On April 29, the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America reiterated its commitment to the U.S. diamond and jewelry business in response to JCK senior editor Rob Bates’ blog post “The Diamond Industry’s Sad Lack of Leadership.”

DMIA president Ronnie VanderLinden said in a statement that the industry needed the “occasional wakeup call,” but that DMIA has “consistently and continuously been at the forefront of the American diamond industry’s efforts to address and eliminate reputational risks.”

VanderLinden’s full statement:

“While [Bates] makes valid points, at the DMIA we have steadfastly acted for generations not only to protect our industry but also to be proactive on ethics.

We abhor violence and are very concerned about human rights beyond ‘reputational risks.’ During the past decade, DMIA has worked collaboratively with fellow American organizations. These include the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Jewelers of America, the Gemological Institute of America, the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers Association, the American Gem Society, and other organizations not only discussing issues but in writing, for example, clear, and unambiguous policies regarding the Kimberley Process Certification System. This is exemplified by the active and leading role DMIA took in co-authoring the Diamond Source Warranty Protocol.

It is important to note that that we have been heavily criticized by some members of the international diamond community for taking this position and advocating it as a voluntary protocol that we feel should be adopted globally. But we will not compromise on this issue.”

JCK