Jewelry Television responds to $5 million lawsuit over gem

A California woman has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Knoxville-based Jewelry Television claiming the shopping network knowingly sold treated gemstones as though they were "extremely rare" and "all natural."

Marliese Weed, who filed the suit on May 23 and is seeking class-action status, alleges Jewelry Television engaged in "unfair and deceptive conduct" when it sold a gem called andesine-labradorite as being a "highly-coveted, extremely rare, all natural, expensive gem that looks like an Oregon sunstone."

Weed alleges the stones were "nothing more than the mass-produced result of chemical facelifts in gemological beauty parlors" that Jewelry Television acquired for "pennies per carat and sold … for extraordinary profits."

In December 2007, Jewelry Television sold the gemstones for $149 per carat and later offered customers "a brief return period which was not publicized or advertised, was ill-administered, and did not even begin to correct the harm that was done," the lawsuit states.

Jewelry Television expressed disappointment that "one customer in California has filed litigation against us. This customer chose not to take advantage of our liberal return policies."

In a statement today, Jewelry Television said andesine-labradorite has been sold in the gem trade since 2002 as natural and untreated material.

"Lab reports from major laboratories have consistently confirmed these gemstones as natural and untreated. Jewelry Television, like other major retailers, relied upon the lab reports and general industry information," Jewelry Television said.

The company acknowledged that it had in January discovered one source for this gemstone that reported treating the stone.

"That information was promptly reported to our customers. As additional information has developed, JTV continued to keep customers informed. Much of the information in the lawsuit is totally incorrect and we are satisfied that Jewelry Television acted completely responsibly and the true facts will vindicate us," the company said.

In May, Jewelry Television, located at 10001 Kingston Pike, downsized its corporate headquarters eliminating more than 200 jobs companywide. Plans to build a new headquarters at a West Knoxville business park have been put on hold.
Source: knoxnews