Many of us enjoy the beauty of diamonds but cannot afford one. When this happens we buy a diamond substitute, perhaps a Zircon. There is no problem with this. The zircon has the decorative beauty of the diamond but does not cost the large amount of money that the rare gem does.
Many people who are interested in the Baudet du Poitou (Poitou Donkey) are interested in the novelty value, beauty, disposition, and perhaps in promoting this extremely rare breed. These people can and should pay zircon price and buy a part bred. We applaud this. We have a part-bred Poitou gelding here at the ADMS office. He serves as an educational tool for the breed and an ambassador for donkeys in general because of his looks and marvelous disposition. The point I am making here is that we paid A ZIRCON price for him.
If you want a diamond you will have to pay for it. However you should not be asked to pay diamond prices for zircons. If you do, you have been cheated.
If you buy a Baudet du Poitou the thing that makes it worth DIAMOND prices in specific means having valid French papers. There are a number of papers the animal MUST possess. The animals that have true papers are well documented. So, too, are those with false papers. Your diamond may vary in value and cost more because of size, breeding, and hair coat. Before you buy you should educate yourself just as you would with diamonds.
Just because an animal is called a Poitou donkey or a Baudet du Poitou does not mean that it is a diamond and not a zircon. Most of the people involved with selling them are ignorant of the things the accompanying article will tell you. Some of them are deliberately selling their zircons at diamond prices.
Remember, the name Baudet du Poitou is the correct name for your diamond. The French own the trademark to this name. A purebred Poitou Donkey is a Baudet du Poitou and anyone who tries to sell you one without French papers is selling a zircon. If the seller asks diamond prices, run!
The ADMS (with FABBA) is acting as Liaison between the American breeders and the SABAUD in France. We are more than happy to help you in fulfilling your goals. Just remember that this particular gem is in greater demand than supply. You may wish to own purebreds and participate in breeding, but only partbreds may be available. The French would like owners of purebred Poitous to be active breeders, for the sake of the animals. If you want one for the novelty, please consider a part-bred.
So How do I know if it is a Zircon or a Diamond? Can I buy either one easily?
A Diamond is going to be a pure-bred animal, with both parents in Livre A in France, and possessing it's own Livre A papers. In the case of the American-bred animals, a complete inventory of animals with parents properly inscribed and PENDING LIVRE A registration is kept by FABBA. If all else fails, we will be happy to contact SABAUD and verify the paperwork, parentage and authentication of the animal in question.
There are equally Zircons, those animals who parents are not in possession of the correct French paperwork, and will not be eligible for registration in France. As such, they cannot be called Baudets or Poitou Donkeys, even through their background may be 100 pure in line or type.
If you are considering purchasing an animal advertised as a Poitou donkey or Baudet du Poitou, we suggest you contact one of the official associations (ADMS/FABBA/SABAUD) all of whom have current inventories of animals. These associations would be more than happy to verify the status of the animal and to assist you in the paperwork involved with these animals. PLEASE don't pay diamond prices for a Zircon!!!
Can't you tell by looking? Well, not every painting that looks like a Picasso is real - there are great forgeries! Go to the next page and see why sometimes it' hard!
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