Created Gems

 

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Gemstones

There are three primary types of gemstone products:

  • Natural gemstones - occur in nature and can be rare and expensive.

  • Laboratory-created stones - which also are referred to as synthetic, laboratory-grown, or manufacturer-created - have the same chemical, physical, and visual properties as natural gemstones, but they aren’t as rare and often are less expensive than natural gemstones with similar characteristics.

  • Imitation stones - look like natural stones, but may be made of glass, plastic, or other less costly material.

 

Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such.

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Reference 

Consumer Information. (n.d.). Gemstones, Diamonds, & Pearls. [online] Available at: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0295-gemstones-diamonds-pearls [Accessed 16 Jan. 2019]

 

Federal Trade Commission's ā€œGuide for the Jewelry Industryā€ (excerpts), outlining use of terms ā€œCreatedā€, ā€œLab-grownā€, etc.  

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§ 23.23 Misuse of the Words ā€œruby,ā€ ā€œsapphire,ā€ ā€œemerald,ā€ ā€œtopaz,ā€ ā€œstone,ā€ ā€œbirthstone,ā€ ā€œgemstone,ā€ etc.

​    (a) It is unfair or deceptive to use the unqualified words ā€œruby,ā€ ā€œsapphire,ā€ ā€œemerald,ā€ ā€œtopaz,ā€ or

the name of any other precious or semi-precious stone to describe any product that is not in fact a

natural stone of the type described.

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   (b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word ā€œruby,ā€ ā€œsapphire,ā€ ā€œemerald,ā€ ā€œtopaz,ā€ or the name of

any other precious or semi-precious stone, or the word ā€œstone,ā€ ā€œbirthstone,ā€ ā€œgemstone,’’ or

similar term to describe a laboratory-grown, laboratory-created, [manufacturer name]-created,

synthetic, imitation, or simulated stone, unless such word or name is immediately preceded with

equal conspicuousness by the word ā€œlaboratory-grown,ā€ ā€œlaboratory-created,ā€ ā€œ[manufacturer

name]-created,ā€ ā€œsynthetic,ā€ or by the word ā€œimitationā€ or ā€œsimulated,ā€ so as to disclose clearly

the nature of the product and the fact it is not a natural gemstone.

Note to paragraph (b): The use of the word ā€œfauxā€ to describe a laboratory-created or

imitation stone is not an adequate disclosure that the stone is not natural.

   (c) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word ā€œlaboratory-grown,ā€ ā€œlaboratory-created,ā€ ā€œ[manufacturer

name]-created,ā€ or ā€œsyntheticā€ with the name of any natural stone to describe any industry product

unless such industry product has essentially the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as the stone named.

 

    § 23.25 Misuse of the Word ā€œgemā€

    (a) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word ā€œgemā€ to describe, identify, or refer to a ruby, sapphire,

emerald, topaz, or other industry product that does not possess the beauty, symmetry, rarity, and

value necessary for qualification as a gem.

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   (b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word ā€œgemā€ to describe any laboratory-created industry product

unless the product meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and unless such word is

immediately accompanied, with equal conspicuousness, by the word ā€œlaboratory-grown,ā€ ā€œlaboratory-

created,ā€ or ā€œ[manufacturer-name]-created,ā€ ā€œsynthetic,ā€ or by some other word or phrase of

like meaning, so as to clearly disclose that it is not a natural gem.

Note to § 23.25: In general, use of the word ā€œgemā€ with respect to laboratory-created

stones should be avoided since few laboratory-created stones possess the necessary

qualifications to properly be termed ā€œgems.ā€ Imitation diamonds and other imitation

stones should not be described as ā€œgems.ā€ Not all diamonds or natural stones, including

those classified as precious stones, possess the necessary qualifications to be properly

termed ā€œgems.ā€

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Reference

Federal Register (2018). Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries. Washington, DC: Donald S. Clark, pp.Page 40674, Section 23.23

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