core sector communique

EQC to coordinate participation of jewellery designers and craftsmen in prestigious 2012 "China Jewellery Design and Craftsmanship Contest" Antwerp, Belgium - March 1, 2012: The European Quality Circle (EQC), an organisation that was established to help increase sales, improve profitability and enhance consumer confidence in the jewellery industry, has been engaged by China's leading and most influential jewellery organizations -- the Gems & Jewellery Trade Association in China, the National Gems & Jewellery Technology Administrative Centre (NGTC), the National Gemstone Testing Center and the National Gemmological Training Centre - to help encourage and coordinate the participation of jewellery designers and manufacturers from outside China in the prestigious 2012 "China Jewellery Design and Craftsmanship Contest." "As China's economy is thriving, retail sales of finished jewellery are growing rapidly," EQC's CEO, Eyal Atzmon, noted. "At the same time the Chinese consumer public's appetite and demand for fresh and original jewellery designs is increasing extensively. Therefore, the contest's organizers are welcoming foreign participation, by means of its cooperation with EQC." Atzmon noted that this would be a grand opportunity for designers and manufacturers from Europe, the Americas and Asia to gain recognition among literally billions of consumers in China. Jewellery designers and manufacturers who wish to enter their designs into the contest can do so under the patronage of EQC. They can choose to participate in the Jewellery Design Contest, which offers participants a wide range of design options. The materials allowed by the Design Contest's rules are gold and platinum; diamonds; jadeite and other coloured gemstones, pearls, as well as other auxiliary materials. "The jewellery designs can be made to fit sports or casual wear, business or formal attire, both for women and men," Atzmon noted. "This gives designers a lot of space to work in." The rules and regulations for the contest can be found in Contest Brochure A (scroll down for link). The deadline for the submission of entries for the Design Contest is set at May 30, 2012. However, contestants can also choose to participate in the "team" (or group) category of the Craftsman Contest for plain gold jewellery or inlay jewellery, two jewellery categories that are still at the heart of the Chinese jewellery tradition. The deadline for this particular contest is October 15, 2012.

About EQC The European Quality Circle (EQC) was established as a trade body that brings jewellery retailers together in buyers groups, organized according to region, product identity and other relevant parameters in order to leverage their combined forces for the purchase of diamonds, gemstones and finished jewellery. EQC has since evolved into an organization that facilitates an all-encompassing model of collaboration between the jewellery industry and consumers. While the organization and management of buyer groups remains one of EQC's chief services,EQC and its members recognize that consumers are the most vital link in our supply chain. Therefore, by protecting and assisting the consumer, we sustain our industry and safeguard our livelihoods. As such, one of EQC's most important roles is to demonstrate to consumers that EQC members are professional, care about their well-being as well as their pocketbook, maintain the highest integrity, and supply products that are well worth every penny spent. EQC members have the privilege of displaying the EQC seal that carries the words "Inspiring Confidence" on their shop's display windows and doors. About NGTC The National Gems & Jewellery Technology Administrative Center (NGTC) is the leading representative organization of the Chinese jewellery industry. Its three affiliates are the Gems & Jewellery Trade Association of China (GAC);the National Gemstone Testing Center , and the National Gemological Training Center. The National Gemological Training Center is a subsidiary of the National Gems & Jewellery Technology Administrative Center. The Center is government accredited and authorized to provide vocational education for jewellery, and coordinates and oversees the state mandated pre-exam courses for Certified Gemmologist of China (CGC). The NGTC is the exclusive partner of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in greater China. Under the auspices of NGTC, the GIA provides courses for diamond and gemstone grading; jewellery appraising; jewellery design and manufacturing; jewellery merchandising and retail; as well as jewellery store management and sales. As part of its multifacetted and flexible educational policy, the NGTC provides formal and informal industry education programs, including distant learning and supplementary courses, with equal attention to theoretical and practical aspects. NGTC also offers customized programmes to meet the special needs of various different jewellery disciplines and the corporations that operate in the industry. Headquartered in Beijing, the NGTC has built up a nation-wide educational network. In addition, the organization is a supplier of top-ranking gemmological and jewellery making equipment. The NGTC is committed to providing an excellent educational environment and a team of the top rated professional instructors. On regular basis, distinguished Chinese and foreign experts, scholars and professors are also invited to take part in NGTC training programs.