CIBJO’s Diamond Commission made a momentous decision today, by voting to accept descriptive terms other than “synthetic” for diamonds grown in a non-natural setting. The decision, which was made at the 2010 CIBJO Congress in Munich, brings the organisation in line with the position adopted earlier by other major industry groups.

The resolution passed by the Diamond Commission was worded as follows: “In the best interest of consumer protection and industry harmonisation, the Diamond Commission now will accept the terms ‘laboratory-grown diamond’ and ‘laboratory-created diamond,’ as well as the previously acceptable term ‘synthetic’ to describe non-natural diamond. The Diamond Commission recognises that any applicable local legal compliances will supersede any of these rules. When there is no acceptable local direct translation of the English terms noted then the local jewellery association should be consulted for an acceptable resolution.”

At the two previous CIBJO Congresses, in Dubai in 2008 and Istanbul in 2009, the Diamond Commission had declined to align itself with the nomenclature for synthetic diamonds that had already accepted by other organisations. These included the IDC Rules, which are published by the International Diamond Council, which is a joint committee of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA).

Diamond Commission President Udi Sheintal said that the decision was the result of long and continuous discussion with all stakeholders. “It has been my pleasure to facilitate meaningful and effective exchanges, with IDC, to search for a solution to what was earlier believed to be an impossible impasse. The CIBJO diamond commission will now be able to concentrate on the many other issues, such as how to address the research results of the AGA task force on fluorescence and misrepresentation of diamonds.”

The Diamond Commission meeting took place during the second day of the 2010 CIBJO Congress. The congress is being hosted by the Messe München and the Inhorgenta Europe 2010 trade show.

Credit is Given to ADL by DiamondTopics News.