We live in the world of definitions. Whatever of the things or phenomena is discussed, you should use the words, terms, or ideas that can help in making difference between them. There is no surprise that the birth of a new product implies generating a new definition that should speak aloud about the product’s features. For Lab-grown diamonds, the issue of definition became the question of recognition, commercial reputation, and decent place on the jewelry market. The process of defining them was long and thorny but it had brought redesigning overall terminology by which the industry was operating during centuries.
Those who at least once were interested in the lab-grown diamonds and took a fleeting look at a piece of information about them should pay attention to their origin. Being born in laboratories, man-made diamonds are in nature a new generation of natural gemstones that does not require mining. The similarity of the production processes, physical constitution, chemical structure, and optical properties preconditioned the discussion about the identity between natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Apparently, jewelry giants that used to mine diamonds and trade them as exclusive products did not like the tendency and perceived lab-grown diamonds as a meaningful threat. The banns for using the attribute “ethical” were initiated to diminish the environmental value of man-made options. One of the solutions was the idea of using the word “diamond” only with obligatory attributions like “cultured”, “man-made”, “synthetic” in concern to lab-grown products. It was needed as if for making difference and avoiding the deception of the buyers.
However, the fact of lab-grown existence and each winning step in proving true nature, has significantly shaped the meaning of the “diamond” definition. In 2018 the description of the term “diamond” was modified by replacing the phrase “natural mineral” with the word “mineral”. It happens because the attribute “natural” does not reflect the changed reality anymore; today we know that diamond is not obligatory produced by nature but it can be made by people using technology.
When speaking briefly, the average consumer has all the chances to be misguided by a variety of terms. Considering this and striving to protect the interests of all the industry players, The World Jewellery Confederation, launched the special website.
The resource is intended to provide a terms guide and reflect all the changes in terminology and identification. Madestones celebrates this new since the company’s leaders are convinced that clarification of definitive apparatus was long needed to make the professional dialogue clearer.
