Nine Treasures Jewelers sold to me what they claimed and also advertised as a gem quality blue sapphire. But they failed to disclose that the sapphire was surface diffusion treated.
Diffusion treatment is not the ordinary trade accepted color enhancement through heat treatment but rather a shallow "skin deep" coloration going about a half millimeter into the stone.
This enhancement can be breached by chipping or partially lost by repolishing or recutting. Making this type of enhancement non-permanent.
The Federal Trade Commission mandates this treatment must be disclosed at the point of purchase by all sellers to all buyers at all levels of trade... And further requires the right of return of material subject to this treatment not disclosed at the time of sale.
Nine Treasures refuses to accept responsibility for selling the diffusion treated sapphire without disclosure. Their only defense being that they were unaware of the diffusion treatment themselves.
The due diligence of making sure they know what they are selling falls upon the seller. They fact that they sold the sapphire without properly researching, identifying and disclosing is their responsibility.
And that responsibility is not alleviated by claiming ignorance.
Nine Treasures is accountable for the sale of a diffused sapphire without disclosing the fact to me the consumer. They have the responsibility to disclose treatments to gemstones on the invoice or sales receipt and a refund should be granted.
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