Antwerp, Belgium–Stéphane Fischler has been named chairman of the International Diamond Council (IDC), the consultative body that regulates diamond-grading standards.

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) created the IDC in 1975. Fischler succeeds Edward Asscher, who has served as chairman since 1990.

The decision to appoint Fischler was endorsed by WFDB and IDMA leadership at the President`s Meeting of both organizations held in June.

Fischler has a long record of service in the diamond industry. He is currently secretary general and treasurer of the IDMA, vice president of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre and president of the European Council of Diamond Manufacturers.

He said achieving general harmonization of diamond-grading standards is among his main goals as IDC chairman. He said he`d work in close cooperation with CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, to achieve this goal.

"CIBJO`s established diamond nomenclature is very similar to that of IDC, and I am sure that in a relatively brief time we can come to complete understanding," he said in a statement. "We share CIBJO`s vision, which is a single international standard for polished-diamond grading. We appreciate that this cannot be achieved overnight, but that is what we are working toward."

Working with other industry groups could serve other goals as well, Fischler said. This includes minimum ISO certification for gemological labs.

"All of the labs that subscribe to IDC rules already are ISO certified, as are a number of the CIBJO affiliated labs, and we`d like to see more labs that operate internationally going in the same direction," he said. "The fact that labs operate according to strict and accepted international standards enhance the consumer`s confidence in their ability of gem labs to render reliable and consistent grading services."

In the short-term, Fischler said a major concern for the IDC is to resolve the issue of synthetic-diamond nomenclature.

"We hope that the synthetic-diamond producers 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," Fischler said.

Outgoing IDC Chairman Asscher said the debate around what to call synthetic diamonds has made the IDC more relevant than ever. He said he`s glad the IDC, with the support of the WFDB and the IDMA, has taken a strong stance, making sure the stones aren`t just called "diamonds," but are always preceded by descriptive adjectives.

He said, however, that the IDC`s earlier acceptance of the SI-3 clarity diamond grade should be reconsidered.

"I personally believe that the IDC`s acceptance of the SI-3 clarity grade was `still born,`" Asscher said. "But IDC must discuss this issue with its members, and of course with other international bodies such as CIBJO. I am sure IDC will resolve this issue satisfactorily."