---
title: "Disclosure: meaning in gemology"
description: "Disclosure is telling the buyer, before the sale, that a gem is treated, laboratory-grown or an imitation."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/disclosure
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Treatments and origin

# Disclosure

Also called treatment disclosure

Disclosure is telling the buyer, before the sale, that a gem is treated, laboratory-grown or an imitation.

## In more detail

GIA calls treatment disclosure legally required for anyone who sells a gem. US FTC Guides require it if a treatment is not permanent, needs special care or greatly affects value. Trade groups such as AGTA, ICA and CIBJO set rules for their members. A lab report records what the lab found, but the seller must still disclose.

## Related terms

- [Treatment](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/treatment): A treatment is any process, other than cutting and polishing, that changes a gem's color or apparent clarity. Anyone who sells a treated gem must disclose the treatment.
- [Synthetic gemstone](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/synthetic-gemstone): A synthetic gemstone is made in a laboratory and has essentially the same chemistry and properties as the natural gem. A synthetic ruby is ruby, made by people.
- [Simulant](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/simulant): A simulant is a material that looks like a gem but has a different chemistry, structure and properties. Cubic zirconia, moissanite and glass are diamond simulants.
- [Origin report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/origin-report): An origin report gives a lab's opinion on the country or region where a gem was mined.

## Learn more

- [Comments, treatments and lab-grown origin on a diamond report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/grading-reports/diamond-report-comments-treatments-origin)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)