Mission Statement
CIBJO is an international confederation of national jewellery trade organizations. CIBJO's purpose is to encourage harmonisation,promote international cooperation in the jewellery industry, and to consider issues which concern the trade worldwide. Foremost among these is to protect consumer confidence in the industry.
CIBJO pursues these objectives through informed deliberation, decisions reached in accordance with its statutes, and proactive communications with member national organizations and the trade.
CIBJO functions as a centre of knowledge, a decision-making body, and an advocate for the well being of the jewellery industry worldwide.
CIBJO relies upon the initiative of its member national organizations to support and implement its decisions and to protect the public's trust in the jewellery industry.
History
CIBJO is the oldest representative organisation in international jewellery business. It roots stretch back to 1926, with the founding of a body called BIBOA in Paris, whose mission was to represent and advance the interests of the jewellery trade in Europe. BIBOA was restructured as CIBJO, a worldwide body, in 1961.
CIBJO is the acronym for the French phrase, Confédération International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfévrerie des Diamantes, Perles et Pierres, which translates to International Confederation of Jewellery, Silverware, Diamonds and Stones. Its stated mission is to encourage harmonisation, promote international cooperation in the jewellery industry and to consider issues that concern the trade worldwide. Foremost among these is the protection of consumer confidence in the industry. In essence, CIBJO is the United Nations of the jewellery industry, with more than 40 countries represented in its ranks.
The current CIBJO president, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri was first in March 2001, at the organisation's annual congress in Paris. In the years since, he has overseen a process in which the organisation has grown tremendously - not only in terms of membership, but also in terms of influence and importance.
A milestone in the history of the jewellery industry was recorded on July 24, 2006, the first day of the 2006 CIBJO Congress in Vancouver, Canada. The guest of honour was a senior United Nations official, Dr. Hanifa Mezoui, and she used the opportunity to declare that CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, has just become the only organization in the diamond, gemstone and jewellery sectors ever to receive official consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
Based on Article 71 of the UN Charter, the new status would enable CIBJO, on behalf of the international gemstone and jewellery industries, to make a contribution to the programs and goals of the United Nations by serving as a technical expert, adviser and consultant to governments and the UN Secretariat.