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For centuries, precious gemstones were available only to the very wealthy. However, advancements in mining, transportation, and the science of treatments and synthetics, as well as the emergence of the internet and TV shopping channels, have made a wide variety of gemstones and gemstone jewelery accessible to the general buying public. While these advancements have opened new markets for the trade and new buying opportunities for consumers, proper disclosure of treatments and synthetics has not kept pace with those advancements.
Up to now, the industry has done little to protect consumers from unscrupulous dealers who misrepresent their products. This unresponsiveness toward consumers has had a serious and damaging effect on consumer confidence in the gem and jewelery trade.