FAQs - New Jewelry & Watches Policy for International Selling

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Dear eBay Jewellery & Watches Community,


Please go through this FAQs thread to address the top questions that we've been hearing from our sellers with regards to the Jewellery Policy. This thread is especially intended for Jewellery Sellers who are selling Internationally.


To make these FAQs easy-to-read, we have made it a one-way/read-only posting thread.


The Jewellery & Watches Policy can be reviewed at:


http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/Jewelry.html



Regards,


eBay India International Selling
& Lifestyle Team

Q: When will eBay begin enforcing the policy?


This policy has already been enforced on the eBay US site.



Q: Which stones get to use the word diamond, which can use the word diamond with a qualifier and which can’t use the word diamond at all? And which qualifiers are acceptable?



• A diamond is a “natural mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallized in the isometric system. Its hardness is 10; its specific gravity is approximately 3.52 and it has a refractive index of 2.42."



• It is unfair or deceptive to use the unqualified word 'diamond' to describe or identify any object or product not meeting the requirement specified in the definition of diamond provided above."



Please refer to the actual policy for more details.



Q: Can we use the term lab-created diamonds?


If the product in question is a true lab-created diamond with the same properties as a naturally mined diamond (as described in full in the policy), then you may call it a lab-created diamond or use one of the other 8 qualifiers permitted by the policy. There are only a handful of manufacturers of lab-created diamonds as the process is currently rather expensive. Calling out the exact manufacturer of these lab-created stones is one way sellers can convey that their stones are truly lab-created diamonds.


If the product is a CZ and you wish to use the word "diamond" it must be immediately preceded or followed by the word "imitation" or "simulated" in the item title and throughout the description wherever the word "diamond" appears.



Please refer to the policy for more details on how to comply fully.



Q: Can I describe a CZ as a diamond simulant?


CZ and Cubic Zirconia are not natural diamonds. So if you’d like to use the word diamond to describe your product on eBay, you must use the word “simulated or imitation” before or immediately after the word diamond in the item title or description as well as the word CZ or Cubic Zirconia. Examples include: CZ simulated diamonds, cubic zirconia simulated diamonds, CZ imitation diamonds, Cubic Zirconia simulated diamonds, CZ or Cubic Zirconia (alone). These qualifiers must be spelled out completely and not abbreviated in the title or the description.



Please also remember to place these items in CZ or Other categories.



These guidelines are meant to help buyers find what they are looking for more quickly and know what they are buying. We hope you support us in that effort.


The good news for CZ sellers is that CZ and cubic zirconia are top search terms. So as you redo your listings, it might serve you well to put both CZ and Cubic Zirconia in the item title to be included in as many searches for CZs as possible. We will also be promoting CZ Jewellery on our Jewellery and Watches Homepage.



Q: Can we use the term “Russian diamonds” to describe CZ or created diamonds?


It appears that some sellers are using the word "Russian" to mean synthetic or simulated. We believe this is misleading to buyers. The word "Russian" (or "Canadian" or "South African" or "Australian" for that matter) is an adjective describing the country/area of the product or stone's origin. It is not a word that indicates a particular type of diamond simulant.




If sellers would like to indicate the country of origin of their stones, they are welcome to do so. But they also, per the new eBay policy, need to properly qualify stones which are not naturally mined as specified in the policy.



Q: Are you trying to kill the CZ business?


We want you to know that most of you very honestly and openly describe your items on eBay and have built good businesses. We have many buyers who come to eBay shop for cubic zirconia, and we will continue to support this market. Just recently, we added a CZ Jewellery rotating ad to our Jewellery and Watches Homepage and we will continue to include CZ Jewellery in our merchandising efforts.


Q: What about rubies, emeralds, etc.? Does the same rule regarding the term CZ apply to them too?


Yes. If the stone or piece of glass you are listing does not have the same properties of a diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, etc., you cannot use those words to describe the item unless you use a qualifier (imitation or simulated) immediately preceding or following the word “emerald” . You must also name of the material or actual mineral clearly in the body of the description. And you must put them in the CZ or Other category.



Q: Do I need to put "created" or "lab created" before the gemstone to be in compliance?


Sellers listing man-made diamonds (which have the same mineral composition as diamonds) can use the word diamond but must immediately precede the word diamond with one of the following words: created, man-made, lab-created, manufactured, simulated, synthetic. Sellers listing man-made gemstones must do the same.


