Discussion around removing the variations of ‘laboratory-grown’ and ‘laboratory-created’ from the organisation’s Blue Book began last year, and in July, CIBJO representatives confirmed plans to eliminate those terms in favour of ‘synthetic’.
The CIBJO Congress took place from 4-7 September in Vicenza (Italy). The board of directors approved a recommendation by its Diamond Commission and Coloured Stone Commission that the Blue Books be revised so that the word synthetic “be the sole descriptor used to accurately and scientifically define a created product with the same chemical composition, physical properties, and structure as that of its naturally occurring counterpart.”
The board made the final decision on nomenclature after guidance from Sector A and the CIBJO General Assembly at the Congress.
“The CIBJO board of directors acknowledged that laboratory-grown and laboratory-created are consumer marketing terms accepted in certain jurisdictions, and recognised that national law or regulations take precedence in the jurisdictions where they are relevant,” a statement explained.
“However, CIBJO recommends that, when communicating to an international audience, synthetic be used as the most unambiguous term of description.”
As part of proceedings, a CIBJO representative confirmed the organisation had received a letter earlier this month from a group of ‘senior industry participants’ requesting a deferral of any final decision on this nomenclature.
During the Congress, Gaetano Cavalieri was re-elected as president. He was unopposed and has held the role since 2001. The general assembly also re-elected three vice presidents: Jonathan Kendall, Kenneth Scarratt, and Pramod Agrawal.
President Cavalieri said that CIBJO’s focus in the industry debate over terminology is on precise nomenclature, principles, rules and standards - a sentiment that was reflected in his contribution to Jeweller's Great Diamond Debate III in December 2025.
“Without revealing my opinion, I would note that the subject is certainly worthy of discussion, given our experience of the past 15 years,” he wrote at the time.
“With that said, I would point out that no final decision is imminent. CIBJO does not take decisions of such magnitude lightly.”
He added: “As is clearly apparent, CIBJO takes all issues related to terminology and nomenclature very seriously.”
CIBJO's latest statement highlighted growing segregation in the broader jewellery industry, with the term ‘synthetic’ legally enforced in France and Russia, for example, while ‘lab-grown’ is used liberally in the US and Indian markets.
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