How Many Watch GemShopping Network??

[Rod]

OK.....until a few months ago, I was a sane human being. Then, I caught the diamond virus and I can''''t stop being obsessed with gems in general. So, since most of us on this forum are like inclined (slightly bonkers is probably more like it), I was wondering if you guys (and gals) watch the GemShopping Network? I find it helps to give me my daily bling fix and they actually sell some pretty cool stuff.

Anway, happy weekend everyone and let me know if you too secretly watch the GemShopping Network?

 

[widget]

But if we confess, then everyone will know!

When I first discovered GSN, I was totally addicted...it was sorta sick!

I watch it much less now. I still try to catch the estate jewelry show, hosted by Sam every other week, but even with that, I''ve cooled off a bit...you have to look at a awful lot of junk to occasionally see an interesting piece.

widget

 

[moon river]

I think you might have picked that virus up here. Yes, I too watch.

I watch anything that might even have a possibility of having jewelry on it. It doesn''t come on here until after midnight and I watch it when I''m up. Or I wait til the preview before I go to bed. OMG...maybe you caught it from me!!! I''m so sorry

 

[Rod]

What can I say..........I'm a "Gemstones with Marvin" junky........."WOW"

Of course you won't get that unless you watch him. LOL

PS: Moon.......perhaps we gave each other the virus, but I won't tell my partner if you won't tell yours!!

 

[moon river]

I agree some of the stuff is crap. Pretty, but crap. I like to have the tv on to distract me. I''m recuperating and in alot of pain but looking at jewelry and chatting on PS is the best pain management I''ve tried. Hard to hurt w/all that bling. And my guy and my daughter don''t understand my ''obsession'' with sitting there watching jewelry. Something about it spinning around on a turntable mesmerizes me.

It don''t take much to entertain me lately

Another one I like to watch is JTV. I learn alot about gemstones from them.

 

[Bianca07]

I watch it as well... but I also watch all the shopping networks, especially QVC... I can''t believe I admitted to that!!!

but hey, at least I''m not alone

 

[kaylagee]

LOL! Moon River..they must have a huge contingent of distraction seeking viewers! I started watching when I was really suffering morning sickness(day and night) with my first pgncy. It was the one of the only things that I could focus on. I like the estate, marvin, gladys and ben shows.

 

[conitta]

Date: 2/5/2006 2:05:57 AM
Author: Bianca07
I watch it as well... but I also watch all the shopping networks, especially QVC... I can''t believe I admitted to that!!!

but hey, at least I''m not alone

No Bianca07 you have lots of company....I watch them all.I started out with QVC and now mostly view JTV and GSN.The JTV logo is permanently on my TV screen.

I have ordered from both. I like JTV''s Red Carpet and I think GSN has better qaulity overall. I am a junky also as I hate to admitt it.... but I love jewelry.

Does anyone watch JTV and heard them talking aout Andesine/Labradorite/new discovered stone?(whatever it is) They are now saying this is both and are going to rename it. I would like to hear what you all have to say about this stone.

This is my first post so hope I did it right.....

 

[Lorelei]

Nothing surer, I have the virus and it has become chronic, but no meds for me in the UK such as Gem Shopping Network, the best I can get is QVC fakies....s''not the same

 

[conitta]

Date: 3/16/2006 2:06:16 PM
Author: Lorelei
Nothing surer, I have the virus and it has become chronic, but no meds for me in the UK such as Gem Shopping Network, the best I can get is QVC fakies....s''not the same

I know what you mean. My pocket book suffers...lol But Lorelei GSN and JTV have a live viewer on their website.Could you get that?

 

[PrecisionGem]

I watch a bit of it every now and then. I like to keep up on how they price the loose gemstones.
You notice they have a big price difference on the junk, and the better goods.
I would like to teach Sean how to cut something other than a Portuguese round! They always make a big deal about the round... it''s the fastest easiest design to cut. As you get into a bigger stone the Portuguese even though it has more facests is faster to cut because several small facets polish faster than one large one.

 

[conitta]

Date: 3/16/2006 5:00:34 PM
Author: PrecisionGem
I watch a bit of it every now and then. I like to keep up on how they price the loose gemstones.
You notice they have a big price difference on the junk, and the better goods.
I would like to teach Sean how to cut something other than a Portuguese round! They always make a big deal about the round... it''s the fastest easiest design to cut. As you get into a bigger stone the Portuguese even though it has more facests is faster to cut because several small facets polish faster than one large one.

Yea and they charge so much more for a Sean cut stone than one cut else where....What makes him soooo good. I really do not know but they put him on a pedistal.I have bought jewelery piesces from them. Where I live there is no jewelery stores except the one that starts with a Z and believe me they do not have anything.Everyone has diamonds...I want something different.


I do like the portuguese cut. It has more sparkle.It was interesting to read your comment on the cutting...

thanks

 

[Linda W]

YES, I am hooked as well. I love Marvin. He cracks me up how he whistles at the pieces.

I bought a beautiful emerald ring, or I should say my hubby bought it for our 25th wedding anniversary. It appraised 3x higher, then what we paid for it. I love it. I am addicted to that show, but have to refrain from buying anything else.


