FTC Revises Jewelry Guides

Download PDF Jewelers Vigilance Committee

Guidelines for Precious Metals:

• A. Clarifications for silver or platinum plated products, requiring disclosure of the surface layer.
• B. Adjustments to standards for describing gold-plated products.
• C. Removal of minimum fineness thresholds for gold and silver, allowing disclosure of fineness instead.
• D. Guidance on listing predominant metals for products with more than one precious metal.

II. Guidelines for Diamonds:

• A. Expanded options for describing man-made diamonds, allowing terms beyond those previously specified.
• B. Caution against using the term “cultured” without additional descriptive language.
• C. Continued restriction on terms like “real” or “natural” for lab-grown diamonds.
• D. Change in the definition of “diamond,” removing the term “natural.”

III. Guidelines for Pearls:

• A. Introduction of disclosure requirements for treatments to pearls affecting value or requiring special care.

IV. Guidelines for Gemstones:

• A. Restrictions on using unqualified gemstone names for composite products.
• B. Prohibition of incorrect varietal names for gemstones.
• C. Expanded options for describing man-made gemstones.
• D. Continued disallowance of terms like “real” or “genuine” for lab-grown gemstones.
• E. Removal of the definition of “gem.”

V. Miscellaneous Changes:

• A. Retention of guidelines for using the term “handmade” and addition of new raw materials.
• B. Inclusion of “bracelet and necklace snap tongues” in the exempted items for gold alloy products.

For further details, the full revised guides can be found on the FTC’s website. The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) offers support and guidance for businesses implementing these changes.