The first ever Blue Book devoted to Coral, delineating acceptable trade practices and nomenclature for the coral industry and trade, has been released by CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation in an online PDF format. The Coral Book is the sixth in the Blue Book series published by the organisation.

The book, which was compiled by the CIBJO Coral Commission, headed by Commission President Enzo Liverino, under the auspices of CIBJO's Sector A, which has jurisdiction over gem materials, is comprehensive, classifying both non-treated and treated corals, and also artificial products that imitate and/or include coral elements, according to CIBJO.

Some of the specific areas addressed by the book include normative terms that should be used to describe coral and disclose treatments; the terminology that should be applied to define associated artificial products; methods of maintaining the quality of coral jewellery; etc.  The various types of different precious coral species are itemised.

Because of the unique nature of coral, which is an organism grown in nature without human intervention, the Coral Book includes reference to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which entered into force in 1975 to address concerns that many living species were becoming endangered because of commerce between countries. The document also outlines national and regional regulations promoting the sustainable harvesting of coral.

Earlier Blue Books have covered definitive sets of grading standards and nomenclature for diamonds, gemstones, pearls, precious metals, and gemmological laboratories. The Blue Books represent a consensus derived from the broad expertise on the subject. In the almost complete absence of jewellery industry standards endorsed by the International Standards Organisation (ISO), the CIBJO Blue Books are the most widely accepted set of globally accepted standards.

"The Coral Blue Book is an additional tool developed by CIBJO to ensure ethical business practices and transparency in the jewellery business," said Gaetano Cavalieri, CIBJO President. "It focuses on a sector that operates in a very fragile eco-environment, where proper standards and methods of operation are absolutely essential."

"Our goals in producing the Coral Book of course included creating common sets of standards, practices and nomenclature, similar to those which have been created by CIBJO for other sectors of the industry, but also to address important issues of environmental responsibility and sustainability that are specific to coral. This is a milestone for all of us," said Liverino.

 Roland Naftule, CIBJO Vice President and President of Sector A said, "It is important to note that its release represents but the end of the first stage in an on-going journey. Each Blue Book is a living document, which is reviewed constantly, and updated and amended when necessary."

 In addition to the Coral Book, CIBJO's Sector A has recently released online the updated editions of the Diamond Book, the Gemstone Book and the Pearl Book.