How important is the WFDB mark from the perspective of the jewellery industry in general?
After all, it is going to be used by diamantaires and not by jewellery companies. ERNEST BLOM: There are currently about 13,000 members of diamond exchanges affiliated to the WFDB, and they handle a very significant portion of the loose diamonds travelling through the pipeline, before they are set in jewellery. Bourse members who display the WFDB mark will effectively be guaranteeing that, up until the point that they handle the goods, the diamonds have been dealt with ethically and in a transparent manner. Jewellery wholesalers and retailers, who also are keen to demonstrate that they operate in an ethical manner, can assist their own efforts by buying from diamond dealers who display the WFDB Mark. I would also point out that the differentiation made between diamond jewellery companies is no longer always accurate. A growing number of diamantaires are now involved in the manufacture and sale of jewellery, which means that already are a good number of jewellery firms that will be elig
