The Diamond Producers Council says it may pursue legal and regulatory remedies against sellers whose terminology misleads consumers or makes lab grown diamonds appear fake.

October 20 to 26, 2026

The Diamond Producers Council says it rejects CIBJO’s recommendation that “synthetic” become the preferred international descriptor for laboratory grown diamonds and colored gemstones. In its October 20 statement, the DPC argues that the language could mislead consumers and distort competition, and says it may pursue legal and regulatory remedies when terminology is used deceptively.

Rapaport’s reporting describes the dispute as a response by the lab grown diamond organization to CIBJO. The DPC’s objections and its stated willingness to pursue remedies are the organization’s position. They are not a court ruling, a finding of liability, or proof that a particular seller has broken the law.

A recommendation is not a law

CIBJO’s industry recommendations are voluntary. They do not replace national consumer protection law or automatically create an enforceable legal requirement. Applicable disclosure and advertising obligations depend on the law in the market where a seller operates.

The distinction matters for jewelers and consumers. An industry body can recommend terminology, while courts and regulators apply enforceable law. Any legal challenge would need to be assessed under the relevant legal standards, rather than treating the DPC’s statement as a judgment.

What the words describe

Lab grown diamonds are diamonds created through technological processes. Natural diamonds form geologically. Clear disclosure tells a buyer which origin applies to the stone being offered.

The dispute concerns terminology, disclosure, consumer understanding, and competition. The DPC argues that consumers may interpret “synthetic” as meaning fake and urges sellers to use language such as “lab grown” or “lab created.” That interpretation is the DPC’s argument, not a conclusion reached by a court in the sources cited here.

For retailers, accurate descriptions and clear origin disclosure remain essential. Buyers should be able to understand what they are purchasing without an industry terminology dispute obscuring the distinction between geological formation and technological production.