Charlotte Rose, President, London Diamond Bourse
LONDON – The London Diamond Bourse has adopted “synthetic diamond” as the term it will use for man-made stones and is encouraging all its members across the UK trade to do the same.
The Bourse is understood to be the first trade body in the United Kingdom to express a preference for one term.
Existing UK guidance permits three terms – “synthetic”, “laboratory-grown” and “laboratory-created” – and treats them as equally acceptable. The Bourse’s position is that of the three, “synthetic” is the most technically accurate, historically established and internationally understood.
The decision has been made to promote clear, consistent and transparent nomenclature throughout the diamond trade.
The term “synthetic diamond” clearly distinguishes a manufactured product, from a natural diamond without ambiguity or reliance on marketing terminology.
Charlotte Rose, President of the London Diamond Bourse, said: “Consumers should never be left in any doubt about whether the diamond they are purchasing is a natural diamond, or a man-made product. Clear and unambiguous terminology allows consumers to make a genuinely informed choice, while protecting confidence in the wider diamond and jewellery sector. We strongly welcome the implementation of this best practice. It’s a positive, long overdue step towards greater clarity, consistency and consumer protection within our industry.”
The Bourse’s decision aligns with the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, whose affiliated bourses voted unanimously at the 41st World Diamond Congress in Singapore in July that “Synthetic Diamond” should be the federation’s preferred terminology.
That recommendation came to Congress from a proposal submitted by past President of the London Diamond Bourse Alan Cohen. The proposal was based on work being done by the CIBJO Diamond Commission, which the London Diamond Bourse fully supports. This was then proposed at congress by David Troostwyk, Chair of the WFDB’s Trade and Business Committee and current Vice President of the London Diamond Bourse.
