Controversy has arisen over the retailer’s use of the term “cultivated”
Barneys New York is introducing a collection of lab-grown diamonds, with a limited collection produced by three designers.
Diamond Foundry, a San Francisco–based diamond grower, will supply the lab-grown stones. The three designers are CVC Stones, Eva Fehren, and Nak Armstrong, whose ring is pictured.
The collection will be available starting Oct. 25 exclusively at select Barneys New York locations as well as Barneys.com. The collection consists of 19 SKUs, including pendant necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and home objects, with prices ranging from $675 to $18,800.
The Barneys release calls the stones cultivated—which is not, at press time, one of the terms the Federal Trade Commission has okayed for lab-grown diamonds.
Diamond Foundrsy said in response, “Our diamonds being man-made is the whole point of our marketing, which we are very clear about. This is consistent with FTC principles of making sure that consumers get what they think they get.”
However, when asked her view if the term was sufficient under the FTC Guides, Jewelers Vigilance Committee president and CEO Cecilia Gardner replied, “Nope.”
(Photo courtesy of Barneys New York)
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