The World Jewellery Confederation (Cibjo) has signalled a major shift in policy, proposing that non-natural diamonds once again be described exclusively as “synthetic,” rather than “laboratory-grown” or “laboratory-created.”
The recommendation, made in a pre-congress report by the organisation’s Diamond Commission, comes ahead of the 2025 Cibjo Congress in Paris, which opens on 27 October. Commission president Udi Sheintal argued that terminology adopted in 2010, intended to embrace new producers of man‑made stones, had ultimately undermined the integrity of the natural diamond trade.
“Many in the synthetic diamond sector took advantage of our inclusive approach to advance their commercial interests, often at the expense of the natural diamond industry’s reputation and market share,” Sheintal wrote. He added that terms such as “laboratory-grown” were “euphemistic” and risked misleading consumers, advocating instead for descriptions that emphasise industrial manufacture.
Cibjo is also considering whether the internationally recognised 4Cs grading system — cut, colour, clarity and carat — should be reserved for natural diamonds only. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently moved in that direction, while other laboratories, including the IGI, continue to apply the standards to lab-made stones.
The debate comes at a time of declining demand and falling prices for mined diamonds, with synthetic supply rising rapidly. Industry analysts say the proposed reclassification reflects broader efforts to draw a sharper distinction between natural and synthetic categories, in the hope of restoring consumer confidence and stabilising market share. (Photo courtesy: Robert Weldon/GIA)
29-09-25
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