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A tiny QR code can be inscribed on a gemstone during chemical analysis with GemTOF instrumentation (Wang and Krzemnicki, 2016). The QR code shown here measures 500 × 500 μm and has been inscribed on the girdle of an emerald weighing 2.5 ct. The material ablated during the inscription of the code is used to measure trace-element concentrations that are evaluated for determining country of origin. The code can be read (after magnification) using a QR reader on a smartphone, and gives the user access to various types of information on the stone. Composite photo by H. A. O. Wang and V. Lanzafame, SSEF.
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Recent developments have brought due diligence, along with tracking and traceability, to the forefront of discussions and requirements in the diamond, coloured stone and pearl industries. This is a result of consumer demands for detailed information on the provenance of gems, banking requirements aiming to reduce risk, industry and company initiati...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... ermark) and synthetic diamond manufacturers to document the provenance of such products (EatonMagaña and Shigley, 2016). The inscription of a QR (quick response) code can link to further information about a stone that is accessible to consumers (Figure 3). The drawback associated with physically marking gems is linked to the fact that they are processed from rough to cut and thus initial surface markings would disappear. ...
Citations
... It is also vital in highly regulated sectors [70]. In the gem and jewelry industries, CoC helps verify a products origins and ethical sourcing through documentation, with technology offering a secure way to trace product lineage [71]. The forestry industry also follows CoC standards, tracking wood ownership throughout the supply chain [72]. ...
The apparel industry significantly contributes to climate change through its carbon emissions, excessive water usage, and waste accumulation, leading to environmental degradation and social issues such as modern slavery and poor working conditions. Amid increasing customer awareness and demands from international organizations for transparency, traceability has emerged as a critical concept, especially with advancements in technology. This study employs an interpretive case study approach, drawing early observations from a pilot project focused on traceability implementation within an apparel manufacturer and its chain-of-custody. This exploration is timely, as numerous similar initiatives are underway globally. Our research reveals that, even with the best technologies and intentions, achieving true transparency through traceability remains a challenge, often distancing stakeholders from meeting sustainability goals. Developing six (6) propositions along the way, we identify the fallacies of sustainable supply chain arising in relation to the notion of chain-of-custody. This study underscores the necessity of a collaborative approach among stakeholders to enhance traceability efforts and contribute meaningfully to sustainable practices in the apparel sector.
... Blockchain represents an alternative system that could increase the traceability of the gold industry which would allow stakeholders to know the provenance of not just each piece of gold in the supply chain, but also how and where it was sourced from, how it was extracted from the land or sea, and what manner of labour was used in the jewellery that it was used to make. With this kind of visibility into the where and how of what it's describing, stakeholders can have more assurance that the solution is one where the integrity and transparency of the entire gold supply chain is beyond reproach (Escolhas, 2022;Mozée, 2022;Quiroz-Gutierrez, 2022;Spence, 2022;Cartier et al., 2018;Mann et al., 2018;Calvão & Archer, 2021). ...
Once mined, gold passes through various stakeholders (from miners to consumers), often erasing origin signatures, resulting in an illegal gold chain. Tracing the origin and all custodians of a given gold bar ensures that fraud, illegal practices, and gold mined by criminal gangs or in conflict zones are avoided. Recently, blockchain technology has been considered the best solution for tracking gold bars in the gold supply chain because blockchain-based ledgers make it easier for all stakeholders to track gold, guarantee its provenance, and make it more difficult for malicious parties to forge receipts. Through a design science research approach, this study conceptualised and simulated a proof-of-concept prototype called GoldNet. GoldNet was simulated in a Ganache – a local blockchain platform used to deploy smart contracts in a bid to make them immutable and trustworthy. The implementation used Solidity, ReactJS, and Web3JS Software Development Kit. The study contributes to the theory and practice of the gold industry by applying design knowledge obtained through an iterative design process and serving as an edifice for integrating emerging digital technologies, particularly blockchain, in the mining sector.
... During the third stage (take-off), the birth of new technologies or new internet-based services became an attractive topic for the scientific community, with focus on aspects such as the momentum of blockchain [39,83], 3D technology [84], and new luxury services available via the internet [85]. From 2020 onward, exponential growth showed that interest in the impact of social media on the luxury sector had once again gained importance within the scientific community, complemented by ongoing interest in the topics covered in the second stage. ...
