In Russia, synthetic diamonds will no longer be called diamonds.

      Starting from September 1, it will be prohibited to use the name "diamond" for synthetic diamonds: such stones must be designated as "cut synthetic diamonds," and their weight will be indicated not in carats, but in grams. The changes are aimed at allowing buyers to clearly distinguish artificially grown stones from natural ones. As Andrey Yeryomin, head of the commodity markets division at Alfa-Capital, explained on RBC Radio, laboratory diamonds have already captured part of the market, primarily in the segment of inexpensive jewelry. According to him, the main competition with natural stones occurs in the category up to half a carat, while in the investment segment, the advantage still remains with natural diamonds. At the same time, experts say that young buyers are increasingly choosing synthetic stones for engagement rings due to their more affordable prices. Jewelry designer Natalia Arkhangelskaya noted that laboratory diamonds allow for the purchase of a larger stone with better cut quality, while the saved funds can be directed towards the purchase of natural colored gemstones. It is practically impossible to distinguish a synthetic diamond from a natural one without special expertise — this can only be done in laboratory conditions. At the same time, market participants believe that artificial colored stones are not in high demand in the Russian jewelry market. According to Ilya Klyuev, owner of the Klyuev jewelry house, buyers still prefer natural gemstones, especially in expensive jewelry.