The inspectors checked whether consumers are truthfully informed about the characteristics and the origin of the stones and whether other kinds of stones are offered to them when claimed to be the chrompyrop garnets (i.e. the Czech garnets). In 6 previously chosen workplaces where especially tourists go, the control started at one moment. In total 3 samples of jewellery with stones were collected about which the inspectors were assured in spoken that these consist of the Czech garnets. The claimed authenticity was even proven by a certificate in 2 of them.

Nevertheless, the result of the subsequent laboratory expertise proved that in all 3 collected samples the jewelleries were not filled with the Czech garnets. The collected earrings contained zircon in the centre surrounded by garnets which were not Czech. In case of a pendant, garnets were used, but again not the Czech ones. The same case was also the last examined product – a ring.

Based on the results of the expertise on the collected products, administrative proceedings will be launched due to possible violating of the ban on using unfair commercial practices. In one seller, this practice has been detected repetitively. The possibly issued sanctions would correspond with the law infringement’s extent.

The CTI inspectors repetitively detected that some shop keepers in the Prague’s touristic zones inform untruthfully and unprofessionally about characteristics of the sold precious stones. Doing so, they infringe the ban on using unfair commercial practices.

This is why the CTI stresses that consumers should request as much information as possible about the quality and the origin of used precious stones and in case of any doubts they should seek another trader.