design.

Former De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.

How Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
La Joux-Perret is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and makes solar quartz as well as mechanical watch movements.


She previously taught at Gem-A and is the founder of The Gem Academy.

The British actress and her daughter modeled pieces from the brand’s new “Palette” capsule for its “Once Upon a Time” holiday campaign.

Roseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.

Plus, the tech giant shares the steps retailers should take if they believe they’re a victim of a review extortion scam.

Danny and Gaby Shaftel are now Shaftel Diamonds’ CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.

The jewelry manufacturer’s seasonal offering features its new “Melodie” bangles, as well as mini stud earrings and layering pieces.

With more than 140 activations taking place in New York City now through Nov. 23, these 12 events are can’t-miss moments.

The Chapter 11 filing follows the resignation of CEO Moti Ferder, who stepped down after an investigation into the company’s finances.

The artwork is part of an exhibition featuring works by Kathleen Ryan, an artist known for her gemstone-studded rotting fruit sculptures.

Mark Wall, president and CEO of Canadian mining company Mountain Province Diamonds, will vacate his position next month.

Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.

Tiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.

The showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.

The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.

A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.

Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.

Furmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.

Jennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.

Adler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.

Founder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.

The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.

JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.





