Please also remember to list these stones in “Other” not in the diamond category.



Q: What if a seller doesn’t know what the product is?


eBay is a unique marketplace that attracts all types of sellers – from individuals to manufacturers. As many of you know, eBay was started by our founder, Pierre Omidyar, who listed and sold a broken laser pen. We continue to welcome a wide spectrum of buyers and sellers to the marketplace. As such, we often do have individuals that come to the site and list products from the attics, from their grandparents’ estates, etc. and they honestly do not know the quality or origins of the items they are selling. We believe at eBay that they have the right to list and sell those items on eBay. We believe that most people are basically good. By putting a warning like that at the bottom of every listing, we would be putting individual sellers like the one we describe above at an unfair disadvantage. Deals can be found on eBay. And we don’t want to take that dynamic out of the marketplace or scare those sellers off.


Having said that, we encourage buyers to ask seller questions and to use their own common sense. But, at the end of the day, it’s that buyer’s responsibility to research the items they bid on.


Q: What if I am selling an item which is a mix of real diamonds and CZs? How should I change my listings?


Please list your item in the “Cubic Zirconia” or “Other” category and describe your item with the proper qualifiers as outlined in the policy.


Q: Does this mean terms like 'diamond cut' or 'diamond shaped' cannot be used?


We understand that there are all sorts of ways the word diamond can be used. The purpose of the policy is to limit inappropriate use of the term diamond. We will use a number of methods to manage this and over time we will continue to refine the techniques used to ensure that only violators are caught.



Since it is not in eBay’s best interest to block legitimate listings that use these terms, we will be very careful in how we go about enforcing the new policy. However, if we see that you are abusing a term in order to get included in buyer searches, then we would take action. If, for instance, you would normally describe the cut as square-shaped or princess-cut, we would strongly encourage you to do so.



Our goal is to improve the buying experience. Buyers looking for diamonds are complaining that they must sort through too many non-diamond listings. In frustration, they sometime leave the site. This is bad for them and for the sellers. We’d like to keep them on the site and need your help. We will start with this interpretation of the FTC regulations. If we work together, we should be OK. If it doesn’t clean up the buying experience enough, we will need to take additional steps to do so.



Q: Can I use the word gold to describe a color?


When describing an item that is gold or silver in color, sellers should describe those items as gold-tone or silver-tone. With or without a hyphen is fine. You must do so in both the item title and throughout the body of the description wherever the word gold or silver is used if you are not selling solid gold. Sellers may not use the word "golden" as this word is not deemed acceptable by the FTC guidelines and our internal policy team.


Q: Can I use the words “finish” or “paint” when describing my gold items?


Some sellers are using the word "finish" and the abbreviation "FN" when describing plated metals. "Platinum finish" and "white gold finish" are some examples. The same would hold true for "gold paint". It is unclear to the buyer if it is real gold paint or gold color. We do not think this accurately describes the item according to common industry practices and therefore will not regard those qualifiers and abbreviations as acceptable.


Q: I sell loose beads. How can I fit everything into the title?


Sellers of loose beads, who use a gemstone name to describe the bead's color, are required to further qualify the item by using at least one of the following in the item title: the word "bead", the name of the material ("crystal" or "glass", etc.) or the word "color".



Examples of proper item title descriptions would include:


72 6mm Swarovski 5000 red topaz beads


72 6mm Swarovski crystal 5000 red topaz


72 6mm Swarovski 5000 color: red topaz


72 6mm Swarovski 5000 red topaz color



These changes are a part of the larger effort to improve the shopping experience on the site. If we work together, we should be OK. If it doesn’t clean up the buying experience enough, we will need to take additional steps to do so.


Q: When a seller is listing a gold plated/ filled / electroplated item on eBay, do they need to spell that out in the item title OR is it OK to use gold in the item title and then fully spell out plated/filled/electroplated etc in the body description?


Anytime a seller uses the term “gold” with a qualifier in the title, the qualifier should be completely spelled out. If the item is not solid gold or silver or platinum and the seller would like to use the word gold or silver or platinum in the title, the seller may use a standard industry abbreviation for the qualifier in the item title but must spell out the qualifier (plated, filled, vermeil, overlay, electroplated, etc.) conspicuously throughout the body of the description.



