16 CFR § 23.23 - Disclosure of treatments to pearls and cultured pearls.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t16/s23.23"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "16 CFR § 23.23 - Disclosure of treatments to pearls and cultured pearls."
title_number: 16
title_name: "Commercial Practices"
section_number: "23.23"
section_name: "Disclosure of treatments to pearls and cultured pearls."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "GUIDES AND TRADE PRACTICE RULES"
part_number: "23"
part_name: "GUIDES FOR THE JEWELRY, PRECIOUS METALS, AND PEWTER INDUSTRIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "15 U.S.C. 45, 46."
regulatory_source: "83 FR 40667, Aug. 16, 2018, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "23"
---


# 23.23 Disclosure of treatments to pearls and cultured pearls.

It is unfair or deceptive to fail to disclose that a pearl or cultured pearl has been treated if:

(a) The treatment is not permanent. The seller should disclose that the pearl or cultured pearl has been treated and that the treatment is or may not be permanent;

(b) The treatment creates special care requirements for the pearl or cultured pearl. The seller should disclose that the pearl or cultured pearl has been treated and has special care requirements. It is also recommended that the seller disclose the special care requirements to the purchaser; or

(c) The treatment has a significant effect on the product's value. The seller should disclose that the pearl or cultured pearl has been treated.

The disclosures outlined in this section are applicable to sellers at every level of trade, as defined in § 23.0(b) of these guides, and they may be made at the point of sale prior to sale, except that where a product can be purchased without personally viewing the product (e.g., direct mail catalogs, online services, televised shopping programs), disclosure should be made in the solicitation for, or description of, the product.