Gem Water Class Action Says $120 Water Bottles are Falsely Advertised

A new class action lawsuit alleges consumers are tricked into spending more than $100 on water bottles marketed as containing gems that infuse water and provide certain health benefits.

Lead plaintiff Anna Ashkinazi says she decided to purchase the $120 water bottle from VitaJuwel based on claims that a special compartment of gems would impart special properties to water placed in the bottle.

However, the plaintiff alleges she and other consumers were duped because the gems never actually come into contact with the water.

“Each ‘Gem Water’ bottle contains inside of it various stones, including some semi-precious stones, that are hermetically encased in a separate, smaller solid glass container such that the stones never actually come in contact with any of the water in the bottle itself,” explains the Gem Water class action lawsuit.

According to the Gem Water class action lawsuit, the gems are in a sealed compartment, but VitaJuwel touts them as able to increase the oxygen content of the water and change the pH.

“In fact, ‘Gem Water’ bottles do not and could not increase the pH or the amount of dissolved oxygen in water poured into ‘Gem Water’ bottles,” states the Gem Water class action lawsuit.

Gem Water bottles are advertised as changing the chemicals in the water. Apparently different pods of gems in the water can affect the liquid content. There are several types of pods called “Love,” “Forever Young,” and “Fitness.”

The Gem Water class action lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff purchased the water bottle at Nordstroms. VitaJuwel sells a variety of high-end products, including glasses, that start at a retail price of $98.

Although the company includes advertising telling consumers “It Works!” the Gem Water class action lawsuit says that there is no way for water to come into contact with the stones and no way for the chemical makeup of the water to be changed in the pricey bottle.

According to the Gem Water class action lawsuit, the company even advertises that the pH of the water changes, from 7.87 to 8.02, because of the gems, along with providing specific amounts that the dissolved oxygen in the water increases.

“In fact, not only do Defendant’s ‘Gem Water’ bottles fail to increase the pH and amount of dissolved oxygen in any water poured into the bottles, but there is not even any sound scientific basis for these claims given that the ‘gem’ stones are hermetically sealed within a class capsule that completely prevents any contact between the stones and the water being poured in,” the Gem Water class action lawsuit states.

The plaintiff alleges that she and other consumers relied on this advertising when purchasing the bottles. Ashkinazi seeks to represent those who purchased Gem Water bottles in Illinois.

The plaintiff is seeking damages as well as a court order stopping VitaJuwel from falsely advertising its Gem Water bottles.

Ashkinazi is represented by Yevgeniy “Eugene” I. Turin Sr.

The Gem Water Class Action Lawsuit is Anna Ashkinazi v. VitaJuwel USA Inc., Case No. 2018­-ch-­07777, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.