Megan Sprague-Gentry Holaday
Megan Sprague-Gentry Holaday
Megan Sprague-Gentry Holaday
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Marketing of Synthetics<br />
The Good, Bad and the Ugly<br />
By <strong>Megan</strong> <strong>Sprague</strong> and <strong>Gentry</strong> <strong>Holaday</strong><br />
2011
Synthetic and Simulant<br />
Gemstones<br />
• Laboratory grown gemstones that have the<br />
same properties as the natural gem they are<br />
made to represent.<br />
• http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gemstones<br />
/sp14-95/synthetic.html<br />
• http://www.syntheticstones.co.uk/what_are_lab_stones.html<br />
Emerald lab grown synthetics
Good<br />
• Most are an unlimited supply<br />
• Cheaper- affordable for most<br />
• Look like the ideal Stone of which it is imitating<br />
• Not depleting natural gems<br />
• Guide for the jewelry, precious metal, and pewter<br />
industry<br />
– http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/Jewel-gd.shtm<br />
– § 23.25 Misuse of the word "gem."<br />
– § 23.24 Misuse of the words "real," "genuine," "natural,"<br />
"precious," etc
Example of a Securities and<br />
Exchange Commission Form<br />
• http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/110331/CHARLES-and-<br />
COLVARD-LTD_10-K/
Bad<br />
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_gem_scam<br />
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wkgIzuqJM0<br />
w/S86ux95OsuI/AAAAAAAAD38/VfFzLJEPd8/s1600/Thai+Gem+Scam.jpg<br />
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/2844<br />
18689/Precious_ruby_synthetic_ge<br />
mstone_04.summ.jpg
The Thai gem scam<br />
Phone calls asking you to put money into them<br />
and you’ll receive precious gems<br />
http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2011/01/19/4424664/gI_0_logobgjf47.jpg
AND the UGLY<br />
• Thai Gem Scams and how they are done<br />
Travelfish.org gives insight on the most prime<br />
example of “The Thai Gem Scam”<br />
There are many sites where stories can be found of<br />
tourists getting ripped off from this very scam or<br />
some similar.<br />
http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/thailand/2463_bewar<br />
e-of-the-thai-gem-scam
And how to avoid an ugly situation<br />
• www.scambusters.org/jewelry.html<br />
• www.thailandlogue.com/thai-gem-scam-whatit-is-how-to-avoid-it.html<br />
Corundum and spinel<br />
synthetics - ruby, garnet,<br />
alexandrite, blue<br />
sapphire, aquamarine,<br />
emerald
http://bumpshack.com/wp-<br />
content/uploads/2010/09/Mike-Sorrentino-aka-<br />
The-Situation-2010-MTV-VMAs-PHOTOS.jpg<br />
We all<br />
Want<br />
To avoid<br />
This<br />
Situation<br />
..so<br />
Remember<br />
KNOW how<br />
identify a<br />
a synthetic<br />
or imitation<br />
gem from a<br />
a real and<br />
know the scams
References Cited<br />
• http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gemston<br />
es/sp14-95/synthetic.html<br />
• http://www.syntheticstones.co.uk/what_are_lab_stones.html<br />
• http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/Jewel-gd.sht<br />
• http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/110331/CHARLES-and-<br />
COLVARD-LTD_10-K/<br />
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_gem_scam<br />
• http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/thailand/2463_beware<br />
-of-the-thai-gem-scam<br />
• www.scambusters.org/jewelry.html<br />
• www.thailandlogue.com/thai-gem-scam-what-it-is-how-toavoid-it.html
NO gem is perfect!
Change language