Editor’s Note
This article discusses the new Indian standard IS 19469:2025, which aims to clarify terminology for natural diamonds and their alternatives to protect consumers from confusion. The standard is an adaptation of an existing international guideline.
According to the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), the Indian gem and jewellery industry has long been plagued by the misuse of terminology regarding natural diamonds and their alternatives. This has often left consumers confused about what they are actually purchasing. The new standard IS 19469:2025, adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), aims to solve this problem. It is an updated version of the international standard ISO 18323:2015, with the goal of strengthening consumer confidence in the diamond industry.
Under the new standard, the term ‘diamond’ without any additional qualifier can only be used for natural diamonds. Sellers may use words like ‘natural’, ‘real’, ‘genuine’, or ‘precious’ for these. Meanwhile, full transparency has been made mandatory for lab-grown diamonds.
Such products must only be called ‘Laboratory-grown diamond’ or ‘Laboratory-created diamond’. The use of abbreviated or informal terms like ‘LGD’, ‘lab-grown’, or ‘lab-diamond’ will no longer be valid. Furthermore, the use of misleading terms has also been banned. Words like ‘nature’, ‘pure’, ‘earth-friendly’, or ‘cultured’ cannot be used for lab-created diamonds. Simply writing a brand name will also not be considered sufficient unless it is clearly accompanied by ‘laboratory-grown’.
Richa Singh, Managing Director of NDC, said that this standard brings much-needed clarity for consumers. According to her,