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GMA calls out dept. stores on composite rubies

November 04, 2009
The presence of gas bubbles like those seen here is one indication that a ruby is a composite ruby, a ruby composed of both natural stone and lead-glass. Photo courtesy American Gemological Laboratories.

New York--Composite rubies found themselves in an unwelcome spotlight today on Good Morning America when an investigation by the ABC News morning show revealed some department stores selling the stones without adequate disclosure.

The piece featured American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) President Chris Smith, as well as gemologist Antoinette Matlins, author of a number of industry tomes including Jewelry and Gems: The Buying Guide.

During the segment, part of a recurring GMA series called "Gotcha! Caught on Tape," consumer correspondent Elisabeth Leamy went on an undercover jewelry-shopping spree to major department stores accompanied by Matlins.

What the five-and-a-half minute story revealed was that certain department stores are selling composite rubies--those that are a mix of natural ruby and lead-glass--without proper disclosure.

While in a Macy's during the undercover excursion, both Leamy and Matlins were told that the pieces they were buying contained real rubies, weren't treated and didn't need any special care.

Later testing by Smith at the AGL offices in New York City revealed however that three out of the four rings purchased by Leamy and Matlins were composite rubies, a fact never mentioned by the salespeople.

And, as the piece points out, these composite rubies would need special care because certain chemicals can damage the glass-filled stones.

"While it looks beautiful, extreme care needs to be exercised when you wear them," Matlins said in the piece.

Macy's refused to go on camera for the segment, but issued a statement to GMA defending its stones and running down the list of treatments commonly done to rubies.

GMA pointed out that there is a disclosure statement on Macy's jewelry display cases involving possible treatments to semi-precious stones, but nowhere do the statements mention composite rubies.

"Each one has to be represented for what it is," Smith said during the segment.

To view the GMA segment in its entirety, visit http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/rubies-real-deal/story?id=8988951.

Earlier this week, Jewelers of America sent out a warning to the industry about another upcoming TV segment that could potentially damage consumer confidence in the jewelry industry.

ABC's 60 Minutes is set to air a special in the coming weeks on "conflict gold" in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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