It shouldn’t be so complicated to call a diamond a diamond. And yet, for years, the Indian jewellery and gemstone industry has operated in a grey area of language when it comes to natural diamonds and their man-made alternatives. In the absence of a unified terminology standard, consumers were left to decipher a fragmented landscape, where transparency was inconsistent and clarity about what truly constituted a diamond was far from guaranteed.
That ambiguity may finally be coming to an end. In a significant move aimed at restoring clarity and consumer confidence, India has introduced a new national standard that draws a clear line between natural diamonds and their laboratory-created counterparts.
Formally, this takes the shape of IS 19469:2025, introduced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Based on (and modified from) the international benchmark ISO 18323:2015 – Jewellery: Consumer Confidence in the Diamond Industry, the standard establishes uniform terminology and disclosure requirements for diamonds and their alternatives across the Indian gem and jewellery sector.1 In doing so, it addresses the long-standing use of inconsistent and often vague language, particularly across digital platforms and e-commerce channels.
As per the new mandate:2
- The word ‘diamond’, when used without qualifiers, will apply exclusively to natural diamonds. Sellers may use descriptors such as ‘natural’, ‘real’, ‘genuine’ or ‘precious’.
- Man-made alternatives must be always disclosed using only the full terms ‘laboratory-grown diamond’ or ‘laboratory-created diamond’. Abbreviations such as ‘LGD’, ‘lab-grown’, or ‘lab-diamond’ are no longer permitted in formal, consumer-facing disclosures.
- Terms such as ‘nature’s’, ‘pure’, ‘earth-friendly’ or ‘cultured’ cannot be used to describe laboratory-grown products. Using brand names alone, without the approved ‘laboratory-grown’ qualifier, will also be considered inadequate disclosure.
Several prominent Indian jewellers and industry bodies have welcomed the move, viewing it as a meaningful step towards greater transparency and consumer trust. The Natural Diamond Council (NDC), a global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting the integrity of the natural diamond industry, has also expressed its support for the mandate.
While enforcement and adoption timelines will be phased in, the framework marks a decisive shift for the industry. It is a long-overdue step towards greater transparency and trust. After all, a diamond is both a financial and emotional investment, and consumers deserve complete clarity about what they are choosing.
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