President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) Mehul Shah urged the diamond industry to adopt "One Line Declarations" aimed at consumers, instead of focusing on specific terms like "lab grown" or "synthetic" to distinguish between different types of diamond products.
"A person who does not understand English may not fully grasp terms such as "synthetic diamonds" or "lab-grown diamonds." Terminology is meaningful only when it is understood, accepted and implemented by everyone," he argued at a closed-door meeting at the Vicenzaoro jewellery exhibition, held in connection with the CIBJO 2026 Congress.
"Our key agenda should be consumer awareness and protection. Every region or country has its own language under which various terminologies are used. Instead…let us focus on "One Line Declarations."
According to Shah, only respective governments can enforce rules and terminology in their domestic diamond industries, hence trade bodies should appeal to authorities in the interest of consumers, and prescribe declarations in local languages applicable to manmade stones.
The "One Line Declarations" for synthetic diamonds would be similar to other products and industries, such as health risk labels on cigarette packaging, and would serve a purpose of increasing consumer awareness in local languages.
As for natural diamonds, he proposed a global trademark system (named either a "Natural Diamond Mark" or similar term). It would clearly signify that any diamond bearing the mark is exclusively a natural diamond, and help eliminate doubts, misconceptions and confusion in the minds of consumers.
Theodor Lisovoy, Managing Editor, Rough&Polished
