A recently formed organization, the Diamond Producers Council (DPC), based in South San Francisco, California, has taken a firm stance against the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) regarding the terminology used for diamonds created in laboratories. The DPC, representing manufacturers of lab-grown diamonds, has declared its intention to initiate legal action against jewelers who employ the term "synthetic" in a manner that misleads consumers. This initiative follows CIBJO's contentious recommendation in September to designate "synthetic" as the exclusive descriptor for non-mined diamonds in their official Blue Books, a decision that has met with considerable resistance across the industry.

On October 20, the DPC released a statement criticizing CIBJO's recommendation as prejudiced and deceptive, arguing that the word "synthetic" implies an imitation rather than a genuine diamond. They have encouraged jewelers to continue using terms such as "lab-grown," "lab-created," or simply "created" to accurately describe these diamonds. Furthermore, the DPC has voiced strong objections to CIBJO's 2026 Diamond Commission report, which proposes investigating methods to limit the application of the widely recognized '4Cs' grading system exclusively to natural diamonds, a move that could significantly disadvantage the lab-grown diamond sector.

The DPC emphasized that adherence to CIBJO's Blue Books is entirely voluntary and highlighted that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has previously cautioned against the use of "synthetic" if it falsely suggests that a lab-grown stone is not a real diamond. This underscores the DPC's position that using such misleading language could lead to unfair trade practices.

The council articulated that when consumers are swayed by ambiguous or misleading terminology towards more expensive natural diamonds, the resulting price disparity could be considered an economic detriment. Consequently, the DPC indicated that this could serve as grounds for seeking damages, not only within the United States but also in other jurisdictions where similar consumer protection laws apply. This signals a readiness to protect the interests of both lab-grown diamond producers and consumers through legal means if necessary.

This ongoing dispute between the Diamond Producers Council and CIBJO highlights a significant definitional and marketing challenge within the global jewelry industry. The DPC's proactive stance aims to ensure that lab-grown diamonds are recognized and marketed under accurate and fair terminology, reflecting their genuine diamond characteristics while preventing consumer confusion or prejudice.