{"id":9191,"date":"2026-09-03T16:50:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T16:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jm-findings.com\/?p=9191"},"modified":"2026-09-04T03:33:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T03:33:45","slug":"russias-new-rules-for-synthetic-diamonds-what-really-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jm-findings.com\/es\/russias-new-rules-for-synthetic-diamonds-what-really-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia\u2019s New Rules for Synthetic Diamonds: What Really Changes?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\r\n\t\t\t\tBlog \/<\/a><\/span> <\/span> Russia\u2019s New Rules for Synthetic Diamonds: What Really Changes?<\/span>\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Russia\u2019s New Rules for Synthetic Diamonds: What Really Changes?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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From September 1, 2026, Russia introduced new rules on how synthetic diamonds can be described and marketed to consumers.<\/p>

At first glance, the biggest headline may seem to be the terminology. But from an industry perspective, I don\u2019t think the use of the word \u201csynthetic\u201d<\/strong> is the most significant change.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cSynthetic\u201d is not new to international trade<\/h4>

From an import-export perspective, the distinction between natural and synthetic diamonds is not new.<\/p>

Under the Harmonized System (HS), natural diamonds are classified under heading 7102<\/strong>, while synthetic or reconstructed precious or semi-precious stones fall under heading 7104<\/strong>.<\/p>

So, from a trade and customs perspective, referring to these stones as \u201csynthetic\u201d<\/strong> and treating them as a separate category is nothing particularly new.<\/p>

What Russia is doing now is taking a distinction that already exists in international trade and making it much more explicit in the way these stones are presented to consumers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The bigger change: no more carats<\/h4>

For me, this is where the regulation becomes much more interesting.<\/p>

Under the new rules, synthetic diamonds sold to consumers in Russia can no longer have their weight described in carats<\/strong>. Instead, their weight may be expressed in grams<\/strong>.<\/p>

That is a much more drastic change.<\/p>

The carat is one of the most universally recognized measurements in the diamond industry. One carat equals 0.2 grams. So instead of communicating a stone as a \u201c1-carat synthetic diamond,\u201d its weight would be expressed as 0.2 grams.<\/strong><\/p>

The new rules also restrict the use of traditional color and quality characteristics when presenting synthetic stones to consumers. A similar distinction can already be seen in laboratory-grown diamond reports issued by GIA. In 2025, GIA moved away from the traditional color and clarity nomenclature used for natural diamonds and instead began classifying qualifying laboratory-grown diamonds as either \u201cPremium\u201d or \u201cStandard.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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FROM A TRADE PERSPECTIVE, \u201cSYNTHETIC\u201d ISN\u2019T NEW. WHAT\u2019S NEW IS HOW FAR RUSSIA IS TAKING THAT DISTINCTION AT THE CONSUMER LEVEL.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If I were Russia, would I do the same?<\/h4>

Probably, yes.<\/p>

Russia is one of the world’s largest producers of natural diamonds. In 2024 alone, the country produced more than 37 million carats of rough diamonds<\/strong>, according to Kimberley Process data.<\/p>

Looking at the decision purely from an industry and commercial perspective, I can understand the logic.<\/p>

If a country has such a significant position in natural diamond production, it makes sense that it would want to protect that industry and create a very clear distinction between natural and synthetic diamonds in the eyes of consumers.<\/p>

That doesn’t mean every market should necessarily adopt the same approach. But if I were in Russia’s position, I would probably want to protect my natural diamond production too.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Where does this leave the diamond industry?<\/h4>

Natural and synthetic diamonds are already two distinct commercial categories. We see it in their pricing, supply structures, customs classifications and, more recently, in the way GIA reports laboratory-grown diamonds.<\/p>

Russia is now taking that distinction further at the consumer level.<\/p>

For me, the most significant part of these new rules isn\u2019t the word \u201csynthetic.\u201d<\/strong> From a trade perspective, that distinction already existed. It\u2019s the decision to remove carat weight,<\/strong> one of the most established measurements in the diamond industry, from the way synthetic diamonds are presented to consumers.<\/p>

The official objective is consumer transparency: making the distinction between natural and synthetic stones much clearer. But considering Russia\u2019s position as one of the world\u2019s largest producers of natural diamonds, it is difficult not to look at these rules from a broader commercial perspective as well.<\/p>

What will be interesting to see is whether these rules remain primarily about consumer transparency or whether they also become part of a broader effort to reinforce the value and positioning of Russia\u2019s natural diamond industry.<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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