AnchorCert backs new Diamond ISO Standard

The Birmingham Assay Office's AnchorCert Gem Lab has welcomed the recent publication of a new diamond ISO Standard. The standard, entitled 'Consumer Confidence in the Diamond Industry', was published on 1st July, and AnchorCert described it as a "refreshingly simple and concise document intended to help the consumer understand the different choices available to them". It said the Standard recognises that the jewellery industry relies upon consumer confidence and the document is “specifically designed to be understood by the consumer”. It seeks to “address the potential for confusion by setting out clear and accurate guidelines on accepted nomenclature”. Based on existing industry self-regulation, the definitions are designed to avoid deeply technical terminology. These include simple definitions of colour, cut and clarity, as well as treated diamonds and synthetic diamonds, and composite stones. In a statement, AnchorCert said: "For many in the industry, there is nothing startling in the Standard; the terminology required is already used in established gemmological laboratories such as AnchorCert Gem Lab, which works to transparent international standards." From its headquarters in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, AnchorCert Gem Lab conducts reports on behalf of consumers and retailers to identify diamond treatments and synthetic and laboratory grown diamonds. AnchorCert said the nomenclature used by its Gem Lab is in line with those recommended by the new ISO Standard. Clara Goodfellow, operations director for the assay office, said: “This is a very clear standard which underpins the work of several different organisations that have been working to standardise nomenclature. It is a major step forward. Transparency and customer confidence is key, and this standard will be a great help in achieving a more consistent message across the supply chain.” The ISO Standard can be downloaded for a fee from www.iso.org for CHF 58.