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Title 16

Displaying title 16, up to date as of 7/15/2026. Title 16 was last amended 7/08/2026.
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  1. Title 16 —Commercial Practices
  2. Chapter I —Federal Trade Commission
  3. Subchapter B —Guides and Trade Practice Rules
  4. Part 23   View Full Text
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Title 16Commercial PracticesPart / Section
Chapter IFederal Trade Commission0 – 999
Subchapter BGuides and Trade Practice Rules17 – 260
Part 23Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries23.0 – 23.28
§ 23.0Scope and application.
§ 23.1Deception (general).
§ 23.2Misuse of the terms “handmade,” “hand-polished,” etc.
§ 23.3Misrepresentation as to gold content.
§ 23.4Misuse of the word “vermeil.”
§ 23.5Misrepresentation as to silver content.
§ 23.6Misuse of the words “platinum,” “iridium,” “palladium,” “ruthenium,” “rhodium,” and “osmium.”
§ 23.7Disclosure of surface-layer application of rhodium.
§ 23.8Misrepresentation as to products containing more than one precious metal.
§ 23.9Misrepresentation as to content of pewter.
§ 23.10Additional guidance for the use of quality marks.
§ 23.11Misuse of “corrosion proof,” “noncorrosive,” “corrosion resistant,” “rust proof,” “rust resistant,” etc.
§ 23.12Definition and misuse of the word “diamond.”
§ 23.13Misuse of the words “flawless,” “perfect,” etc.
§ 23.14Disclosure of treatments to diamonds.
§ 23.15Misuse of the term “blue white.”
§ 23.16Misuse of the term “properly cut,” etc.
§ 23.17Misuse of the words “brilliant” and “full cut.”
§ 23.18Misrepresentation of weight and “total weight.”
§ 23.19Definitions of various pearls.
§ 23.20Misuse of the word “pearl.”
§ 23.21Misuse of terms such as “cultured pearl,” “seed pearl,” “Oriental pearl,” “natura,” “kultured,” “real,” “synthetic,” and regional designations.
§ 23.22Misrepresentation as to cultured pearls.
§ 23.23Disclosure of treatments to pearls and cultured pearls.
§ 23.24Disclosure of treatments to gemstones.
§ 23.25Misuse of the words “ruby,” “sapphire,” “emerald,” “topaz,” “stone,” “birthstone,” “gem,” “gemstone,” etc.
§ 23.26Misrepresentation as to varietal name.
§ 23.27Misuse of the words “real,” “genuine,” “natural,” “precious,” etc.
§ 23.28Misuse of the words “flawless,” “perfect,” etc.
Appendix to Part 23
Exemptions Recognized in the Assay for Quality of Gold Alloy, Gold Filled, Gold Overlay, Rolled Gold Plate, Silver, and Platinum Industry Products
eCFR Content