IGI joins top-industry retailers and vendors in the premier jewelers’ cooperative
The International Gemological Institute (IGI), the world’s largest independent gemological laboratory, has joined the Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO). The Institute will now be part of an exclusive network of retail and vendor members where ideas are presented and collaboration is welcomed. Since 1966, RJO’s community has used buying power to negotiate better pricing for goods from vendors.
“IGI is eager to further establish relationships with additional independent retailers and vendors and introduce its diverse services to the RJO community,” said IGI North American President Avi Levy. “As a pioneer in gemological grading, the Institute is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with professional peers and share its best practices.”
The Institute looks forward to integrating into the network by engaging in RJO’s extensive opportunities including educational and buying show seminars and overseas branding trips. All of these offerings provide retailers with new ideas to take back and implement in their stores.
“We are looking forward to this new partnership with IGI and what they will offer to the RJO membership,” said RJO’s CEO Sarah Streb. “IGI’s expertise and shared educational passion pairs well with the goals of our organization. We are excited to welcome them to the RJO family.”
“IGI pursued a membership with the RJO to further its active leadership role within the gemological sector,” continued Levy. “IGI went through an extensive evaluation as a part of the approval process and is proud to have been accepted.”
For over 50 years, the RJO has served as a knowledgeable network that seeks to share information and refine the industry’s most creative ideas. The Organization has made education a priority and attributes its success from the commitment of its members.
About IGI
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) has 20 laboratories and 14 education facilities in major diamond and jewelry centers around the world. For 45 years, IGI has provided the fine jewelry community and consumers with a broad range of services including natural and laboratory grown diamond reports, colored stone grading and origin reports, as well as jewelry identification and appraisal reports. With the increase of lab grown diamonds in the marketplace, IGI screens millions of natural and lab grown diamonds in order for the industry and consumers to receive the product they expect. Regardless of location or marketplace, an authentic IGI Laboratory Report is the common language of trust and confidence in the gemological world. For more information, please visit: www.igi.org.
About RJO
In 1966, RJO was founded by a small group of independent jewelers who joined together to command better vendor prices by buying collectively. Since that time, RJO has added hundreds of members, essential support programs and marketing services while remaining owned by its jeweler members. For more information, please visit: www.rjomembers.com.
