In love with this heart shaped ruby necklace

Very pretty!

There's a 5.91 ct red-pink Mahenge spinel on AJS' website for $38,500. I know it does not solve your budget issue, but you may prefer it to the ruby if you want a sparkly neon red-pink stone.. It will be extremely difficult to find a true red spinel in a heart shape at 5 carats, and it may cost the same in a true red and the same quality as the AJS spinel. I normally prefer less pink in red spinels (and realize there is color shift in any spinel), but for a sweet necklace with a heart, I would be over the moon with the Mahenge:

http://www.ajsgem.com/gemstones/spinel/spinel-5.91-carats.html

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I think it's really pretty. I love the DBTY on the chain too.
Yes you could reproduce it for less than $35,000 if you don't use a ruby.
Tan from odysseygem on ebay, usually has some heart shaped stones, and yes there are cutters out there who can cut you a heart. But it's the material you have to choose from. I am not sure of the types of rough you would have to choose from to make it. Garnet may be a good option for you in this project.

Eidelprecious on easy set a heart shaped Mahenge for Crasru (I know she changed her name I just can't remember what it is now) that is really, really awesome. It has a fleur de lis edge around the heart, similar to the necklace. Maybe they could be a potential vendor for you.

Here's cabochon ruby for $2525. It lacks clarity, but the color is pleasant. Being a cabochon the dimensions are smaller. Have you considered just making a DBTY necklace and having a removable red pendant? That would allow you to more flexibility in wearing the necklace:

http://www.ajsgem.com/ruby/cabochon-ruby/cabochon-ruby-4.36-carats.html

You're highly unlikely to find a red spinel. These are rare. Factor in the size you're looking for and IF you find one, it'll be big bucks. The spinel posted above is lovely but it'll look more pink than red.

Natural, unheated rubies of that size will be a fortune. However, if you're happy with treatments then you could possibly find one for much less. Heart cuts are typically less expensive.

Unfortunately red in any gemstone turns the heat up on the price! How about another colour? It would be much easier to find and within budget. Tan has some lovely purple spinels in heart shapes that may be suitable.

So this isn't 5 carats and its fracture-filled, which I know isn't looked upon very favorably around here, but just thought I would post it anyways:

http://www.gemselect.com/ruby/ruby-281909.php#

I have purchased a few stones from this site and its hit or miss, depending on what you're looking for, but at least they're pretty inexpensive.

Written by Treenbean » December 16th, 2011, 10:10 am:I think it's really pretty. I love the DBTY on the chain too.
Yes you could reproduce it for less than $35,000 if you don't use a ruby.
Tan from odysseygem on ebay, usually has some heart shaped stones, and yes there are cutters out there who can cut you a heart. But it's the material you have to choose from. I am not sure of the types of rough you would have to choose from to make it. Garnet may be a good option for you in this project.

Eidelprecious on easy set a heart shaped Mahenge for Crasru (I know she changed her name I just can't remember what it is now) that is really, really awesome. It has a fleur de lis edge around the heart, similar to the necklace. Maybe they could be a potential vendor for you.

Thank you so much for your help. Is garnet suitable for a necklace? How is the performance different from a spinel or ruby?

Of the garnets I have seen, they seem less sparkly or duller than spinel and ruby. Is that a fair characterization?

Written by pregcurious » December 16th, 2011, 10:04 am:Very pretty!

There's a 5.91 ct red-pink Mahenge spinel on AJS' website for $38,500. I know it does not solve your budget issue, but you may prefer it to the ruby if you want a sparkly neon red-pink stone.. It will be extremely difficult to find a true red spinel in a heart shape at 5 carats, and it may cost the same in a true red and the same quality as the AJS spinel. I normally prefer less pink in red spinels (and realize there is color shift in any spinel), but for a sweet necklace with a heart, I would be over the moon with the Mahenge:

http://www.ajsgem.com/gemstones/spinel/spinel-5.91-carats.html

Thank you so much! I have my heart set on a red red color. I really do not like the pinky red color. Plus it is so expensive!

