Jewelers of America and the head of well-known jewelry companies such as Zale and Tiffany & Co. have released an open letter supporting the current Kimberley Process chair’s efforts to reform the certification scheme.

“Without reform, the relevance of the Kimberley Process will continue to erode and could create gaps in consumer confidence, harming our industry,” said the letter. “For a growing number of consumers, the Kimberley Process is no longer enough; they want more evidence that a diamond is conflict-free.”

The letter recommends individual members of the diamond and jewelry industry take the following steps:

• “Make a commitment that they will not supply diamonds and diamond jewelry connected to violence or conflict in any way.”

• “Make a commitment to ask that their suppliers do not supply their businesses with diamonds and diamond jewelry connected to violence or conflict in any way.”

• “Tell their government representatives to the KP that they have taken these steps at the urging of their U.S. retail partners.”

The full letter is posted here. Signatories include the heads of Jewelers of America; the Gemological Institute of America; the American Gem Society; Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America; Harry Winston; Fred Meyer and Littman Jewelers; the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America; the Jewelers Vigilance Committee; Zale Corp.; Tiffany & Co.; Sterling Jewelers; Helzberg Diamonds; and the Natural Colored Diamond Association.

Also signing were independents like Leber Jeweler, Chicago; David Mann Jewelers, Washington, D.C.; R.F. Moeller Jeweler, Minneapolis; Hyde Park and Traditional Jewelers, Denver; Tiny Jewel Box, Washington, D.C.; Tapper’s Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, West Bloomfield, Mich.; Wesche Jewelers, Melbourne, Fla.; and Koser Jewelers, Mt. Joy, Pa.

JCK