AGTA Bans Synthetic Gemstones at Trade Shows Starting 2025

Publish date: April 12, 2024 • Last reviewed: October 15, 2025

The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has adopted a rule that bars exhibitors from displaying loose synthetic, man-made, or lab-grown gemstones and jewelry containing them at AGTA trade shows beginning with GemFair Tucson 2025. The move is intended to eliminate confusion on AGTA show floors so buyers can assume all gems offered are mined and natural. Sources: National Jeweler, JCK, Rapaport.

What exactly is banned and what remains allowed

• Not allowed at AGTA shows: Display of loose non-natural gemstones or jewelry containing them, including lab-grown diamonds and lab-created colored stones. Source, Source.
• Still permitted elsewhere: AGTA members can still sell lab-grown gems outside AGTA fairs "as long as they are disclosed."

Why AGTA says it acted

AGTA frames the change as a transparency measure. The board notes that “natural” is central to the mineral definition in geology, so synthetics however similar in chemistry and optics are not minerals because they are not naturally occurring. As AGTA board member John Bradshaw put it, "the keyword in both that is important is use of the word 'natural.'". Trade media report the goal is to avoid buyer confusion seen in the diamond market as lab-grown volumes expanded. National Jeweler, Rapaport.

Industry reaction

• Practical impact: AGTA CEO John Ford said that "out of about 260 exhibitors, only two of them list any kind of synthetic product," so near-term disruption is expected to be limited while the signal to the market is strong. National Jeweler.

Context from broader reporting

Separating synthetics from natural gems takes lab testing. For diamonds, GIA says conclusive identification of a laboratory-grown origin typically requires a combination of gemological features, and most in-store devices are screeners that can't tell you if a stone is definitely lab-grown.

Separately, GIA changed how it describes lab-grown diamonds: since October 1, 2025 it classes D-to-Z lab-grown diamonds as Premium or Standard rather than using its natural-diamond color and clarity grades, a move that underscores the market's structural divergence.

What this means for retailers and dealers

1. Certification and disclosure: Maintain rigorous documentation and unambiguous labeling for origin. This protects trust and compliance; in the U.S., FTC staff have told sellers to keep disclosures close to the terms they explain.
2. Show strategy: If you sell lab-grown, segment your catalog for non-AGTA venues and digital channels where disclosure policies can be implemented clearly. (Future Jewelry sells its lab-grown diamond engagement rings online, clearly disclosed as lab-grown.)
3. Positioning: Use AGTA’s stance to emphasize rarity and natural provenance for mined gems, while keeping separate, well-explained offers for synthetic products if you carry them.
4. Testing readiness: Have a plan for screening and lab-referral workflows, since screeners alone cannot confirm origin.

Key quotes

“AGTA felt that it needed to be crystal clear to buyers that when they attend an AGTA show, they know that they are only shopping mined natural gems from the earth.” Kimberly Collins, AGTA board president, JCK