The World Jewellery Confederation (Cibjo) has voted to recommend "synthetic" as the sole descriptor for non-mined diamonds, reversing its 2010 acceptance of terms like "laboratory-grown" and "laboratory-created".
The decision was finalised on Monday during Cibjo's centenary congress in Vicenza, Italy, following over a year of intense industry debate. Officials from the organization’s diamond commission argued that non-natural diamonds are produced via industrial machinery—such as HPHT or CVD processes—rather than grown in a traditional laboratory environment. Commission president Udi Sheintal emphasised that the shift aims to ensure full clarity and truth in consumer disclosures.
The revision to Cibjo’s authoritative Blue Books comes despite pushback from lab-grown diamond trade groups, which had requested a deferral. Cibjo now aligns with bodies like the London Diamond Bourse and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) in advocating for the term.
Global regulations remain divided: countries like France and Russia mandate the use of "synthetic," whereas the United States and India widely permit "lab-grown." The debate carries significant weight as synthetic stones now account for over half of US engagement ring sales by volume, applying continuous downward price pressure on natural diamonds. (Photo courtesy: Cibjo)
20-10-2026
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