BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16.
A new state standard has been adopted in Azerbaijan regarding the
terminology and classification of natural, cultured, and composite
cultured pearls, as well as pearl imitations. The state standard,
AZS 1022:2026, will facilitate the accurate naming of products,
inform consumers about their characteristics, and enhance
transparency in the pearl trade.
The new standard is significant in terms of establishing a
unified terminology and classification approach for pearls.
Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan Jewelers Association Public
Union’s Management Board, Chairman of the Technical Committee on
Precious Metals and Precious Stones, economist Rovshan Amirjanov
told Trend in an
interview about the ways to prevent deceptive presentations in the
country’s pearl market.
According to him, the Azerbaijan Standardization Institute
(AZSTAND), which operates under the State Agency for Antimonopoly
and Consumer Market Control under the President of Azerbaijan, has
adopted the state standard AZS 1022:2026, titled “Natural,
Cultured, Composite Cultured Pearls and Pearl Imitations –
Terminology and Classification (Nomenclature),” and entered it into
the State Register of Normative Documents on Standardization.
“Pearls and their imitations are widely used in the creation of
jewelry. Therefore, it is essential to have a unified regulatory
approach regarding the naming of these products, the identification
of their types, and the presentation of their characteristics. The
new standard facilitates the establishment of general rules in this
regard,” Amirjanov said.
He noted that the standard defines the terminology and
classification for natural, cultured, and composite cultured
pearls, as well as pearl imitations. The document also aims to
ensure that information regarding processing methods and care
requirements for these products is presented more clearly and
accurately.
“The implementation of this standard will contribute to
increasing transparency in the buying and selling process and
protecting consumer rights. Accurately describing the type of
pearl, its characteristics, and the processing method used is
essential for enabling the buyer to make an informed decision.
Furthermore, the use of standardized terminology can help prevent
the presentation of false or misleading information regarding the
product’s characteristics,” he emphasized.
According to Amirjanov, international practices were taken into
account during the development of the new standard. The document
has been aligned with the 2026 edition of the “Pearl Book”
published by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and has been
submitted to that international organization.
“Following its submission to CIBJO, the draft received a
positive review, and approval was granted for the document to be
registered as a national standard in Azerbaijan. This approach is
significant in terms of aligning local standardization practices
with international principles,” the economist pointed out.
The draft state standard AZS 1022:2026, titled “Natural,
cultured, composite cultured pearls and pearl imitations –
terminology and classification (nomenclature)”, which is based on
the 2026 edition of the “Pearl Book” published by CIBJO, was
developed with the participation of representatives from the
following entities: the Consumer Goods Expertise Center under the
State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control (which
operates under the President of Azerbaijan); the Technical
Committee for Standardization of “Precious Metals and Precious
Stones” (AZSTAND/TK 36), based at the aforementioned Center,
AZSTAND, also under the State Agency, AzerGold CJSC, Azersouvenir
LLC (under the Administration of the President of Azerbaijan), the
Azerbaijan Jewelers Association, and other relevant state bodies
and organizations.