Q: Where is there a list of industry standard abbreviations?


We recommend reading through the FTC guidelines and JVC guidelines for industry standard abbreviations.

Regards
Amarjit

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: "Herkimer Diamond" is a branded stone? Why do I need to qualify the word diamond? How should I list it?


In the eBay marketplace, we have both buyers that know what a Herkimer diamond is and buyers that don't know what a Herkimer diamond is. eBay needs to make sure that all buyers know what they are buying and that the buying experience for both sets up buyers is optimal.



Because Herkimer diamonds do not share the exact mineral composition of a diamond, they need to use the qualifier "simulated" or "imitation" if they want to use the word "diamond" to describe their product on eBay.



To properly list this item the seller needs to do the following: (Please not that you should read the policy in FULL and that should be your main sources of information.)




Category: Quartz or Other



Item title: Herkimer diamond simulated or Herkimer diamond imitation (if the seller wants to use the word diamond). The qualifier can be placed before or immediately following the word diamond.



Item description: Herkimer diamond simulated or Herkimer diamond imitation (before or after the word diamond) and then mention in the listing that the stone is actually quartz.
Regards
Amarjit

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: I am listing a watch with a created sapphire crystal and real diamonds. What should I call it?

In your item description, please write out in full "created sapphire crystal face" with diamonds. In your item title, it is fine not to qualify the word sapphire (imitation, simulated) as along as you write out "sapphire crystal" in full in the item title.

Example: watch with sapphire crystal and diamonds.

Q: If I am listing a ring with both simulated diamonds and simulated crystals? Do I have to say "simulated" twice in the item title?
No, you do not. In the item title, you can write "pink simulated sapphire and diamond cz ring". In the item title, however, you need to qualify both throughout the description as "pink simulated sapphire and simulated diamond cz ring". The word simulated needs to immediate precede or follow the word diamond and sapphire. And please list these items in the CZ categories.
Regards
Amarjit

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: Can I describe something as a Created Diamond Simulant?

Under the new policy, calling something a "created diamond" signals to the buyer that the stone has the same mineral properties of a diamond, but was not naturally mined. Calling something a "diamond simulant" however signals to the buyer under the new policy that the stone may be a diamond look-alike but it does not have the same mineral properties of a diamond. Therefore, we think using both qualifiers -- one for created diamonds and one for imitation diamonds -- is confusing and does not adequately represent to the buyer what you are selling. So, please choose the qualifier that is most appropriate based on eBay policy.

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: Can I use the word diamond-cut or diamond-shaped or emerald-cut or emerald-shaped?


You may use those terms if you hyphenate them exactly as above with no space on either side of the hyphen. The same would hold true for gold-tone which can be written as gold-tone and goldtone (one word) However, if you are using it to describe a stone that is not naturally mined, you need to qualify the stone properly as the policy requires. And if a seller is abusing the terms in order to get included in buyer searches when another industry acceptable term is available, we would reserve the right the end your listings. An example of an abuse is if instead of calling something square-cut or princess-cut, the seller called it diamond-cut.
Acceptable examples would include: Emerald-cut sapphire, Emerald-shaped ruby

Q: Can I place a lab-created white sapphire in the sapphire category if -- as you have defined it -- the stone's mineral composition is identical to that of the naturally mined stone?

Yes. Naturally-mined diamonds and gemstones and their lab-created counterparts which share the exact same mineral composition as the naturally mined stones may both be listed in the diamond or gemstone category. Simulated or imitation stones, like CZ, may not be listed in the categories for diamond or gemstones since their mineral composition is different.

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: Is eBay going to enforce the misuse of the word "jade"?

A: Sellers should not use the word "jade" to describe something that is not jade without properly categorizing and qualifying the item as outlined by eBay policies. Sellers who continue to do so are putting their listings at risk and may be suspended for violating eBay policies.

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: How should sellers list loose beads that are made of reconstituted stones?

If the item is not completely made of the genuine or lab-created stone that has the same mineral composition as a naturally mined stone, sellers must list the item in "Other" category. While sellers are not required to qualify the item in the item title, sellers must fully disclose that the stones are reconstituted in the item description wherever they describe the stones and they should disclose the materials included in the reconstitution

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Correction to a Question/Answer from the opening post:


Q: Do I need to put "created" or "lab created" before the gemstone to be in compliance?

