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#1
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
Hi I hope this isn't too off topic but I'm concerned about my Dad - he
seems to have become obsessed with buying the female members of the family as much Gems TV stuff as he can get hold of - he is convinced it is all top quality stuff at bargain prices. I'm no expert but having looked at their stuff, examined the wording of their descriptions - I am sure that they can't possibly be selling one thousand dollar rings for one hundred & fifty dollars. I even saw a Tanzanite piece the other month supposedly worth thirty thousand dollars being offered for four thousand. I think they sell low grade stuff at low grade prices - what do the experts on this forum think? And are there any other similar operations or shop chains in the US & Europe we should avoid buying from? regards anyone |
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#2
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
As the sun rose on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:25:05 GMT, the distinguished
and oh so talented anyone climbed up to the podium, shuffled some papers, took a sip of ice water and shouted in a loud voice: Hi I hope this isn't too off topic but I'm concerned about my Dad - he seems to have become obsessed with buying the female members of the family as much Gems TV stuff as he can get hold of - he is convinced it is all top quality stuff at bargain prices. I'm no expert but having looked at their stuff, examined the wording of their descriptions - I am sure that they can't possibly be selling one thousand dollar rings for one hundred & fifty dollars. I even saw a Tanzanite piece the other month supposedly worth thirty thousand dollars being offered for four thousand. I think they sell low grade stuff at low grade prices - what do the experts on this forum think? And are there any other similar operations or shop chains in the US & Europe we should avoid buying from? regards anyone Got a URL? |
#3
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
anyone wrote:
I think they sell low grade stuff at low grade prices - what do the experts on this forum think? I couldn't agree more. And are there any other similar operations or shop chains in the US & Europe we should avoid buying from? Yes. regards anyone This is all I will say to someone who cannot be reached via email and who uses a phony name in the newsgroup. -- Abrasha http://www.abrasha.com |
#4
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
anyone wrote:
Hi I hope this isn't too off topic but I'm concerned about my Dad - he seems to have become obsessed with buying the female members of the family as much Gems TV stuff as he can get hold of - he is convinced it is all top quality stuff at bargain prices. I'm no expert but having looked at their stuff, examined the wording of their descriptions - I am sure that they can't possibly be selling one thousand dollar rings for one hundred & fifty dollars. I even saw a Tanzanite piece the other month supposedly worth thirty thousand dollars being offered for four thousand. I think they sell low grade stuff at low grade prices - what do the experts on this forum think? And are there any other similar operations or shop chains in the US & Europe we should avoid buying from? regards anyone Hi, Believe it or not, my mother used to work for QVC. Apparently QVC is the largest single purchaser of gemstones in the world. Who woulda thunk it? Needless to say, she frequently gave me gifts of gems. Some were absolutely beyond the pale dreadful. Others were really nice and quite beautiful. I found the prices for the QVC goods at least fairly on the mark. even a little cheap sometimes, but I suspect that is a result of the volume. Can't vouch for other TV gem sites. Some of the shows I have checked out on cable are absolutely horrific, and the prices are outrageous.The quotes of the "original price" for these wonders made my hair stand on end. Heck...the quotes for the "sale price" of this stuff made my hair stand on end. Oh yeah....the metal work that they stick many of the gems in at QVC, were universally, absolute junk. Often very light weight, stamped out an folded. Ick. I would be less concerned about actual value of the gems, and worry more seriously, about dad's sudden change in behavior. Perhaps a trip to the doctor and some tests might be in order? Best, -Mink |
#5
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
"anyone" wrote in message
... Hi I hope this isn't too off topic but I'm concerned about my Dad - he seems to have become obsessed with buying the female members of the family as much Gems TV stuff as he can get hold of - he is convinced it is all top quality stuff at bargain prices. I'm no expert but having looked at their stuff, examined the wording of their descriptions - I am sure that they can't possibly be selling one thousand dollar rings for one hundred & fifty dollars. I even saw a Tanzanite piece the other month supposedly worth thirty thousand dollars being offered for four thousand. I think they sell low grade stuff at low grade prices - what do the experts on this forum think? And are there any other similar operations or shop chains in the US & Europe we should avoid buying from? regards anyone Whenever someone asks for an expert opinion here, I show up eventhough I'm not even close to that, but I just can't mind my own business:-) I guess your Dad fell for some good marketing tricks. For starters print him out (or show him) this: http://www.gemstone.org/gem-tips/ask_01_00-price.html just to get the