I posted a few days ago about replacing a stone in my grandmothers engagement ring. The jeweller (family run business, does repairs on site, a PROPER jeweller... told me he HATES garnets. Says they are just brown and cheap as chips. How the heck are Q getting away with prices like that? And smokey quartz, whilst I like it is still a very cheap stone (or it was). This is cynical selling from Q. They cant profit from jewellry as much as they did in the past, as metals are so expensive so they are actually charging for the gold content with the cheapest stones they can get their hands on to make the most profit. I am disgusted. And that other thread about the price of silver diamonique. A total disgrace. If you want nice jewellry go to an auction, have a lovely day out and buy some lovely vintage quality pieces in solid gold or silver, for around 1/5 th of the retail price. Having sold a violin at a specialist auction I am told that 1/5th is about right.