Antwerp Conference To Focus On Synthetic Diamonds

The threat posed by gem-quality synthetic diamonds to consumer confidence in natural diamonds will be the focus of the 3rd Antwerp Diamond Conference later this year, the Diamond High Council (HRD) said. The conference, to take place in Antwerp on November 15 and 16, aims to provide an opportunity for the entire international diamond sector to debate a unified position on the issue of synthetic diamonds.

The conference will address all aspects of synthetic diamonds, including producing and detecting such materials, legal and ethical issues, the policies of laboratories and professional organizations and marketing natural diamonds alongside synthetics. In addition, conference participants will discuss strategies to promote consumer confidence in natural diamonds as well as industry ethics.

“Synthetics threaten the brand identity of natural diamonds and that should be of the greatest concern to our industry,” said Peter Meeus, the HRD’s Managing Director. “Our strategy should be to develop the means of identifying synthetics so they can be differentiated from natural diamonds, to strengthen consumer confidence through strict industry ethics and practices, and to educate the public about the uniqueness and wonder of natural diamonds.

“It is our intention that at the Antwerp Diamond Conference in November, a common and effective strategy to promote the natural diamond will be adopted. It should be one that will receive the support of the leadership of the world-wide diamond community.”

The first Antwerp conference, in 2002, focused on the entire diamond pipeline, while the second conference, in 2003, concentrated on the marketing and branding of diamonds.

Meanwhile, in a separate announcement, the HRD said it is to expand its international presence with the establishment of an HRD diamond-grading laboratory in New York in late 2004. Some 20 locally based employees will initially staff the facility, with two graders examining each stone. HRD managing director Peter Meeus told reporters at the JCK Las Vegas Show that the US-based HRD diamond grading facility is the first step in its international expansion. While refusing to divulge further information, Meeus stated that the HRD is looking into additional expansion plans.

Not all stones will be welcome at the HRD facility though. In line with both the GIA and AGS, the HRD will not be grading synthetic diamonds.  “I believe it is a fundamental mistake to certify synthetic diamonds,” emphasized Meeus. “Laboratories shouldn't issue a certificate to something found in a bucket and is 20 minutes old,” he stressed. He clarified that while the HRD ‘isn’t against’ synthetic diamonds, laboratories issuing grading certificates for the stones “should revise their opinions”.