[Jewelry making - Article 00317] - Re: [Orchid] Marketing treated gems as legitimate product

[Matthew Crawford]

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Goo,

>     how do others present or get the public to accept treated
>     gemstones as a legitimate product." 

    "treated or synthetic" 

    Treated, as in Mystic Topaz, or diffused Padparadscha Sapphire? Or
    synthetic, as in lab created Pad, or Moissanite? Or both? Either
    way, the FTC requires you to disclose treatments, and local/state/fed
    laws bar misrepresenting anything as something it's not, ie: fraud.
    This is something your customer ought to be happy to know about, that
    you are not trying to rip them off! I always disclose "common"
    treatments, like heated corundum, even though it may not be required
    by law (so that after an appraisal says "treatments:heated", the
    customer doesn't lose it), and have not lost a sale yet by being
    honest. 

    In a situation where a customer cannot afford the 8 carat yellow
    sapphire, I offer them a (natural) yellow alternative. You may also
    point out that other local stores offer treated/synthetic stones (if
    they do), and that at least you are following the law and being up
    front about it. Beyond that, offer natural stones and materials that
    are not in the cases of your competitors, and get rid of the fake
    sh*t, especially if no one wants to buy it : ) 

Matthew Crawford
www.MatthewDesigns.com
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