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Stone (precious)

  • Comment : The precious stones

They were four stony varieties gemstones to be entitled to this naming: the diamond, the emerald, the ruby, the sapphire.

Other stones were said "fine stones". But these naming are now "forbidden" in France, since the decree of January 14th, 2002. Only the naming "gemstone" should be used for all the stones

Also the naming " semiprecious stone " is forbidden and indicated, before the decree of January 14th, 2002, stones other than four precious. This term was replaced by "fine stone", even if its English translation stays " semi precious "!

But I asked myself all the same the question namely that the French language is not the property of France and that there are other French-speaking countries. It is thus a little bit conceited to want to legislate on the use of the French language.

In France, the guard of the use of the French language is the Académie Française.

Thus I asked this question on May 11th, 2013: "according to the Decree N 2002-65 of January 14th, 2002 concerning the trade of stones gemstones and pearls, it is stipulated that the terms" precious "fine", are forbidden to indicate products enumerated in this article.

In the use, the "public" knows precious stones (ruby, sapphire, emerald, diamond) and stones semi precious or fine stones for the other carvable stones.

According to this decree, it would be "forbidden" to use these terms. We should use only the word "gemstone".

Which would be in this case the position of the Academy between "use" and "law" ?

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Dr Laurent SIKIRDJI

Here is the answer on May 14th, 2013:

"The article 4 of this decree specifies that the precious terms and at the end are forbidden, but only for reconstituted stones, composite, synthetic, artificial or of imitation.

What means that if it is natural stones, these terms are not forbidden.

It is the retranscription of an European directive to protect the consumers.

Cordially

 

,

Patrick Vannier"


Thus, both by the use, and by the law and by the opinion of the Académie française, we can use the terms of "Precious stone and fine stone" but only within the framework of stones natural gemstones.

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