The challenge posed to the international jewelry markets by gem-quality synthetic diamonds came under the spotlight at a seminar at the VicenzaOro Fall show.

The event was hosted by show organizers Fiera di Vicenza, together with CIBJO, the World Jewelry Confederation, the Gemmological Education and Certification Institute (GECI) based in Milan, and Federpreziosi Confcommercio.

The seminar was part of the trade show organizer's program to enhance knowledge, provide information updates and help formulate responses to challenges in the international markets faced by the jewelry industry, the show said in a statement.

"The growing number of man-made diamonds in the marketplace could affect the reputation and perceived value of diamond jewelry which traditionally make up close to half of all merchandise sold in terms of value."

Speakers at the event included Dr Andrey Katrusha, an expert in the field of lab-grown diamonds from St. Petersburg, Russia, who updated the meeting on production technologies; Dr Philip Martineau, Head of Physics at De Beers Research Centre in Maidenhead, UK, who looked at methods of detection; and Alberto Osimo, President of GECI, who addressed the role of gem labs in the process.

The event was moderated by Albert Robinson, Editor-In-Chief of IDEX Online. Introductory and closing remarks were made by the President of Fiera di Vicenza, Matteo Marzotto, and Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, CIBJO President.

Cavalieri said: “Consumer confidence forms the foundation of the jewelry business, and in this respect we need to be transparent and ethical. Synthetic diamonds are legitimate products but, in order to make a reasoned purchasing decision, the consumer needs to understand what they are and how they are different to diamonds that were created in nature. Detection, disclosure and consumer education are all essential, and is this is what we will be discussing.”

Marzotto said: “Fiera di Vicenza has always been a key international player in the gold, jewelry and gem industry, where a great deal of focus is placed on the subjects of ethical propriety and corporate social responsibility. It was our commitment to support these principles for which we were afforded global recognition in March 2013, through CIBJO, by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as the only international trade fair organisation working to promote CSR education in the gold and jewelry sectors.”

“We are delighted to be organising this seminar, together with CIBJO and GECI, and in cooperation with Federpreziosi Confcommercio, on a subject that is likely to impact upon on the industry. There is a real reputational risk posed by the uncontrolled spread of synthetic diamonds – which have characteristics that are very similar to natural diamonds but are essentially a different product. If synthetics are sold to the end consumer without the appropriate support information, the reputation of the entire business may be jeopardised. It is imperative that clear rules of conduct are formulated, and it is for this reason that we are committed to creating these opportunities for dialogue with the participation of world-class experts.”

Osimo commented: “The world of gems is evolving, creating continually new challenges for the jewelry industry. Novel treatments for gemstones and significant achievements in the creation of synthetic diamonds force us to improve our knowledge on an ongoing basis. We need to do this calmly and rationally, knowing that with professional skill and continued training we will be able to provide the right solutions for our end consumers.”

Steven Tranquilli, Director of Federpreziosi Confcommercio: “Anticipating the impact of synthetic diamonds on commercial distribution is a priority. Professionals in the trade talk about this on a daily basis, and an in-depth look at the subject is definitely both an opportunity and a necessity. Differentiating between gem-quality synthetic and natural gems do not need to be a problem, but rather a straight-forward process, based on gemmological knowledge, and an understanding of the commercial dissimilarities. If these exist, we can operate safely in the market with full awareness of the facts.”