This CIBJO informational site provides you the correct international terminology when trading in diamonds sourced in nature, or when trading in “laboratory-grown diamonds”, “laboratory-created diamonds” or “synthetic diamonds”.
The definitions below come from the CIBJO Diamond Book. Similar definitions are also given in ISO Standard 18323.
Members of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, are national jewellery associations of more than 40 different countries, over 60 commercial members from 18 countries and 8 governmental institutions.
CIBJO’s primary mission is the protection of consumer confidence in the jewellery industry.
The definition of a diamond
A diamond is a mineral consisting essentially of carbon that crystallises in the isometric (cubic) crystal system.
A mineral is natural by definition.
The definition of natural materials
Materials that are completely formed by nature, without human intervention during its formation.
Thus, unambiguously a ‘diamond’ is a natural material and the unqualified term ‘diamond’ can only designate a diamond of natural origin.
The definition of a synthetic diamond/ laboratory-grown diamond*
Artificial product having essentially the same chemical composition, physical properties, and structure as that of a diamond, whichever method of growing is used.
The terms ‘synthetic diamond’, ‘laboratory-created diamond’, and ‘laboratory-grown diamond*’ are synonymous.
* While CIBJO does not endorse this abbreviation, ‘LGD’ is sometimes used in the trade.
The definition of an artificial product
A product which is partially or completely made by man.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) makes a clear distinction between diamonds and synthetic diamonds
Find all information about the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in the Special Report of the CIBJO Diamond Commission released at the CIBJO Congress 2019: CLICK TO READ.
Adopting correct terminology
Clear and distinct terminology is vital at all steps of the supply chain to ensure consumer confidence.
Additional reading and references
The CIBJO Diamond Book and its references can be consulted here.
In the event that the national jewellery association, which is a member of CIBJO, deems that there is no acceptable local translation of the English terms ‘laboratory-grown’ or ‘laboratory-created’, then only the translation of the term ‘synthetic’ should be used.
The definitions of ‘diamond’ and ‘synthetic diamond’ are also given in the international standard ISO 18323 – Consumer confidence in the diamond industry (https://www.iso.org/standard/62163.html )