When did it become acceptable to be deceitful in the Gem Trade ?
We in the gem trade have always had to be held to a high standard.
We need to make sure that we have as much integrity possible and hold
all in the industry to integrity. If not it will distroy the industry
with distrust.
There is no room for deceit nor misrepresentation.
When did it become acceptable to lie, cheat and steal?
Someone in the biz boasted, yesterday, that he bought a necklace off
a lady for the silver, without informing her that the necklace
contained a very nice 30mm star ruby. He boasted! I shook my head.
We in the gem trade have always had to be held to a high standard.
very nice you feel that way. too bad all in the Gem Stone/ Jewelry
Industry’s don’t feel that way. I’m calling into question GIA
Certifications…
When did it become acceptable to be deceitful in the Gem Trade ?
Probably somewhere in Ancient Rome (if not earlier). I’ve a
translated copy of a 10th century Arabic gemology book that talks
about identifying fakes and misnamed stones.
Ron Charlotte
Gainesville, FL
Someone in the biz boasted, yesterday, that he bought a necklace off a lady for the silver, without informing her that the necklace contained a very nice 30mm star ruby. He boasted! I shook my head
In today’s market if I see a silver necklace such as the one
described witha 30mm star ruby I would assume the stone was lead
glass filled and worth very little. Does he know howto separate an
lgf ruby from one that is not? Jerry in Kodiak
so glad this can of worms was opened ! I’m associated with the
Baltimore Gem Cutters Guild & have a bombshell to drop after a few
more comments…
has to do with the “Queen of American Gemstones” & her legacy…
I’ve been in the trade since dinosaurs walked the earth. One of the
reasons I went into the trade was because of the trust and honesty
it requires. I can get hundreds of thousands of dollars of stones
based on my reputation and a handshake.
It’s been my experience that dishonest folks loose their credibility
pretty quickly thanks to the propensity of Jewelers to gossip. Yeah
that’s what we do while sitting at a bench for endless hours:-) Word
gets out and the dishonest folks find themselves unable to get
stones on memo. If someone stiffs a metals supplier, suddenly no one
wants to sell to you. If they cheat a customer and then are dumb
enough to brag about it they will eventually run out of customers.
This makes it really tough to run a business.
Word spreads fast and far. I’ve known disreputable folks who have had
to leave the state just to find that their reputation followed them
across the country, and this was before the Internet.
Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com
I am GIA, have taught at a lapidary schools and have a jewelry
business. I feel I was raised with intregorty but am very careful
when selling a stone to know as much as possible and disclose
everything. I sell more and have a solid customer base. I need repeat
customers and customer referrals in today’s world. Those that are
dishonest will get caught. Too much internet, networking, etc. one
bad sale can be your last.
I understand some don’t have high standards but they seem to be more
on the lower end and usually don’t have growing businesses. It is
what is wrong In our country; a lack of integrity and responsibility
for the easy buck. Am I wrong or naive?
:), Melissa
We in the gem trade have always had to be held to a high standard.
very nice you feel that way. too bad all in the Gem Stone/ Jewelry Industry's don't feel that way. I'm calling into question GIA Certifications...
And prior to GIA, there was no standardization and no system of
evaluation to compare qualities of color or clarity.
Deceitfulness cannot exist where knowledge is presented.
So I pose this question, in speaking of GIA and “certification”, do
we think there is more fraud in diamonds or colored gems?
And please, when speaking of deceitfulness of GIA certs, please share
your experience, not just a criticism. Help others to understand how
to protect themselves from something you experienced.
I graduated In Residence, 1977, and I have had far more success from
using certs than any problems from using them in the 24 years of
having my retail store.
Hi there,
For many, many years.
Phil
Hi Melissa, know anything about the background of the GIA. Know who
Mrs. June Culp Zeitner was. Lapidary Journal. e you have the
integrity jewelers/lapidaries/gemologist/geologist are suppose to
have…
I am also GIA and have never had a problem selling stones with GIA
certs.
Also, our training insists on full disclosure which has always been
my practice. When I receive a stone from my supplier, I feel it is
my responsibilityto reexamine what I received before I sell the
stone.
Lesley Rahner
Bejewelled
Yes, I am. I tend to vet my vendors well and have established
relationships with them. I have a small but lucrative business
because I believe in educating the buyer as well. Charts, loops, and
honesty. If asked if the amethyst is enhanced, I will explain the
process, why it is done and the cost difference in natural saturated
color verses enhanced (radiation, etc). I show them both and give
them a choice. When they go to other stores, they can decide if
someone else is lying to them Ina perfect color stone at below market
price. If they didn’t purchase in the beginning, a fair amount come
back and keep coming back because we built a relationship on
education and trust.
If a vendor is dishonest in selling raw material, quit buying from
them.
Hold them accountable. Start an Angie’s type list for raw material.
Most I know in the trade share some vendor info. Join groups that
have contacts.
Most lapidary clubs are good for that as well. Maybe not on a big
scale but many have great connections to the mines. I believe a
person has to take action and stand for something. The money will
come. Great product and fair pricing.
When did it become acceptable to be deceitful in the Gem Trade ?
It has not become acceptable to be deceitful in the gem trade and it
never will be. Not at any level.
If you have had an experience concerning jewelry or jewelry
components not being what they are supposed to be, I would recommend
that you consult with the Jewelers Vigilance Commitee (JVC) at www.
jvclegal.org This is an industry watchdog group organized by people
in the trade to self-police the industry. They are the people to talk
to if you believe somone in the trade has been less than truthful or
otherwise ripped you or someone you know off.
You do not have to be in the jewelry business to file a complaint,
nor does your complaint have to be about a large purchase. They have
been known to intervene when a customer was not informed about
rhodium plating on a white gold ring.
Chris, the industry as a whole takes this this kind of thing very
seriously, which is why the JVC was formed nearly a century ago. Our
livelihoods are based on trust, both with our suppliers and our
customers. I would like to know a little more about what motivated
you to ask your question. Can you please expand on your post?
Thanks!
Dave Phelps
I agree Dave. Good to know about the JVC. We have to keep the
industry as honest as possible.
Hold them accountable. Start an Angie’s type list for raw material.
Most I know in the trade share some vendor info. Join groups that
have contacts. Do you have some suggestions?
Esta Jo
shiftingmetal.com
Most I know in the trade share some vendor info. Join groups that have contacts. Do you have some suggestions?
Start with your local gem and mineral club and lapidary clubs. They
have regional schools like the southwest geological society schools.
You can obtain the on the websites or at the club
meetings. Talk to any higher education or adult education lapidary,
metallurgy or jewelry instructors. They all have to have great
sources.
:), Melissa
When did it become acceptable to be deceitful in the Gem Trade ?
Since mankind sold the first rock