In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, this study examines the digital transformation of the luxury industry through a bibliometric analysis of 236 articles (1991–2022) and a bibliographic coupling of research from 2022 to 2024. The analysis identifies key trends, including the use of digital tools to enhance customer engagement, the growing role of review-based feedback in the tourism sector, value creation through innovative products and promotional strategies, and the advances in sustainability via digitalization. Despite these hot trends, many firms in the luxury sector have not yet involved in a real digital transformation, as they have only digitalized specific aspects of their operations. The findings suggest that while luxury firms are embracing digital tools to meet the expectations of digitally native consumers, they face the challenge of balancing innovation with the preservation of their core values. The study concludes that digital transformation is not merely an operational shift but a strategic imperative for the future competitiveness and profitability of the luxury sector.
... The Responsible Jewellery Council assumes that demand for greater sustainability and traceability from certified downstream industries (mineral processing, trade, manufacturing, and retail), while much needed, will trickle-down the supply chain to improve ASM practices on the ground. However, supply chains for gemstones in particular are complex, opaque, and very difficult to trace (Cartier, Ali and Krzemnicki, 2018). Gems may have passed through several countries and been traded informally many times before reaching the retailer (Cook and Healy, 2012;Cartier, Ali and Krzemnicki, 2018), making this theory of change questionable. ...
... However, supply chains for gemstones in particular are complex, opaque, and very difficult to trace (Cartier, Ali and Krzemnicki, 2018). Gems may have passed through several countries and been traded informally many times before reaching the retailer (Cook and Healy, 2012;Cartier, Ali and Krzemnicki, 2018), making this theory of change questionable. Bottom-up approaches have struggled with scalability (currently only seven ASM organisations have Fairmined certification and only three are Fairtrade Gold certified; Fisher, 2018;Fairmined, 2023), and adapting to the diversity of ASM . ...
Mining supplies critical minerals, supports millions of livelihoods, and can help fuel economic development, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. Yet, these contributions can entail substantial trade-offs for biodiversity and ecosystems, through habitat loss, deforestation, and pollution. These impacts are particularly concerning when mining occurs in places which are also hotspots for biodiversity, such as Madagascar. In this thesis, I explore the challenges and opportunities for reconciling mining and biodiversity conservation in Madagascar. Using spatial data analysis and counterfactual methods for impact evaluation I evaluate the real and potential impacts of mining on the forests and, by proxy, biodiversity of Madagascar, and the effectiveness of policies to mitigate that impact. First, I evaluate the effectiveness of a key policy mechanism for mitigating the impacts of infrastructure development on biodiversity: biodiversity offsetting. Using statistical methods for counterfactual impact evaluation (statistical matching, difference-indifferences , and fixed effects panel regressions), I show that Madagascar's largest mine,
... Although these types of systems are becoming institutional practices, numerous challenges persist. In the case of gems and precious metals, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining are essentially impossible to include within blockchain or similar methodologies (Cartier et al., 2018;Mugurusi and Ahishakiye, 2022). In the case of diamonds, the determination of the country of origin has become essential since the 1990s, due to social awareness of 'Blood diamonds' from events such as the Civil wars in Sierra Leone and Angola. ...
... van den Brink et al. (2019) suggested that chain of custody (CoC) is one of the approaches used to show responsible sourcing by validating material stewardship and responsible production claims and is realized by tracking the material as it moves down the supply chain (Levin et al., 2015). Apart from contributing to traceability, tracking facilitates transparency and is dependent on transparency for its realization (Cartier et al., 2018;ISO/ DIS 22095, 2019), thereby making it an integral component of CoC. Various CoC standards in the mining industry have not addressed this concept as explicitly as traceability. ...
... For the how dimension, the documentation, referred to as a transfer or CoC document in the standards, is required at every stage of the supply chain, along with verification of the collected data (UN Global Compact & BSR, 2014). Complications arise when instances such as loss or modifications of physical inscriptions occur (Cartier et al., 2018), laundering minerals from areas where violence prevails and physically tagging it as originating from validated mines or accepting forged proof of payments of illegal levies (Global Witness, 2022) are all examples where conflict minerals can contaminate the supply chain and compromise the integrity of the CoC document. Although some standards have mentioned the importance of technology and the IRMA CoC standard states that it has been developed to work with existing and emerging traceability services and technologies, there are profound shortcomings in the inclusion of distinct criteria that delve into the requirements that address confidentiality, security, and determining the integrity of the information are still lacking. ...
