A host of the world’s most famous jewellery brands and gemstone mining companies have banded together for a new series of papers about the coloured gem mining industry.

Richemont, Swarovski, Tiffany & Co, LVMH, Chopard and Kering are joined by Gemfields and Muzo, and together make the Coloured Gemstones Working Group (CGWG).

The paper series ‘Ancient Crafts, Modern Challenges’ was launched today by the CGWG to shed light on the coloured gemstones industry.

The first paper in this series, ‘Hands that Dig, Hands that Feed: Lives Shaped by Coloured Gemstone Mining’, was published today.

Assheton Carter of TDi Sustainability and co-author of the series explained: “The coloured gemstones sector is not only fascinating, but also complex.

“As expectations on sustainability, responsible sourcing, and transparency increase, it is important to understand how the coloured gemstones sector works from the mine through to the high street.

“The paper series “Ancient Crafts, Modern Challenges’ aims to identify and educate industry players on how to address the challenges they face, and also the opportunities for positive change.

“There are many preconceptions on how the gemstones supply chain operates. The aim of these papers is to give the industry clarity on this. A better understanding of the reality of the situation is the first step towards truly responsible sourcing.”

Hélène Valade, environment development group director of LVMH, said: “The CGWG’s paper series ‘Ancient Crafts, Modern Challenges’ serve as a jumping-off point for research and debate, to engage and to inform.

“LVMH and its Maisons are committed to working together with the CGWG to highlight what the complex business of responsible sourcing means in the jewellery and gemstone supply chain and how the people, practices and process at each stage play their part.”