[Jewelry making - Article 01282] - Re: [Orchid] Incorporating tanzanite

[doug]

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Hi Folks,

    I happen to live on the cruise ship circuit in southeast Alaska,
    where for whatever reason they push tanzanite on the tourists like
    it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. (I suspect the cruise
    lines have a stake in one Tanzanite company). We don't deal with it
    much, but all day people ask us about tanzanite rings. We tell them
    that it's a beautiful stone for earrings or pendants, but never,
    ever, in a ring or a bracelet. Fairly often they already have a
    tanzanite ring on their finger which we failed to notice until they
    turn pale and look down at their hand in disbelief. It's ironic
    because we are street vendors of handmade silver art jewelry with
    natural stones. People assume that the stores must have more
    credibilty than us, but then we inform them that those stores are
    selling them disposable jewelry and it seems to ruffle their feathers
    a bit. Anyway, we can't lie to them just to make them feel better
    about spending tens of thousands on something that won't last. 

    I find it interesting that the same stores that push this stone as "a
    great investment" have a "no returns" policy. It is our policy not to
    say anything bad about our competitors but it's difficult when they
    seem to be so unethical. Actually this year I noticed that all the
    tanzanite is the same color, way more saturated blue than before,
    then I heard about the new cobalt diffusion treatment. I don't have
    the money to buy one of these new stones just to have it tested but I
    would bet my grandmother they're diffused. Sorry for ranting, it's
    just that this whole tanzanite issue seems to sum up the dishonest
    business practices of these stores. It's a sad day when street
    vendors are more honest and ethical than brick and mortar jewelry
    stores, but then this is the cruise ship circuit, notorious among
    those in the know. 

Keep it real,
Douglas
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