... Blockchain-based jewelry application focuses on jewelry tracking implementation in a decentralized manner [4]. Initially, jewelry information is collected such as type, weight, and photo. ...
The provenance of gemstones significantly enhances their value. However, both conventional supply chain management and digital systems are susceptible to counterfeiting, loss, and theft. Blockchain has emerged as a suitable technology to store tamper-proof records of gemstones allowing the storage of immutable journey of gemstones. This research article shows how the blockchain-based Ethereum network can be used for managing the supply chain of gemstones. Mining details, cutter information, digital certificates, proof of ownership, quality, and sales history of gemstone scan be arranged in a two-tiered blockchain network to allow multiple organizations to securely share specific information within the organization and publicly. We cover the major supply chain exchanges for gemstones and end users with Ethereum smart contracts. We present that our suggested decentralized architecture-based solution can overcome many limitations in terms of immutability, traceability, verifiability, and security which exist in both conventional and digital supply chain management systems. Test scripts or smart contracts are publicly deployed on the Ethereum network.
... Everledger partnered with De Beers to trace the origin of diamonds using blockchain [49,[52][53][54][55]. By continuously verifying entries through a combination of blockchain and external audits, the companies ensure the authenticity and ethical sourcing of diamonds. ...
... Given the relatively limited use of blockchain in cultural heritage, we investigated similar areas to gain insight on how blockchain has been used and to indicate how to best develop our system. The gem industry has had similar circumstances in having a fragmented community, but with clients interested in knowing the ethical and legal status of objects sold [37]. In this industry, knowing current provenance, where and how gem materials are mined and manufactured, and general life-history of objects is seen as necessary but historically has been difficult [38]. ...
... In this industry, knowing current provenance, where and how gem materials are mined and manufactured, and general life-history of objects is seen as necessary but historically has been difficult [38]. Tracking object history and providing verifiable detail about objects has been critical in the development of blockchain for this industry [37,39,40]. The industry is often investigated by different organizations concerned with gemstones' origins and sustainability footprint that customers want to know more about. ...
... For those verifying objects, the current status and sequence of how objects were obtained and moved allows an accurate reconstruction of the object's history and provenance, which is critical in the vetting process [32,37]. For collectors, object history is essential for establishing credibility with the public, including the user community that seeks to access collections for research or interest. ...
Many modern cultural object collections suffer from the problem of being obtained in unethical and illegal circumstances. Additionally, information about collections, including their status, object descriptions, and other data need up-to-date information presented to users. We propose a novel blockchain tool called Salsal that enables the vetting of objects, individually or as part of more extensive collections, to meet required ethical and legal guidelines while informing users about relevant information regarding collections. Blockchain provides a better and more rapid way for users to know about collections using a decentralized and immutable ledger technology. Blockchain can be used to incentivize or even pressure collections to vet their objects for ethical and legal guidelines that can benefit the public who use object collections. The prototype software we have made is presented and compared to other blockchains, with code and demonstration provided. We present how our blockchain can enable benefit, providing a useful vetting process for cultural objects, and allowing a user community to contribute to collections in a transparent and secure manner.
... The user interface should offer simple access to pertinent data, analytics, and visualization tools to enable users to watch, monitor, and analyze supply chain events in real time. To guarantee that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized users by their roles and responsibilities within the supply chain network, the system should also offer multi-level access controls and permissions (Cartier et al., 2018). ...
The potential of blockchain technology to improve efficiency, traceability, and transparency has made it increasingly popular for supply chain management. This work investigates the application of a blockchain-optimized supply chain traceability system for transparent logistics. The study's primary goals are to build and assess a blockchain-enabled traceability system suited to the demands of the contemporary supply chain, evaluate its effects on the efficiency and transparency of the supply chain, and uncover significant policy implications for relevant parties. The process entails thoroughly analyzing the body of knowledge on supply chain management, blockchain technology, traceability systems, academic publications, and industry reports. Significant discoveries emphasize the advantages of improved traceability, real-time monitoring, transparency, and blockchain-enabled compliance enforcement. However, implementation issues must be carefully considered, including data privacy, technological complexity, and legal compliance. Policy consequences include the requirement for standards, cooperative efforts, and regulatory frameworks to address these issues and encourage the appropriate adoption and application of blockchain technology in supply chain management.
