16 CFR § 23.28 - Misuse of the words “flawless,” “perfect,” etc.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t16/s23.28"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "16 CFR § 23.28 - Misuse of the words “flawless,” “perfect,” etc."
title_number: 16
title_name: "Commercial Practices"
section_number: "23.28"
section_name: "Misuse of the words “flawless,” “perfect,” etc."
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"
---


# 23.28 Misuse of the words “flawless,” “perfect,” etc.

(a) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word “flawless” as a quality description of any gemstone that discloses blemishes, inclusions, or clarity faults of any sort when examined under a corrected magnifier at 10-power, with adequate illumination, by a person skilled in gemstone grading.

(b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word “perfect” or any representation of similar meaning to describe any gemstone unless the gemstone meets the definition of “flawless” and is not of inferior color or make.

(c) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word “flawless,” “perfect,” or any representation of similar meaning to describe any imitation gemstone.