Synthetic Diamonds - Dotting the i's
AWDC represents Antwerp as one of the world's most significant trading hubs for natural diamonds.
Recognizing that the distinction between natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds can often be unclear to the general public—despite being fundamentally different products—AWDC has collaborated with other leading organizations to clarify this difference. Natural diamonds are unique, rare, and formed over billions of years deep within the Earth, whereas lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory and are widely available.
This collaboration has resulted in the Diamond Terminology Guideline—a straightforward and concise reference document that provides clear terminology for distinguishing between natural and lab-grown diamonds. The guideline serves as an essential resource for ensuring consistent and accurate communication across the diamond industry.
The sole objective is to safeguard the integrity of natural diamonds and protect consumer confidence in our industry.
Picture Credits: Diamond Foundry
The Diamond Terminology Guideline
The Diamond Terminology Guideline is the result of a successful collaboration between nine of the leading diamond industry organisation (AWDC, CIBJO, DPA, GJEPC, IDI, IDMA, USJC, WDC and WFDB).
This document is an important step towards effective use of aligned, fair, and consistent terminology for diamonds and synthetic diamonds by all sector bodies, organisations, traders and retailers. Through adoption of a shared terminology in our communications we are assisting consumers, and the trade, to clearly distinguish between diamonds and synthetic diamonds.
This document serves as a reference document for the diamond and jewellery trade when referring to diamonds and synthetic diamonds, and it is built on two internationally accepted standards: the ISO 18323 Standard (“Jewellery – Consumer confidence in the diamond industry”) and the CIBJO Diamond Blue Books.
Read more about the Diamond Terminology Guideline below.
The Diamond Terminology Guideline
Definitions
- A diamond is a mineral created by nature; a “diamond” always means a natural diamond.
- A synthetic diamond is an artificial product that has essentially the same physical characteristics as a diamond.
- An imitation diamond, also named a diamond simulant, is an artificial product that imitates the appearance of diamonds without having their chemical composition, physical properties or structure.
- A gemstone is a mineral of natural origin that is used in jewelry for reasons of combined beauty, rareness and intrinsic value.
Terminology
When referring to synthetic diamonds:
- Use one of the following authorised qualifiers when referring to synthetic diamonds: “synthetic”, “laboratory-grown” or “laboratory-created”.
- Do not use abbreviations such as “lab-grown” and “lab-created”.
- Do not use the following terms: “cultured diamonds” and “cultivated diamonds” as “cultured” and “cultivated” refer exclusively to organic/biogenic products.
- Do not use the following terms: “real”, “genuine”, “precious”, “authentic” and “natural” as those apply exclusively to natural minerals and gemstones.
Recommendation
A diamond is natural by definition. Therefore, use the word “diamond” without a qualifier when referring to a diamond. If differentiation from synthetic diamonds is required, use the term “natural diamonds” as term of equivalent meaning.
Do not use the following confusing expressions: “natural treated diamonds” and “treated natural diamonds”. Instead, simply use “treated diamonds”.
When and Where to Use this Guideline?
The leadership of AWDC, CIBJO, DPA, GJEPC, IDI, IDMA, WDC and WFDB strongly recommend all traders, sector bodies and other organisations to comply with the guideline on all documents, websites and other means of communication that are intended to e.g. sell, buy and promote diamonds, synthetic diamonds, gemstones, gemmological laboratory reports, diamond jewelry and synthetic diamond jewelry.