The Federal Trade Commission will soon settle the debate.
Currently, synthetic diamonds must be labeled either “lab-grown” or “lab-created” in advertising, though marketers say they should be able to use the word “cultured” instead – something that sellers of natural diamonds oppose, as the Minneapolis StarTribune explains.
Cecilia Gardner, CEO of the Jeweler Vigilance Committee, summed up that opposition to the news outlet. "The phrase ‘cultured’ usually refers to pearls, not diamonds. The JVC has taken the position that the word ‘cultured’ should only be used to describe pearls and nothing else."
The article says the issue is getting more attention with the looming June 3 deadline for submitting comments to the Federal Trade Commission on proposed changes to the jewelry guides, which explain to businesses how to avoid making deceptive claims, including what types of disclosures are needed. "You want to make sure it’s a level playing field, so that when jewelry sellers are describing their items they use similar terminology," John Henne, owner of Henne Jewelers in Pittsburgh, said of the jewelry guides. "This avoids confusion for the consumer. There are ways people can talk around things and lead someone to believe something is better than it is."
Read more at the Star Tribune
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Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
