Gemesis Attacks CIBJO Following Court Ruling

Lab created diamond maker Gemesis Corp has denounced the involvement of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, following a Munich court’s recent restraining order against a German distributor of diamonds produced by Gemesis.

The court said the distributor should stop using the term “cultured diamonds” when marketing its products to the public in Germany, saying the term was misleading.

The court said the company can only refer to laboratory created diamonds as “diamonds” if the word is immediately preceded by one of the modifying adjectives, “synthetic” or “artificial”.

In reaching the decision, the judges relied on the terminology and definitions contained in the Diamond Book of CIBJO.

The judges also said a penalty of up to €250,000 would be incurred for each case of non-compliance with the restraining order, adding that a jail term will be imposed on the manager of the defendant’s company if the penalty is not paid.

“All consumers should be afforded choices and be confident in their purchases,” said David Hellier, President of the Gemesis Corp. “Gemesis has consistently demonstrated our commitment to protecting consumers and retailers through our identification initiative. Consumers and retailers world-wide are embracing their new-found access to amazing fancy-colored diamonds through the break-through technology developed by Gemesis.

“Consumers… deserve free and fair access to products based on their merits. CIBJO speaks for the trade, not for consumers.”

Gemesis said the actions of CIBJO, and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses in taking steps to “further undermine consumer confidence in the diamond market, by denying the legitimacy of properly disclosed, new entrants to the diamond market impedes consumer access to cultured diamonds”.

Gemesis said it “will continue to protect consumers and retailers through education and disclosure. The court of consumer opinion, not trade association resolutions, will decide the success of the cultured diamond category.