Editor’s Note
This article highlights a significant agreement between CIBJO and ISO to standardize the term “diamond” as referring solely to natural stones, a move intended to enhance market transparency and protect consumers.
The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have reached a consensus that the term “diamond,” when used alone, refers exclusively to natural diamonds. This agreement aims to prevent consumer confusion and ensure clarity in the global jewelry market.
For diamonds created in a laboratory, the agreed-upon terminology requires clear and unambiguous qualifiers. These stones must be described with terms such as “laboratory-grown,” “laboratory-created,” or “synthetic” preceding the word “diamond.” This standardization is intended to provide transparency and protect the integrity of product descriptions for consumers worldwide.
The alignment between CIBJO’s Blue Books and the ISO standard 18323:2015 is seen as a critical step for the industry. It establishes a unified framework for terminology that national standards bodies and trade organizations can adopt, promoting fair trade and informed consumer choice across international borders.
