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Enhancement-disclosure requirements now on video

March 27, 2008

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New York—A discussion of the risks and requirements of enhancement disclosure featuring Robin Spector of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Cecilia Gardner of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) and Christopher Smith of American Gemological Laboratories Inc. (AGL) is now available on video.

In the video, which was recently recorded at the JA New York Winter Show, Spector says knowing a gemstone has been treated is a material aspect of the product.

"It is something that can affect a consumer's decision on whether to purchase it," she said, adding that the FTC guidelines state that it's "unfair or deceptive to fail to disclose a material aspect of a jewelry industry product."

Gardner, chief executive officer of the JVC, says in the video that disclosure of gemstone treatments in today's marketplace will become a vital part of the jewelry industry.

Smith, in his presentation, describes the many ways that gemstones are treated, including dyeing, impregnation, chemical bleaching, surface coating and various clarity enhancements, which he says are the most prolific treatments today.

"Tourmalines are commonly clarity-enhanced, alexandrites are commonly clarity-enhanced, we see non-heated rubies that are commonly clarity-enhanced, but this extends on to garnets, tanzanite and quartz. We have seen it in virtually every gem variety you can think of," he said in the discussion.

Smith also noted that the many surface coatings used to change, alter or modify gem color are not very stable or permanent and often need special care, which, under the FTC guidelines, would require disclosure.

He also explained that there was an increasing number of lead-glass-filled rubies in the marketplace, which utilized the lead glass to not only enhance clarity but also to enrich the red color.

The complete video of Spector, Gardner and Smith's presentations are available on the AGL's Web site, Aglgemlab.com, and will soon be available on the JVC's Web site, Jvclegal.org.

DVDs of the online videos, suitable for play in virtually any DVD player, are also available from the AGL by sending an e-mail to schung@aglgemlab.com.
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