Jewelry titles, labels, certifications and distinctions

Jewelry, heir to exceptional know-how, sublime for centuries precious and rare materials. Today, consumer confidence and the industry's reputation rest on a mosaic of titles, labels, certifications and distinctions. This rigorous system certifies the origin, manufacture, quality and conformity of jewelry to ethical and environmental standards, facing a clientele in search of transparency and accountability.

However, even if certain controls and markings are obligatory and legal (master's mark and guarantee), unlike other labels and certifications (Label Joaillerie de France, Origine France Garantie, Responsible Jewellery Council, etc.), they are a voluntary approach on the part of companies in the sector. However, these are very rewarding because they often exceed legal requirements and contribute to strengthen consumer confidence in the transparency and authenticity of jewelry offered on the market.

Thus, in a constantly evolving sector, this duality between obligations and voluntary commitments offers a complete range of guarantees, complementing official regulations with initiatives promoting excellence, sustainability, and ethics. Discover in this article the list of all the titles, labels, certifications, and distinctions you need to know to better understand the commitment of your favorite jewelry houses.

Official titles and hallmarks: purity of metals and origin of the workshop

Guarantee stamp

The guarantee hallmark is an official mark that certifies the precious metal content of a piece of jewelry, as defined by French law. This imprint certifies that the object has been checked by an approved authority and that it complies with the legal titles. In France, the most common guarantee hallmarks are the following: the eagle's head for 750‰ gold (18 carats), the clover for 375‰ gold (9 carats), the head of Minerva forsilver 925, or the dog's head for the platinum 950.

Please note that this marking is only mandatory on works weighing more than 3 grams for gold and platinum, and more than 30 grams for thesilver, to avoid any damage to parts that are too thin.

The guarantee hallmark protects the consumer against fraud, facilitates the identification of metals and ensures that the jewelry contains the stated quantity of pure metal. It is at the same time a guarantee of authenticity, a regulatory protection and a historical reference, because its use dates back to Antiquity and has been regulated in Europe since the Middle Ages.

Master's mark

The master's mark (also called the responsibility mark) is an individual brand, specific to each craftsman, workshop or jewelry manufacturerIt is diamond-shaped for French coins and contains a distinct symbol associated with the initials of the person responsible: it is in some way the signature of the creator.

This punch serves as guarantee of the artisanal or industrial origin of the jewel: it allows, in the event of a dispute or expert appraisal, to go back precisely to the workshop, the artisan or the maison who is at the origin of it.

The affixing of hallmarks in France (guarantee or master) is under the control of Customs or approved bodies, ensuring the authenticity and conformity of precious objects with current legislation.

Labels: promoting know-how and origin 

THE labels reflect a deep commitment to excellence, authenticity, craftsmanship and traceability.

Living Heritage Company (EPV)

The label EPV is a state label awarded to companies that perpetuate a excellent craftsmanship or industrial know-howIt promotes local production in France and the preservation of traditional techniques. Obtaining this label requires a selective procedure involving auditing, monitoring and regular justification of know-how.

Jewelry from France

Created by the French Union of Jewelry and Jewellery recently, the label Jewelry from France requires that the jewelry be designed, assembled, set, polished and finished on French national territoryIn addition to geographical traceability, the Brand Commission examines the quality of casting, polishing, setting and engraving on a representative sample. Obtaining the label requires:

• Compliance with labor law, environmental standards, the code of practice, the Kimberley Process (control over the origin of diamonds), the decree on the naming of gems and pearls
  

• Ban on the use of synthetic gems
  

• Commitment to the RJC certification process (international ethics, see below).

A hexagonal punch specific on each labeled jewel attests to its conformity and its origin.

Guaranteed French Origin (OFG)

Guaranteed French Origin is a recognized certification that attests that more than 50% of the added value of a piece of jewelry is produced in France and that the last substantial stage of manufacturing is carried out there. This label reassures the consumer about the origin of the product and promotes local know-how.

Artisans of Art / Master Craftsman

These honor manual perfection, technical expertise and the ability to perpetuate artisanal traditions through official and professional recognition, with regular audits.

Know to Do

Created to promote excellence in fashion and luxury, the label Know to Do is also a vehicle for international influence for French jewelry. It supports artisans and businesses that actively contribute to the transmission and promotion of exceptional know-how.

Certifications: quality, authenticity and international traceability

There certification concerns the authenticity of precious stones and compliance at the international level via independent laboratories or digital devices.

International laboratories

Organizations like the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), THE HRD (Hoge Raad voor Diamant) or the’IGI (International Gemological Institute) issue certificates specifying objective characteristics: purity, size, color, weight, origin, etc. These documents are essential to guarantee the quality of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other gems on the world market.

Blockchain certifications and digital traceability

To further enhance transparency, traceability is digitalized thanks to the blockchain : each stage of the jewelry's journey (from the mine to the final customer) and all its transformations are recorded in an unfalsifiable manner, often accessible via an individual QR code.

Ethical labels and certifications: responsibility and sustainability

As social and environmental concerns intensify, several measures are in place to ensure responsible production.

Responsible Jewelery Council (RJC)

THE RJC is an international organization that sets strict standards for social and environmental responsibility in the jewelry industry. An RJC-certified company guarantees that gold, diamonds, or platinum used are extracted and processed without violation of human rights, according to best environmental practices and with a concern for social responsibility from the mine to the finished product.

Kimberley Process

THE Kimberley Process is an international agreement that aims to prevent the trade of "conflict diamonds", purchased to finance wars. This label imposes rigorous provenance controls to ensure the legality and ethics of the material from the moment it is extracted and has become an essential reference for ensuring the legality and ethics in the provenance of diamonds.

Fairmined Gold

The label Fairmined Gold certifies that the gold comes from artisanal mines that respect social, economic, and environmental standards, promoting fair and sustainable trade. It is a response to current challenges of traceability and responsible exploitation of natural resources.

Repairers

The label Repairers encourage the reduction of environmental impact through repair, recycling, and responsible consumption. These are driving labels for more circular and sustainable jewelry.

Competitions and distinctions in the arts and crafts: prestige and recognition

Beyond labels and certifications, several distinctions recognize the talent, innovation and mastery of excellence of artisans.

Best Worker of France (MOF)

The competition of the Best Worker of France is one of the highest French craft distinctions. In jewelry, it recognizes technical mastery and exceptional creativity, awarded to passionate professionals. This title confers unique prestige and widely recognized recognition on its holder.

International awards (Global Excellence Awards, Jewelery Makers of the Year)

These international awards recognize innovation, creativity, and technical excellence. They highlight the brands and artisans who push the boundaries of contemporary jewelry while paying tribute to tradition.

Summary: a jewelry store in search of authenticity, ethics and excellence

Today, jewelry is organized around an exemplary identification structure:

• Titles and hallmarks to guarantee the purity of metals
  

• Labels to distinguish know-how, origin and local manufacturing
  

• Certifications validating quality and international, human and digital traceability
  

• Ethical commitments and environmental for a sustainable and responsible sector
  

• Professional distinctions which value talent, innovation and the preservation of heritage
  

This demanding and evolving network fully meets the market's contemporary aspirations: technical quality, total traceability, respect for the environment, authentic creation and impeccable transparency. Each piece of jewelry bearing these guarantees becomes the symbol of a history, an art and a value that goes beyond the material to reach excellence.

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