The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

< t 8 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, December 20,1989 Section Three Helpful Advice on Buying Christmas Jewellery Unhappy oysters could cause a flap at the jewelry jewelry counter this Christmas, Christmas, unless pearl buyers shop carefully. Oysters must be kept calm and contented in cool, clean, quiet waters, or they may create badly flawed pearls, industry members say. Retailers are expecting pearls to .be particularly popular gifts this season. And the best way to avoid unwittingly buying poor- quality pearls is to find .a reliable jewelry store, A Special Star A Special Night Great expectations for a great Christmas... this year and êvery year. To our customers we wish a wonderful holiday! Lorraine, Lynn and Betty V.I.P. Hairstyling Ltd. 112 Waverley Road Bowmanville 623-6252 Christmas 301 Marwood Dr., Oshawa 2^.579-2232 says consumer expert Marilyn Gurevsky. "No matter what kind of jewelry you are buying, spend time finding a store you can trust and you'll be less likely to spend money on overpriced overpriced goods," says Gurevsky Gurevsky of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations Relations (MCCR). "Buying pearls, diamonds ana such can be confusing, so consumers need experts they can rely on, especially especially during the Christmas rush." Ontario jewelry stores ring up about half their annual sales during the Christmas season, says Larry Pogue of Jewellers' Vigilance Canada (JVC). An industry-funded, non-profit organization, JVC helps mediate disputes disputes involving customers, customers, retailers, manufacturers manufacturers and many other players in the jewelry field. The group also monitors monitors advertising, works with regulators, provides public information and is generally involved in maintaining ethics within the industry. About 60 per cent of Canada's 5,000 retailers support the watchdog association. association. And, Pogue says, all complaints get equal treatment whether they involve members or not. The JVC can't force stores to follow its advice, but the two-year-old association association claims an 80 per cent success rate for resolving resolving consumer complaints. complaints. Pogue agrees that one of the most effective ways to shop for jewelry is to find reputable stores."If you don't know the product, product, know who's selling it to you," he says. "Then you know you're getting what you were led to expect." expect." In addition to getting recommendations ana references, check store return return and pricing policies, Pogue suggests. The sale Rogers Cable TV-Pine Ridge sumers can't expect to learn enough themselves themselves about diamonds or other jewelry to accurately accurately compare values, Gurevsky Gurevsky says. However, some product research is still advisable, she says. The Canadian 'Jewellers 'Jewellers Association (CJA) - a trade organization established established in 1918 -- produces a number of pamphlets on pearls, diamonds, colored colored gemstones, gold and silver, watches and various various other subjects. The literature deals with many areas commonly confusing to consumers, including gold and silver quality marks, pearl characteristics, and terms used to describe diamonds. diamonds. Misleading advertisements advertisements are also addressed. addressed. For example, consumers are warned to be alert for stores offering "discounts" on overvalued items. • The association also provides general information information about such things as jewelry care and fashion trends. Along with pearls, the 1989 Christmas hit list is expected to include "tennis" "tennis" bracelets and silver jewelry. A tennis bracelet is a single row of diamonds diamonds fully encircling the wrist. The name stuck when a bracelet of that type flew off the wrist of a renownd tennis player during a competition. competition. The practice of linking people's skin and hair coloring coloring to one of the four sea sons is partly responsible responsible for the growing passion passion for silver, some jewellers jewellers say. Many people are being told they have "summer or "winter" coloring coloring and advised to wear white gold and silver, rather than a colored metal. The CJA's Consumer Guide to Jeweliy and Watches provides information information about precious metal standards and uses. Copiés of this brochure brochure and other associa- . -- tion \ publications are price in one store may be available . iJfrom many higher than the regular CJA-membér^Stores and Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H6 - (416) 326-8555 or toll free at 1- 800-268-1142. Ontario residents with an 807 area code may call the 416 number collect. The TDD/TTY line for the hearing/speech impaired is (416) 326-8566. 8RHefiHS8H8eMaen8Kt)es3i«HS!SS»5$ Christmas Christmas is here. It is December 25th Santa Claus has been to all the houses. He give the Kids Toys. BaBy Jesus was just born today. All the Kids are happy with what They got. Shepherds Shepherds gather around him. Everyone thanks God today. today. By Julie Kentner Wavrley School Gr. 3/4 Christmas My goodness, my goodness goodness its Christmas again! the bells are ringing I dont know when! The wreath's on the door, The holly is hung. The carols are sung The pudding is mixed! All the gifts are under the tree, And 2 or 3 of them are just for me! By Sarah Bauman Waverey School Ft 4 sajaaswsHs»*a»3»ajassjsstj " My best wishes for your merry Christmases and your happy New Years, your long lives and your true prosperities. -- Charles Dickens We thank you so very much. r (V x- from the staff of Elle Colonial Eca Üdjojp 29 Silver Street 623-1700 Bowmanville DOC HAPPY MAY :<Z-- Oshawa Centre (East side below tower) 579-2232 price of a similar item in a neighbouring shop. "When it says 10 per cent off, what does that mean?" he asks. "Ten per cent off what? Appraised values are unreliable. There are no regulations as to who can do appraisals." appraisals." Since even experts give varying appraisals, con- A very merry Christmas to one and all! From the Management and Staff of Macintosh Chrysler Plymouth Limited 331 ParkRd. S., Oshawa Telephone 728-4638 290 North Front Street Belleville (613) 966-8610 CJA, 20 Eglington Ave West, Ste. 1203, Toronto, Ontario M4R 1K8 - (416) 480-1424. Consumers involved in disputes about jewelry can contact JVC at the same address or (416) 480-1452. Mediation help is also available through MCCR's regional Consumer Consumer Services Bureaus. Phone numbers are in the directory. For information about general consumer rights and responsibilities, contact contact the ministiy's information information centre at 555 rv PRESTON 420 Base Line Rd. W. May your holidays, he merry 'j and filled with the good if things in life. Our sincere thunks for your patronage. TRANSPORT LTD.' ' MOVING and STORAGE LTD. 623-4433 Bowmanville zxic DOC= sue DUC DUC To the Citizens of the Durham Region This Christmas will be remembered by most of our citizens as a time of enjoyment and rejoicing in family reunion. Unfortunately for some this Christmas will be the season during which they lost a loved one through a traffic accident. Most of the accidents are needless. They involve too much alcohol and a moment's inattention to driving. The members of the Durham Region Police remind you that at this time of year it is even more important to drive defensively. We wish you and your families a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. REGIONAL POLICE DURHAM (0° *Pl!c£ David Edwards Chief of Police r