August 2025 | Lab Grown Magazine

August 2025 | The Lab Grown Diamond Resource Book 24 Mailed to 24,000 Jewelers Monthly - To advertise call (888) 832-1109 | August 2025 25 ByDanScott Part 2 of 3 egulation: In the diamond sec- tor, it’s all about being self- vigilant. Self-regulation is the only form of country-wide control we presently have in our industry. This is a complete oppo- site compared to legally enforced govern- ing from every other major industry on the planet. LGDs in various carat weights, colors, clar- ity and cuts continue to be sold without any spelled out “lab grown” laser inscriptions. The majority of LGDs carry an IGI grading report, which does list “lab grown” on their reports but they defer to the abbreviation “LG” on their graded LGD girdles. Cur- rently, GIA, GCAL and SGL do inscribe “lab grown” on their graded grown stones, but they aren’t legally mandated to do so. Many LGDs have been sold without any such inscription and even without a grad- ing report. De Beer’s former Lightbox (LB) brand added a "quality verification" program in partnership with the GIA but never offered a grading report with any of their fancy grown stones. LB also never used “lab grown” or an abbreviation on their diamond inscriptions – LB diamonds larger than 0.2 carats offered a LB logo la- ser engraving. If De Beers got away with it, others could follow suit. As LGDs continue to flood the market, bad actors will attempt to misrepre- sent grown stones to natural. Without proper laser inscriptions and grading reports, LGDs will be sold as natural by accident and on purpose. Photo: GIA “Everyone in our industry must be vigi- lant,” stated International Gemological In- stitute (IGI) CEO, Tehmasp Printer in 2024 after discovering a 6-carat LGD trying to pass itself off as natural (with a fake GIA inscription.) “IGI pioneered the grading of [LGDs] nearly two decades ago for the pur- pose of clear separation from natural stones. As attempted fraud increases, the need for ongoing verification is a necessary step to protect consumers from purchasing misrep- resented gems and jewelry,” Printed added.