Coloured Gemstones
Coloured gemstone rules decided
Posted March 09, 2010 |
A global method of coloured gemstone treatment disclosure has been agreed to by the world’s top governing bodies.
The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), the International Coloured Stone Association (ICA) and the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) agreed to the global system of coding last month at a meeting in Tucson, Arizona, USA.
AGTA and ICA have used two different disclosure codes for decades. The decision in Tucson gives the industry its first worldwide set of guidelines.
All three organizations have agreed to implement AGTA’s disclosure codes for coloured gemstones.
The AGTA code states: “It is prudent and appropriate to disclose gemstone treatments rather than remain silent when there is a possibility that the stones have been treated.”
The code also offers specific advice to retailers: “When disclosing to retail consumers, all required disclosure must be made in plain language. Codes and/or abbreviations are not sufficient.”
AGTA defines an enhancement as “any traditional process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (colour/clarity/phenomena), durability or availability of a gemstone.”
The codes will now be listed in CIBJO's Gemstone Blue Book for each stone.
A full copy of the code can be found via the AGTA website.
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