The Responsible
Jewellery Council announced today that French jewelry manufacturer Gay
Frères
is its first member to achieve certification according to the ethical,
human
rights, social, and environmental standards established by RJC’s member
certification system.

The
international audit firm STR assessed Gay Frères and verified its
compliance
with the standards.

RJC chairman
Matt Runci said the company’s accomplishment was the result of five
years of
effort to create a third-party certification system covering all sectors
of the
jewelry industry. He also noted that other RJC members had begun the
certification process and additional announcements would be made over
the
coming months.

Gay Frères,
which was founded in 1835, employs 300 people and produces 1,000 jewelry
pieces
a day.

JCK