[Jewelry making - Article 00046] - Re: [Orchid] Synthetic & Simulant Gem Nomenclature

[richard hart]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

>>    But I *do* take your point, which is that neither the supplier nor
>>    the customer cared much (or at all) about the distinction. Um. My
>>    customers, and me, frankly WOULD care.

>     And so would I, Peter! But I was responding to the scenario that
>     Richard had described where the distinction between synthetic and
>     simulant appeared to be irrelevant to the parties involved.

Beth and All

    Not to beat a dead horse, but I wonder what experience has to do with
    perspective. I am a Graduate Gemmologist, I give my customer all the
    options, and I have had my current retail business for 13 years,
    grossing in the six figures a year. I am not bragging, I am saying
    that more volume of sales equals more knowledge, so I know I have
    knowledge of customers, your and mine, same pool. I have samples of
    natural, simulants, synthetics, ect of all different kinds of
    stones. Most people who work in custom gold design, either do not
    work with synthetics, or only limitedly, like synthetic emerald.
    ruby, alexandrite. My store is extremely unique in that in addition
    to custom design, engagement diamonds, platinum, ect we have 5000
    pieces of high end sterling with natural opals, synthetic opals,
    C.Z., man made quartz in colors natural stones do not come in, mystic
    topaz, ect. The reason I spend the time I do answering these posts,
    is that the public is far more willing to accept material that is
    beautiful with little or no hesitation. If I had an attitude, was
    condescending, prejudiced, ect I would influence my customer,
    however subtly. By being aware and open to my customers response, I
    have awareness of their reaction to these materials, and how they
    perceive them. Daniel Spiers's responses basically coincide with my
    position as to the Gemmological nomenclature being used. Few of the
    posters are Gemmologists, and it is frustration correcting the
    ignorance the public has at my store, and it is exacerbated on this
    forum. Short of telling someone that they don't know what the hell
    they are talking about, which would be the truth, I feel it might not
    be proper forum ettiquitte, I try to keep on trying to educate. I do
    not know exactly what you make, but I represent some Colorado jewelry
    artists in my store, and some incorporate natural stones and dichroic
    glass in the same piece and, you know, no customer ever raises an
    issue paying hundreds of dollars for a sterling piece with real
    stones, and pieces of glass. So in reality, don't you think if you
    used a syn color change corundum in a piece and charged a hundred
    dollars (or more ) less for a piece than one that had a syn alex, you
    would sell the syn corundum faster, and the appreciation would be the
    same on the customers part. I know the answer, I live it evey day. I
    do not believe I am in some rarified atmosphere where I am that the
    geography makes a difference. However, if I had a high end store, and
    did that dog and pony show, I would have a different client base, and
    I could not mix the way I do. We have a huge number of return
    customers because of what we do, and how we do it. We probably sell
    to 80% of the people who come in the stone. It may be a $12,000
    diamond ring, it may be $12 cz earrings. We are that eclectic, and
    it works for us.

Good Night Chet, Good Night David,



____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________