India’s Government Urged to Adopt Lab Grown Rules

India’s government is being urged to adopt the same rules on lab grown terminology as the US.

The GJEPC (Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council) says its 7,000-plus members are now required to adhere to the rules introduced by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2016 and amended two years later. They have also been adopted by many other countries.

“Since India’s gem and jewellery trade has unanimously accepted the FTC’s new definition with respect to diamonds, we urge the Indian government and ministries to accept, adopt and adapt the same to existing consumer laws of our country.”

The FTC provides detailed guidance on exactly what forms of words can be used. It says: “If you sell laboratory-created diamonds, you should tell consumers that they are not mined diamonds by describing them as “laboratory-grown,” “laboratory-created,” “[manufacturer name]-created,” or some other word or phrase of like meaning so as to disclose, immediately preceding the word “diamond” and equally conspicuously, the nature of the product and the fact it is not a mined diamond.”

Smit Patel, convener of the GJEPC’s lab-grown diamond panel, said: “We have urged the government to align with the advancements and economic significance of lab-grown diamonds by adopting a forward-looking policy framework.”

The Indian government says its Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has organized a stakeholder consultation on consumer protection for the diamond sector, following representations from the GJEPC.

Source: DCLA

Another Big Drop for India’s Rough Exports

India’s exports of polished diamonds suffered yet another big fall in September, down 22.9 per cent, according to the latest figures from the GJEPC (Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council).

That’s a marginally better performance than August, when year-on-year exports were down by 23.8 per cent. Between April and September total foreign sales fell 20.6 per cent (all figures in US dollars).

Actual monthly sales tell a different story from year-on-year decreases. Total foreign sales for September were $1.29bn, compared to $1.04bn in August and $908m in July.

Across the whole gems and jewelry industry in India, gross exports were $2.54bn, down 15.9 per cent year-on-year (compared to 22.9 per cent for polished diamonds).

Exports of polished lab growns – still a tiny minority of all diamond sales – were down 16.5 per cent to $111m.

Source: DCLA

Call for Clear Lab Grown Labels in India

Lab grown Diamonds

The Indian government is facing calls to adopt US guidelines to distinguish lab growns from natural diamonds.

The 10,000-member GJEPC (Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council) says there is widespread confusion in the way diamonds are marketed and advertised.

It says India should adopt the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, which say there must be a “clear and conspicuous” indicating that a diamond is man-made.

They also say the term “diamond” without qualification can only be used to refer to a natural, mined diamond.

And lab growns cannot be described as “real,” “genuine,” “natural,” or “precious” without additional qualifying language.

The GJEPC has written to India’s Department of Consumer Affairs calling for strict rules to differentiate between natural and lab grown.

“The absence of standardised guidelines on diamond terminology leads to ambiguity,” it says.

“And there are no mandatory disclosure requirements to indicate whether a diamond is lab-grown or natural to the consumer.”

Source: DCLA

Lab Grown Companies Move to Near-Empty Surat Bourse

The near-empty Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) is hoping the arrival of around 40 lab grown traders will signal a change in its fortunes.

The vast new center, recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest office building in existence, was officially opened last December by India’s prime minister Narendra Modi .

It has a capacity of 4,500 offices, but remains virtually empty.

The bourse has, according to local media reports, now reached an agreement with the Lab Grown Diamond Association (LGDA) to relocate around 40 lab grown companies from elsewhere in Surat.

Mahesh Gadhvi, CEO at SDB, said recently that 250 offices were currently occupied (that’s less than 6 per cent of the total).

“Steadily we are progressing towards opening more offices and starting more businesses from SDB,” he told the business news channel CNBC.

Source: DCLA

Lab Grown Discussions at AGS Confluence

The American Gem Society (AGS) will present panel discussions on lab grown diamond pricing and supply, advances in lab grown identification and the art of natural diamond storytelling.

The three-hour Confluence is an online-only event, featuring three pre-recorded sessions, designed to allow the speakers to take part in a live chat Q&A.

The event is scheduled for 25 September and will be accessible to non-AGS members for a $150 fee. The sessions will remain available, on demand, until 31 December.

The Importance of Diamond Screening: Challenges, Techniques, and Resources covers the latest screening technologies and their limitations, providing guidance on using gemological instruments for verification.

Laboratory-Grown Diamonds: Pricing, Supply, and Disclosure explores the complexities of the lab grown diamond market, including pricing dynamics and the importance of transparency.

And The Incredible Story of Natural Diamonds delves into the geological history and mining processes of natural diamonds, featuring insights from experts at GIA , which is sponsoring the event.

AGS is a nonprofit trade association representing a select group of jewelers, independent appraisers, and suppliers in the jewelry industry.

Source: DCLA