(Incorrect and current answer)
Sellers listing man-made diamonds (which have the same mineral composition as diamonds) can use the word diamond but must immediately precede the word diamond with one of the following words: created, man-made, lab-created, manufactured, simulated, synthetic. Sellers listing man-made gemstones must do the same.


Please also remember to list these stones in “Other” not in the diamond category.

(Correct answer)
Q: Do I need to put "created" or "lab created" before the gemstone to be in compliance?

Sellers listing man-made diamonds (which have the same mineral composition as diamonds) can use the word diamond but must immediately precede the word diamond with one of the following words:"created," "lab-created," "man-made," "synthetic," "manufactured," "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," or "[manufacturer-name]-created." Sellers listing man-made gemstones must do the same.

Please also remember to list these stones in “Other” not in the diamond category.

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: How should I list a lab-created gemstone – such as a ruby which has the same mineral composition as a naturally mined ruby but was created by man in a laboratory?


When listing a laboratory-grown stone (e.g., emerald, ruby, sapphire) that has the same mineral composition as a naturally mined stone, the “stone name” may only be used if the word is immediately preceded or followed wherever it appears (in the item title and description) with equal conspicuousness by one of the following 8 terms, spelled out in its entirety: "created," "lab-created," "man-made," "synthetic," "manufactured," "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," or "[manufacturer-name]-created."



Q: Can I use the word “simulated” to describe a man-made gemstone or diamond that has the same mineral composition as the naturally mined stone?

No, you cannot use the word “simulated” to describe a man-made gemstone or diamond that has the same mineral composition as the naturally mined stone. Per eBay policy you must qualify such a man-made stone as outlined in the policy with one of the following 8 terms, spelled out in its entirety: "created," "lab-created," "man-made," "synthetic," "manufactured," "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," or "[manufacturer-name]-created."



Q: How should I list a red CZ or red crystal which looks like a ruby but which does not have the same mineral composition as a naturally mined ruby but is made out of CZ or crystal or some other material?

Listings for a Cubic Zirconium stone may use the stone name (e.g., emerald, ruby, sapphire) in the item title or description only if the word is immediately preceded or followed by the words "simulated" or "imitation", spelled out in full. Sellers must also include (in the item description in equal conspicuousness to any other terms) the words "Cubic Zirconia" or "CZ." These items may only be listed under the “Cubic Zirconia” or "Other" categories, not in the “Gemstone” categories.

To list any imitation stone that does not fall into one of the descriptions above, sellers may use the stone name (e.g., emerald, ruby, sapphire) in the item title or description only if the word is immediately preceded or followed with the words "simulated" or "imitation", spelled out in full. Sellers must also include in the item description in equal conspicuousness to any other wording the composition of the item. Examples include, "plastic," "glass," "quartz," “crystal” and so on. These items may only be listed in categories especially designated for them like the "Crystal" category or in "Other" categories, not in the “Gemstone” categories.


Q: Is it true that if you accurately describe an item based on industry terminology, you don’t have to worry about the eBay policy? Or do you have to follow eBay policy by the letter?

Sellers need to adhere to the eBay policy when they are listing items on eBay. While it might be industry practice to describe or qualify a particular stone in a variety of ways, eBay policy limits sellers to the words they can use as qualifiers for different types of stones, where the seller must place these qualifiers and which categories the seller can place the items

[amarjitb2005@ebay.com]

Q: Where should I list my Moissanite/Diamond ring -- in the Moissanite category or in the Diamond category? What about a ring with a Diamond center stone with side simulated sapphire accents? The ring has both stones in it.


Sellers should list the ring in the category of the primary stone. For instance, if it's a 3 stone ring and the larger center stone is Moissanite, then list the ring in the Moissanite category. If the ring is a band of Moissanite/Diamonds and has more Moissanite stones than diamonds, list the ring in the Moissanite category. In the case of the Diamond center stone with simulated accents, list the stone in the Diamond category.




Q: Is platinum and the use of the word platinum covered by the Jewelry and Precious Metals policy?

Yes. Sellers need to accurately describe their product and should not misuse the word "platinum" to describe an item. Doing so would not only be considered item misrepresentation but would violate the keyword spamming policy as well.