Light on Diamonds: The Diamond Collective welcomes the Ministry of Economy’s decision regarding the terminology for natural and synthetic diamonds.
The Diamant Collective, which brings together major players in the natural diamond industry, such as Natural Diamond Council, The UFBJOP, Francéclat, the French Gemmology Laboratory (LFG), and the Union of the Jewelry and Horology Industry welcomes the clear and affirmed position of the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty regarding the appropriate terminology to distinguish natural diamonds from synthetic diamonds.
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It should be noted that the Diamant Collective is concerned about a trend in the use of terms related to diamonds and to their imitations, the synthetic diamond in particular. Although French law is unequivocal on this matter, as stipulated in the decree of January 14, 2002 establishing precise terminology, the Collective has identified practices that are contrary to these directives.
Indeed, Decree N° 2002-65 of 14 January 2002 (article 4) explicitly states that the term «diamond» refers exclusively to a natural diamond. For synthetic diamonds, only the terms «synthetic diamond» or «synthetic diamond» are permitted in France. While the term «laboratory diamond» can be used abroad. Moreover, the decree imposes the obligation to include the mention «synthetic» for any stone whose manufacture is entirely or partially carried out by humans.
He also insists on compliance with international standards and national regulations when marketing these stones.
Thus, the legislation is reaffirmed at the end of 2023 by the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, emphasizing that no other translation should lead to confusion. Madame Mina El Hadraoui, France Director Natural Diamond Council, a member of the Diamant Collective, emphasizes the importance of respecting this French law, often envied internationally.
The DGCCRF, in collaboration with the DGE and the DGDDI, initiated a consultation with the sector to revise Decree No. 2002-65. The proposal to introduce the terminology «diamond created in a laboratory» was submitted, but on October 26, 2023, the Ministry decided to maintain the decree unchanged.
Madame Bernadette Pinet-Cuoq, Executive President of the UFBJOP and member of the Diamant Collective, welcomes this decision. She emphasizes its crucial role in «guaranteeing clear and comprehensible information to the consumer, in accordance with the lexical scope of the French language and without ambiguity.»
There is no doubt that the maintenance of the decree of January 14, 2002 is considered a protection for the buyer, respecting the rules of transparency. This decision perfectly aligns with the results of the 2020 Opinion Way study, confirming that semantic clarity is essential for a transparent diamond acquisition. Therefore, one cannot say «laboratory diamond». The Diamant Collective calls for compliance with the law, highlighting everyone’s responsibility in this process.
