In April 2017 a symposium with the title “Synthetic Diamonds: Are Watchmaking and Jewelry in Danger?” took place in Geneva.

Speakers included the head of the Association Romande des Métiers de la Bijouterie (ASEMBI), the head of the diamond department of the Swiss Gemological Institute (SSEF), the managing director of the GGTL Laboratories in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the director of research and development of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the CEO of DPA (Diamond Producers Association), the vice-chair of the Responsible Jewellery Council, the executive secretary of the Société Suisse de Gemmologie (SSG), and the director of development and quality of the Union Française de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie, des Pierres et Perles.

The symposium’s aim was to explain the indubitable reality of the arrival of synthetic diamonds in the world of watchmaking and demonstrate how it is possible to differentiate natural from lab-grown stones.

Uncut natural diamonds

While this topic has been a controversial one in the world of jewelry for some time now, this conference is likely to have been the first to specifically address synthetic diamonds in the domain of watchmaking.

And since synthetic diamonds have exactly the same properties as natural stones, it is important for both industry and consumers to learn about this.

Can you tell that these diamonds are natural?

The number one worry concerning this subject is (and should be) the loss of consumer confidence as there are already many times more synthetic diamonds being produced, marketed, and circulated than natural diamonds.

In this video, watch as The Watches TV’s Marc-André Deschoux discovers the challenges and impact synthetic diamonds might have on the world of watchmaking.

For more interesting watch videos, visit www.watchestv.com.

This was originally post on April 18, 2017 at Controversy Or Not? Synthetic Vs. Natural Diamonds In Watchmaking (Video).