Background: Diamonds Under the Spotlight
Surat is known as the “diamond capital of the world”, with over 90% of the world’s diamonds cut and polished in its bustling workshops. Among the leading players here is our client — a global diamond powerhouse headquartered in Surat, with international offices in New York, Antwerp, and Mumbai.
For decades, the company was admired for its craftsmanship and scale. But as the jewellery industry evolved, so did expectations. Global luxury brands and conscious consumers began asking tougher questions:
- “Where do these diamonds come from?”
- “Can you prove they are conflict-free?”
- “What about worker rights, safety, and environmental impact?”
The diamond industry’s sparkle was under scrutiny. Our client knew that to stay ahead in global markets, it had to not only make beautiful diamonds but also prove it was doing so ethically, responsibly, and transparently.
Enter the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) — the international body that sets the gold (or in this case, diamond) standard for responsible business in the jewellery supply chain. The client decided to pursue RJC Code of Practices (CoP) and Chain of Custody (CoC) certifications with ISOQAR India as its certification partner.
The Journey with ISOQAR India: From Rough Stone to Polished Standard
Achieving RJC certification is a lot like polishing a diamond — it requires precision, patience, and a step-by-step process. ISOQAR India guided the company through this transformation.
We started by holding up the mirror:
- Conducted a baseline assessment across operations in Surat, Antwerp, New York, and Mumbai.
- Reviewed everything from business ethics and HR policies to environmental practices and supplier due diligence.
- Identified gaps — for example, stronger supplier vetting was needed, employee grievance channels weren’t formalized, and documentation trails for diamond batches could be clearer.
Think of it as spotting the inclusions in a rough diamond.
The Code of Practices is like the 4Cs of diamonds — it covers all the essentials: ethics, labour, environment, and product disclosure. Together with the client, we:
- Drafted and rolled out policies on anti-corruption, human rights, and responsible sourcing.
- Enhanced health & safety standards in cutting and polishing facilities.
- Introduced a whistleblower and grievance redressal system so employees had a voice.
- Built supplier due diligence processes to align with OECD guidance, ensuring every upstream diamond source met responsible standards.
While CoP sets the stage, the Chain of Custody (CoC) is about traceability — giving each diamond a transparent story from origin to polished gem. Together we:
- Designed inventory segregation systems for certified vs. non-certified stones.
- Implemented record-keeping processes to trace diamonds through every stage of manufacturing.
- Created a digital audit trail, ensuring every certified diamond could be tracked with confidence.
Certification isn’t just about systems — it’s about people. ISOQAR India delivered:
- Training workshops for employees in Surat, Antwerp, and Mumbai on ethics, safety, and traceability.
- Awareness sessions for suppliers, helping them align with the client’s new responsible sourcing requirements.
- Built internal auditing capability, so the company could self-check between certification cycles.
Finally, ISOQAR India auditors conducted a multi-site audit, reviewing:
- Ethical and social practices
- Worker safety and environmental compliance
- Supply chain documentation and traceability systems
After weeks of preparation and collaboration, the verdict was clear: ✅ Certification achieved for both RJC CoP and CoC.
Results: A Clearer Shine than Ever Before
Like a perfectly cut diamond, the results spoke for themselves:
Awarded RJC CoP & CoC certifications across global operations.
Diamonds are now fully traceable from responsible sources to polished output.
Safer workplaces, clearer grievance mechanisms, and stronger ethical culture.
Global jewellery brands and retailers gained renewed confidence in sourcing from the company.
Standardized practices rolled out across offices in Surat, New York, Antwerp, and Mumbai.
Positioned as a leader in responsible diamond manufacturing, outshining competitors without certification.
Strategic Impact: Beyond Compliance
For the company, RJC certification was not just a compliance exercise — it was a business strategy.
Market Access
Certification became a passport to supply premium retailers and brands worldwide.
Reputation
From being just a diamond manufacturer, the company is now seen as a responsible, ethical, and transparent global player.
Resilience
Systems built for traceability, due diligence, and ethics now safeguard the company against future risks.
Industry Leadership
As one of the few large Surat-based firms with both CoP and CoC, the company is a benchmark for peers in the diamond hub.
Conclusion: A Diamond Story with a Responsible Shine
Through RJC CoP and CoC certification with ISOQAR India, this leading Surat-headquartered diamond manufacturer has transformed its operations into a model of responsibility, traceability, and ethical business.
With offices in New York, Antwerp, and Mumbai, the company now speaks the language global jewellery brands want to hear: credibility, transparency, and trust.
Just as a diamond’s brilliance comes from the way it is cut and polished, this certification journey has given the company a new shine in the global marketplace — proving that in today’s jewellery industry, responsibility is the new sparkle.
