The French diamond wholesaler Raymond Bloch has become the first diamond supplier to receive certification for meeting the Responsible Jewellery Council's (RJC) standards on ethics, human rights, and environmental practices, Retail Jeweller Magazine reports.

RJC certification is intended to improve the transparency of the jewelry industry's supply chain.

The diamond company's CEOs, Stephanie and Laurent Bloch, said that the Bloch family – fourth-generation members of the diamond industry – had always been concerned with the social and environmental aspects of the business.

RJC CEO Michael Rae extended the RJC's congratulations to Raymond Bloch on becoming the first RJC-certified diamond supplier and added that many other RJC members had begun working toward certification.