Sustainable Jewellery Day 2026 Shows How Trust Is Built
In the jewelry and watch industry, sustainability often only becomes visible when it reaches retailers or consumers in the form of a certificate, proof of origin, or marketing promise. The actual effort, however, begins much earlier: in supply chains, standards, audits, data structures, association work, and in addressing how responsibility can be organized in practice.
It was precisely this aspect that took center stage at the Sustainable Jewellery Day 2026 in Pforzheim. On July 8, the Federal Association of Jewelry, Watches, Silverware, and Related Industries (Bundesverband Schmuck, Uhren, Silberwaren und verwandte Industrien e.V.) hosted the event for the second time at the Turmquartier in Pforzheim. In front of a deliberately limited international audience of 75 industry professionals, the event demonstrated how intensively the industry is now working on transparency, traceability, and responsible value creation—often beyond the public’s perception.
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important selling point
Recent studies show that origin, accountability, and ethical sourcing are becoming increasingly important factors in purchasing decisions.
In their industry report *State of Fashion: Watches & Jewelry*, McKinsey and Business of Fashion estimate that by 2025, approximately 20 to 30 percent of global fine jewelry sales will be influenced by sustainability considerations. The pressure to meet these expectations is particularly high among younger target groups: Nine out of ten Gen Z consumers believe companies have a responsibility to actively address environmental and social issues.
The trend is also becoming clearer across industries. The 2024 PwC Voice of the Consumer Survey shows that, on average, consumers would be willing to pay 9.7 percent more for products that are sustainably produced or sourced. For the jewelry and watch industry, this means that sustainability is a major issue; even if it isn’t actively demanded in every sales conversation, it is increasingly becoming a factor that builds trust.
Standards as a Foundation
The day was opened by Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, who has served as president of the World Jewelry Confederation (CIBJO) for more than 20 years. His keynote address focused on the role of global standards in building trust. Trust is not built solely on good intentions or credible communication; it requires a common foundation that extends beyond individual companies.
This is particularly relevant for small and medium-sized enterprises and specialty retailers. Anyone who wants to ensure transparency regarding responsibility throughout the supply chain needs guidance: What requirements apply? What forms of evidence are reliable? Which standards are internationally recognized? And how can regulatory requirements be translated into business practice in a way that ensures they are not only formally met but also actually effective?
These questions were also addressed during the subsequent panel discussion featuring Dr. Cavalieri, Iris van der Veken, Executive Director and Secretary General of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030, and host Dr. Guido Grohmann, CEO of the BVSU.
Involve SMEs more closely
A recurring theme of the day was the role of small and medium-sized enterprises. Iris van der Veken spoke about her contribution to building resilient and responsible value chains. Purvi Shah, who has served as Executive Director of the Responsible Jewellery Council since February 2026, also addressed the question of how industry-wide collaboration can advance standards and credibility—with a particular focus on greater involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises.
This is an important business consideration. Sustainability must not be the sole responsibility of large international brands that have their own compliance, sustainability, and communications departments. The jewelry and watch industry consists largely of small and medium-sized businesses, suppliers, retailers, workshops, and specialists. If these companies are not brought on board, sustainability will remain an issue for the major players—but not a viable industry standard.
Traceability Is Becoming More Concrete
The behind-the-scenes work became particularly evident when discussing the diamond value chain. The panel discussion featuring Alexander Gul of A. Gul KG, Johanna Levi from the GIA, Jilian Wolk and Emanuela Morando from Tracr, and Mahiar Borhanjoo from the De Beers Group, the discussion focused on blockchain-based traceability, independent origin verification, and the question of how shared data and certification systems can create tangible added value.
For end consumers, often only a brief note is visible: origin verified, traceable, certified. However, complex processes lie behind this. Data must be collected, verified, shared, and made understandable throughout the supply chain. Companies must set up systems, train employees, create interfaces, and define what information may be communicated and how.
Jennifer Moriconi’s presentation from iTraceiT took a similar approach. She introduced digital traceability solutions for precious metal supply chains and, using a real-world example from Colombia, made it clear that traceability doesn’t have to be an issue limited to large corporations. It will be crucial to make such solutions accessible so that smaller market participants can also use them.
Communication is part of the responsibility
Raluca Anghel, Global Head of External Affairs and Industry Relations at the Natural Diamond Council, demonstrated in her presentation that evidence alone is not enough. She discussed how sustainability and impact can be communicated credibly to a new generation of consumers.
This, too, is more than just a marketing issue. The more complex supply chains, standards, and verification processes become, the greater the challenge of explaining them in a way that is easy to understand. The retail sector finds itself in a particularly sensitive position here. It must be able to answer questions without having to control every detail of a global supply chain itself. To do so, it needs reliable information, clear terminology, and partners who not only provide evidence but also present it in an understandable way.
A lot of work, little visibility
Sustainable Jewellery Day 2026 highlighted that there is significantly more happening in the industry than is apparent in store windows or during sales conversations. International associations, certification organizations, technology providers, companies, and industry institutions are working on standards, platforms, audit processes, traceability, and communication.
For jewelers and retailers, this work is not abstract. In the future, it will help determine how credibly products can be explained, which statements are legally sound and reliable, and how trust is built during customer interactions. Sustainability is thus becoming less and less of a standalone selling point. It is becoming part of the industry’s professional infrastructure.
Sustainable Jewellery Day highlights how much has already been achieved, but also where further action is needed. Here, another foundation was laid for what will become evident later: trust.
