The Antwerp World Diamond Centre has launched a public awareness initiative aimed at highlighting the need for clearer disclosure when consumers purchase diamond jewellery.

As part of the campaign, the organisation is hosting a public event at Antwerpen‑Centraal railway station where passengers can have their jewellery scanned to determine whether it contains natural or lab-grown diamonds. The initiative seeks to demonstrate that consumers cannot easily distinguish between natural and synthetic diamonds with the naked eye.

According to Karen Rentmeesters, the price difference between the two can be significant despite their similar appearance. She noted that a natural diamond valued at around $8,900 could have a synthetic equivalent worth roughly $100, underscoring the importance of accurate disclosure when selling diamond jewellery.

Belgium introduced a royal decree in 2023 requiring jewellers to provide documentation detailing the characteristics of a diamond, including its weight and whether it is natural or lab-grown. However, the AWDC says compliance across the retail sector remains inconsistent.

Meanwhile, David Clarinval is pushing for stronger regulation that would require both online and physical retailers, as well as advertisers, to clearly label lab-grown diamonds as “synthetic.” The proposal also aims to restrict the standalone use of the term “diamond” to natural stones only.

If adopted, the measure would align Belgium with similar regulatory approaches introduced by the Federal Trade Commission in 2018, as well as policies implemented in France and India in 2024.

Clarinval said clearer rules are essential to ensure that buyers fully understand what they are purchasing and to maintain fairness within the diamond sector.