picture of what's the value of diferent kinds of gems. Of course, you can also read the "quality section" that's linked on the same page, to get some clue of factors that determine the value of stones. Now, if he still want's to buy that stuff, I have to say that some things are better to buy from such sources than others. As you will read on the page I suggested, there are stones that don't cost a fortune like amethyst, citrine, peridot and some other, so it's perfectly fine to buy one of them for like 20$ a carat in decent quality or a hundred in some setting. However, settings are another problem when we're talking sources like tv shopping channels. They have to make the biggest possible items for as little of a price possible. So, more often than not, their settings (especially gold ones) are extremly lightweight, which is not only a concern regarding security of gemstones mounted, but also affects jewellers' possibilities regarding repair work. So in the following years you end up spending more on repairs then what's been paid for the item itself. I also find myself watching those channels sometimes, but more to see if there are some nice designes, rather than with the intention to buy stuff, and have fun laughing at their presentations like: "look at this perfectly cut stone (says he, showing a "gem" that's about 80% windowed)", "this is a completely natural neon blue diamond (if it's natural it probably came from somewhere near Chernobil)" or "this beautiful, pastel colored Morganite (whose color is so pastel you can only guess it)" and so on. So, sure, there are some nice silver settings to be bought from them, even some nice stones (that are afordable in general), but if it sounds too good to be true than it isn't, cause tv shopping channels are huge companies and they sure haven't grew so much by giving away things for 1/10th of the price. And just to illustrate how much is the real top quality "stuff" worth, here are a few links: http://www.gemstone.org/gem-o-rama/g...ma_famous.html http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/famousgems.html http://www.royal-magazin.de/ (this one's partly in German, but you'll manage). Hope you haven't fall asleep, and that I've been of some help. Good luck! Marijan |
#6
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:25:05 GMT, anyone wrote:
Hi I hope this isn't too off topic but I'm concerned about my Dad - he seems to have become obsessed with buying the female members of the family as much Gems TV stuff as he can get hold of Take him to his doctor. -- Marilee J. Layman http://mjlayman.livejournal.com/ |
#7
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
Although I rarely buy stones these days, I do catch a TV gemshow now and
then to see what's out there. The values and quality of what you see on the TV screen are par. Once in awhile, there are some real bargains with the rare collector type stones, but even then, none has yet moved me to make a purchase. I figure that I can pick up the same material at the Tucson show, if I was motivated. I have two suggestions: One, take a few select samples of the gems your dad already bought to a competent jeweler and have him or her give you an appraisal. Tell the appraiser the reason for the appraisal (this is important). Show your dad the result. Two, buy a good beginners gem book ( the larger book stores carry them) for your dad. Why? Why kill his passion for stones? Why not encourage him to learn more about the subject. It is a wonderful hobby. Have him join a gem and mineral club nearby. Turn it into a positive. The girls should get their favorite gem gift set into a ring or pendant. Make your dad feel that He is a gem of a dad. And the rest of the family, you might be the ones that need to see a shrink, ( Get the appraisal first). Will E. "anyone" wrote in message ... Hi I hope this isn't too off topic but I'm concerned about my Dad - he seems to have become obsessed with buying the female members of the family as much Gems TV stuff as he can get hold of - he is convinced it is all top quality stuff at bargain prices. I'm no expert but having looked at their stuff, examined the wording of their descriptions - I am sure that they can't possibly be selling one thousand dollar rings for one hundred & fifty dollars. I even saw a Tanzanite piece the other month supposedly worth thirty thousand dollars being offered for four thousand. I think they sell low grade stuff at low grade prices - what do the experts on this forum think? And are there any other similar operations or shop chains in the US & Europe we should avoid buying from? regards anyone |
#8
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What is the Quality of Gems TV stock (Please see inside)
anyone wrote in
: Hi, Thanks to all who replied - I am grateful for all your comments & it seems I was right about the TV gem people. I will be getting my Dad some books etc to help him make more informed decisions. I wont be telling him he's made bad purchases it would upset him & at worst he has bought mediochre jewellery at mediochre prices. Sorry if I offended people by being anonymous - most internet professionals advise anonymity or disguised email addresses in Usenet to fool the bots that frequently trawl through the newsgroups looking for viable email addresses to send spam to. I am happy to supply an email address to anyone wh wants to reply privately. I think however that this particular thread has run its course & perhaps we should consider it closed. Thanks again to all who took the trouble etc. Regards anyone |
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