Stephane Fischler has been named chairman of the International Diamond Council, the low-key body that rules on gemological and nomenclature issues. He replaces Edward Asscher, who has been chairman since 1990.

Fischler is now secretary-general and treasurer of International Diamond Manufacturers Association and also is vice president of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre.

Fischler said he hopes to achieve general harmonization of the world’s diamond grading systems and plans to work in close cooperation with CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation. He also wants to develop a minimum ISO certification standard for gemological laboratories.

He also hoped that manufacturers of synthetic diamonds would “agree to openly describe their products as synthetic, man-made, or laboratory-grown, which clearly will differentiate them from natural diamonds. It is a compromise that we believe other industry organizations will agree to.”