Replies to post #19858 on GT Advanced Technologies Inc fka GTAT

[XenaLives]

I've sold sterling/semi precious jewelry for over 25 years. Not so much now.

Synthetics and enhanced stones are common in the industry. They are accepted if they are properly labeled but I remember discussing these issues with a high end dealer of rubies years ago. The market was being flooded with "enhanced" ruby that was not properly identified.

I saw plated base metal stamped .925 when silver prices were high at a U.S. show. The Chinese dealers said yes it was sterling when asked - I knew it wasn't. If they (especially the Chinese) can use it in jewelry they will and they will not bother to label it as synthetic.

Here is a link on Sapphire treatments from the GIA:
http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/education/common-sapphire-treatments/diffusion-processes/

I do not believe that any industrially grown sapphire gets into the jewelry stream....at least not openly. Synthetic jewelry is a real threat to the industry. There are techniques to alter / enhance the color of natural stones and this is really a taboo even though the stone was natural.

Your thoughts Xena??

[LarryAshy]

This presupposed that there was electricity available to generate the heat in the first place. I cannot imagine how Apple would have not know and appreciated the difference.

That was sort of the point of that post. Those patent drawings looked like a Wile E. Coyote/ACME blueprint configuration. Although I think it is pretty ingenious and I can see how it would work, it appears as though Apple just jumped in with both feet and assumed it would work without a few test runs, hence the denial of backup power. I can see where trying it out first with, let's say 10(or even 100) furnaces to perfect the idea is reasonable. But to just go all in right out of the gate with the idea, shows Apples ego overtook sensibility.

Now, from a business standpoint, I get the reasoning. If you supplied backup power, and the idea worked, then the backup was a waste of money. That was a gigantic gamble on Apples part, considering GT told them how important and crucial backup power was. Maybe someday Apple will realize that they don't actually manufacture anything, and when they depend on people with experience to manufacture for them, it will be wise to listen to those with experience!

The crackle thing I get. I was just wondering if that was in an effort to pinch pennies by trying to use every scrap to decrease waste and thus increase profit. This just seemed like something revolutionary...in other words, get the process down right and perfect it before trying to figure out ways to increase profit. Just seems like they were trying to create a full scale operation right from the get-go, when normally these things take years to complete and perfect. Baby steps, one thing at a time. Was just wondering if the crackle also contributed to the bad boules because they may have been using product, as you said, that was tainted.

I didn't really think Apple was trying to get into the jewelry business with the waste...LOL. I was just asking Xena based on her experience in the jewelry business if she knew of a reason that recycled Sapphire could be used, in this application.

Where the crackle thing came in was this from my post that you were responding to:

Something about the list of assets from the settlement Doc struck me as odd. It listed recycle rooms as assets. Rooms, to me, implies a "place". Assets, to me, implies a "thing". Not too sure what to make of that.

I still haven't been able to figure this out. Maybe I'm overthinking it...?

The coloring of Sapphire in the jewelry biz is definitely bad news. However, thinking in terms of this project, it would be pretty awesome!

Take this patent:
http://patents.justia.com/patent/8824140

Add this color:
http://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-Sapphire-Series-Modern-Applications

And you have a BOMBSHELL of marketability!

Is it cost effective? Debateable. But, think of who buys this stuff...if you were able to offer different colors, do you think they would sell? Hell yes they would! Millions of them!

I know the screen has to be clear, but that patent says it can be made with 2 pieces potentially fused together.

You can already purchase after-market replacements in different colors, why wouldn't Apple want to make their own now, and capitalize on initial sales and replacements knowing that no one else, currently, can offer Sapphire replacements?