Linda

 

[PrecisionGem]

Well, one thing to keep in mind, most stones are cut in China or India, with very cheap labor. These people work in assembly line type factories, and crank out a lot of stones a day. I had breakfast in Tucson with a guy from Hong Kong who owns a cutting house in China. He told me his workers MUST cut 30 stones per day. Now, I typically take about 3 hours to cut a stone. Assuming a 10 hour day, these workers are doing 3 stones per hour. What they do is one guy preforms, one guy only dops, the next guy only cuts the pavillion etc... The other thing is these shops don''t use faceting machines. The cut with either a jam peg or this thing that looks like a tinker toy on the end of the dop. This allows them to cut fast, but with very little accuracy. So naturally any stone cut by Sean will have to cost more, I''m sure he makes more than 5 cents per hour.
There is a big difference from a "native" cut stone, and one cut on a faceting machine. You will notice that most of the stones Sean cuts are recuts of poorly "native" cut stones. It would be nice if he did some more interesting designs.
I agree with one of the other posters that Marvin is fun to listen to.

They do get some crazy prices for things... just tonight they had a really bad color pink tourmaline, and were trying to sell it for $300 per ct.

 

[conitta]

There is a big difference from a "native" cut stone, and one cut on a faceting machine. You will notice that most of the stones Sean cuts are recuts of poorly "native" cut stones. It

Ahhh....PrecisionGem, I see why now they are recut by Sean.He does a lot of recuts. I suppose on top of what you pay for the stone, you pay for Sean cutting it and also the waste!!! I have seen Tanzanite stones on JTV that were soooo lop-sided.Infact I recieved an oval cut that was a horrible cut. The color was great but that was it. Neadless to say it went back and have not ordered another.They also sell a gemstone by the mm size and the approx. weight. If you get a heavy stone, it all sticks out the back and I want it to face up so I can see it!

I did buy a 12.53ct. cushion cut Tanzanite from them about 4 yrs ago.

It is a beautiful blue color with the pink flashes.I took it to a remount show and of course they did not have anything large enough for it ( I knew they wouldn''t haha). I just wanted to see what they thought of it. He said you do not see them like that anymore and would not even try to value it. I have not had it appraised yet as I do not want to leave my stone with anyone.I had planned on having a ring made but think I will keep it in the safe. There is an independent apprasier coming to

Zales here next month and I will go there. I understand you stay by your items. I also have other pieces for him.

When you were in Tuscon did you see a lot of Tanzanite?

I like Mike & Steve on GSN. They have some really nice pieces.

Trying so hard NOT to buy anything, for a while anyway. I have bought some Madarin Garnet pieces from them lately.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/16/2006 4:41:24 PM
Author: conitta

Date: 3/16/2006 2:06:16 PM
Author: Lorelei
Nothing surer, I have the virus and it has become chronic, but no meds for me in the UK such as Gem Shopping Network, the best I can get is QVC fakies....s''not the same

I know what you mean. My pocket book suffers...lol But Lorelei GSN and JTV have a live viewer on their website.Could you get that?

Unfortunately not Conitta as I am in the UK, the TV is terrible here and QVC is the nearest we have to GSM

I wish I could get something better, but I bet Hubby wouldn''t WANT me to!

 

[PrecisionGem]

Actually I did see a lot of Tanzanite in Tucson. It ranged from piles of small light purple, to lots of larger nice color stones.
THe mined out stories they tell on the Gem Shopping channel don''t look to be true. There was more tanzanite this year than in previous years I had been. THere were plenty of 10, 20+ ct. cut stones. I didn''t check the prices, since I really was busy looking at rough, but from what I have heard the prices for the larger better color tanzanite was in the $250 to $400 range. So when Melvin tells you that the stone he is about to offer should sell for $2000 per ct. I''m not sure on what planet he is refering to. He''ll then cut the price down to $700 per ct and tell you it''s a give-away.
What everyone was talking about being in short supply was good Aquamarine. I didn''t see much nice color at all.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Keep in mind when you get stones appraised, the value they will come up with is a replacement value. It''s not a value you could sell your stone for, or even expect to pay for it. I''m not sure why these values are so high, maybe one of the guys online here in the business could explain it. I find that typically it is about 3 times the actual going price for the stone.
From time to time I have had some of my stones apprasied. I have a ruby that was appraised for over $3000 yet I would have been happy to get $600 for it. I think the whole point of the appraisal is for insurance reasons incase your stone is stolen. I the Gem channels, they want you to go out and have it done, because then you will think you got a great deal on the stone. If you paid any more than 1/3 of the apprasial, then I would suspect you didn''t great any great deal. These guys on TV are not stupid, and don''t give anything away.

 

[conitta]

Unfortunately not Conitta as I am in the UK, the TV is terrible here and QVC is the nearest we have to GSM I wish I could get something better, but I bet Hubby wouldn''t WANT me to!

