New Grading Rules Released by IDC

The International Diamond Council (IDC) has released a new version of the “IDC Rules for Grading Diamonds.” The organization said it is releasing it with the “explicit” purpose of providing updated nomenclature for polished diamonds.

The new rules will be made available for download from the IDC website in two weeks.

IDC Chairman Stephane Fischler stated that the IDC rules “are a 'work in progress' and will no doubt evolve further to reflect, in an appropriate fashion, technological and other advances in the diamond industry, as well as to consolidate the trust of the consuming public in diamonds.”

Fischler added that by making the document available for review by the industry at large, he expected IDC to play an ever more prominent role in the discussion about general standards for diamond grading and diamond nomenclature in particular.

“I believe IDC's role, as a vehicle of WFDB and IDMA, will only grow as the industry needs to offer consumers the best and widest possible range of quality assurances of the diamonds it sells to the public,” Fischler added.

The new rules were discussed and accepted during an IDC meeting held on July 2 in Antwerp, Belgium that included CIBJO representatives. The two industry bodies agreed to recognize the IDC rules as a joint platform for diamond grading standards and nomenclature.

The IDC is a joint committee established in 1975 by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) to create an international standard for rules, working methods and nomenclature.