A Ruby For You My Dear!

It has recently been published an article describing more deceptive sales practices by trustworthy jewelry store salespeople.  After the fiasco at Macy's where they sold fake rubies without proper disclosure, can it be true?  This by National Jeweler:  A recent complaint* received by the Jewelers Vigilance Committee involving a "composite ruby" helps illustrate this point.

A consumer bought a 1.2-carat ruby ring, accompanied by a grading report that described the stone as a "ruby" and a "gem, " enhanced by heat treatment that "contained residues from the heating process."

The store receipt said only this: "Many gems are enhanced to improve the color and/or clarity of the stone."

A respected grading lab that analyzed the stone for the customer a month later reported it showed "indications of heating, significant clarity modifications." The report labeled the stone as a composite ruby filled with lead glass, and said the filler "may be unstable" if exposed to elevated temperatures or chemical agents and that it required special care.

The buyer tried to return the ring, not wishing to own what she learned was a composite ruby, but the jeweler declined, citing its posted two-week return policy.

It's getting so bad folks that your neighborhood Target can't be trusted when purchasing fine gems. Sterling Canyon deals only with the finest gemstones.  Can't hurt to look.