QVC is the nearest we have to GSM ...You poor thing...but can you get the website?Thy have a live viewer on the websites and you can watch it on the PC

HOPE HOPE

Connie

 

[conitta]

I think the whole point of the appraisal is for insurance reasons incase your stone is stolen. I the Gem channels, they want you to go out and have it done, because then you will think you got a great deal on the stone.

Yes the appraisals are for the insurance and you have to have it done every year or so. I understand that there are several different kinds and I really do not understand all of it. I do know JTV makes a big deal about the appraisals like that is what they are worth.That is miss leading and have thought that for a while.

As for the Tanzanite, do you think it will go up in price when TanzaniteOne puts the grading system in effect. Did you hear anything about that? When Zales had the remount show here they had a few small pieces and it was going for about $1200.00ct.It was the light color.

JTV right now is showing a 59.28ct Tanzanite oval for $41496.00 [$$)] WOW!

Connie

 

[FireGoddess]

I do watch GSN, but man, Marvin irritates me.

I watch to chill out and take a look at jewelry. DH always rolls his eyes if he walks in on me.

 

[conitta]

DH always rolls his eyes if he walks in on me.

Mine does too but I just give it back to him when he watches the speed channel or the history channel. Come on that is the same stuff over & over. At least mine is pretty to look at.

Hey I now have DSN on. I have not watched this before.OMG another shopping channel! It comes on just for a few hrs.

Guess I have always had it on GSN or JTV.LOL! I am a sick person....

 

[nicky newark]

Marvin reminds me of a sleazy used car dealer. "WOW you will never find another deal like this" Every 3 minutes he repeats this same line. Where does he come up with his outrageous list prices($2000ct. for $300ct. Tanzanite)? I would be careful.

 

[Linda W]

Nicky,

I agree with you. Their prices on Tanzanite are ridiculous. I was watching DSN last night and without mentioning GemShopping by name, the host even referred to it. Some of the stones GemShopping sells are $1,000 a carat and higher, talk about a rip-off.

Linda W.

 

[MJO]

Date: 3/17/2006 10:40:23 AM
Author: PrecisionGem
Keep in mind when you get stones appraised, the value they will come up with is a replacement value. It''s not a value you could sell your stone for, or even expect to pay for it. I''m not sure why these values are so high, maybe one of the guys online here in the business could explain it. I find that typically it is about 3 times the actual going price for the stone.
From time to time I have had some of my stones apprasied. I have a ruby that was appraised for over $3000 yet I would have been happy to get $600 for it. I think the whole point of the appraisal is for insurance reasons incase your stone is stolen. I the Gem channels, they want you to go out and have it done, because then you will think you got a great deal on the stone. If you paid any more than 1/3 of the apprasial, then I would suspect you didn''t great any great deal. These guys on TV are not stupid, and don''t give anything away.

Hi Gene,

Never ask for a high appraisal for insurance purposes unless the peice is one of a kind. The insurance company doesn''t ussually give you the cash. They replace the peice with one that matches the description on the appraisal not the value. If you have a 1.5ct tanzanite ring written on the apprasil they will replace it with an A quality 1.5ct tanzanite. If the appraisel says an AAA+ quality tanzanite they will replace it with an AAA+ quality tanzanite. They will get the cheapest they can find to replace it and not give you the cash. Getting a high appraisal value doesn''t help unless they can''t replace the peice. Get the appraisal for insurance of the replacement value, not retail value. If the appraisal was for a Flawless 8ct Red Mogok Ruby the insurance company would probubly pay whatever the appraised value was because they couldn''t replace it.

Regards,
Maurice

 

[moon river]

Date: 3/18/2006 12:33:41 PM
Author: nicky newark
Marvin reminds me of a sleazy used car dealer. ''WOW you will never find another deal like this'' Every 3 minutes he repeats this same line. Where does he come up with his outrageous list prices($2000ct. for $300ct. Tanzanite)? I would be careful.

TEE HEE used car dealer

You nailed it.

 

[Blue Eyes]

WOW !! How crazy .. I just turned Marvin off as he started a flippin'' auction ..... his auctioneer chatter is enough to send my cats running for cover .. SHEESH !

I am always on the look out for diamond semi mounts but very few are shown and I don''t call and make requests.

I heard a host a long time ago make a hilarious comment about the return policy along with a request to "lay off the Nyquil before calling in to chat with the hosts ..."

 

[conitta]

Yea I don''t care for Marvin or Frank ( I think that is his name). I like Mike''s show with all the bling.I agree some of the list prices....WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? It is nice to hear someone elses opions on these shows.

As far as JTV''s jewelry, I have some pieces that they have had on the show and they had them 1/3 of the price that I paid for mine. I have also seen some other pieces in retail and they have them for 1/3 the price.

I prefer their memo pieces and Frank''s Red Carpet show.

 

[jackiely]

WOW! they sold a purple spinel 4.80 carats for $6,000, after cutting half the price. Where are they based? Forumers, if we put together to build a PS TV GemNetWork it will worth millions of $$$

 

[Linda W]

LOL. It is too bad people fall for it. What a rip-off. They are based out of Georgia. I can''t believe they sold that Spinel for that price. They had some Spinel rings on yesterday and those were priced outrageous also.


Linda