Written by pregcurious » December 16th, 2011, 10:34 am:Here's cabochon ruby for $2525. It lacks clarity, but the color is pleasant. Being a cabochon the dimensions are smaller. Have you considered just making a DBTY necklace and having a removable red pendant? That would allow you to more flexibility in wearing the necklace:

http://www.ajsgem.com/ruby/cabochon-ruby/cabochon-ruby-4.36-carats.html

How would you go about doing a removable pendant? I've never seen it. Thanks!

Written by LD » December 16th, 2011, 10:38 am:You're highly unlikely to find a red spinel. These are rare. Factor in the size you're looking for and IF you find one, it'll be big bucks. The spinel posted above is lovely but it'll look more pink than red.

Natural, unheated rubies of that size will be a fortune. However, if you're happy with treatments then you could possibly find one for much less. Heart cuts are typically less expensive.

Unfortunately red in any gemstone turns the heat up on the price! How about another colour? It would be much easier to find and within budget. Tan has some lovely purple spinels in heart shapes that may be suitable.

Gosh, okay that is good to know. I have my heart set on a red red though......

Written by stargurl78 » December 16th, 2011, 12:14 pm:So this isn't 5 carats and its fracture-filled, which I know isn't looked upon very favorably around here, but just thought I would post it anyways:

http://www.gemselect.com/ruby/ruby-281909.php#

I have purchased a few stones from this site and its hit or miss, depending on what you're looking for, but at least they're pretty inexpensive.

Thank you! I really want a red one.

Can I ask a general dumb question? How is it that there are so many red spinels that are 1-2 carats available on Ebay for like $0.99 plus like $8 shipping???? Are those real spinel? Are they synthetic? Is there something wrong with them? I just don't get it!! Please explain to me, I'm a total novice! Thanks!

Some are real, some are fake. Most are not top color or have undesirable modifying colors. The cut could be wonky and the list goes on and on.
It takes a long time to learn how to choose a gem from photos and video, and I have to say it's something I haven't truly mastered yet. I also have issues with color memory. I can spot a top colored stone when I see it but if I've been looking at pages of gems on a website it gets harder for me.

Garnet would be a nice choice, it is durable enough for a necklace and tanga garnets are a gorgeous color.

Thanks! How about this one? Is it too dark??

It's more than 15 carats SPESSARTITE ?

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It's going to be very dark in real life.

purple red

What is the budget?
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-1579664352

Written by Treenbean » December 16th, 2011, 9:03 pm:It's going to be very dark in real life.

Thank you-- see, I would never know that.....

Hmmm....Maybe $2k-$3k?

Thanks for the suggestion! I have my heart set on a true true red, though. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions!!

The spess you've posted will not only be very dark but it looks orange/brown/red. Again, garnets in red are very difficult (almost impossible) to find. You could find a Rhodolite Garnet (perhaps not heart cut or 5ct) in a purple red but I don't think you would want that. You've said you want "red red" if you mean stoplight red then I'm afraid for a gem of the size you're looking for in a red you won't find it - unless it's a synthetic.

On Ebay you'll see a ton of gems called "red" - in reality they won't be. Red Spinels, red Rubies etc are EXTREMELY sought after and trust me, you won't find one on Ebay for $0.99!

If you want red I would urge you to look at either a pink/red or a purple/red. It will still look as phenomenal as the necklace you've posted but it won't be stoplight red. The closest to a red is the spinel from AJS - it will be on the pink side but it's very pretty (and will be a gemstone worth getting!

You asked about a pendant that you could remove? If you have a bale put on the back or top of the pendant you can have one that is hinged so you can open and close it - this means you can remove it from a chain, put it on a different chain or on a piece of velvet or a bracelet etc etc.

what a STUNNING necklace, princess! That would be gorgeous! I like LD's suggestion of a removable pendant. Then you can source out a DBTY NECKLACE at a reasonable price/length for you and perhaps invest a bit more in the pendant, allowing you to take your time finding the right stone.

Good things come to those who wait... but if you are a PSer, that better happen pretty quickly!

Here are some hearts - mostly smaller than you want but they are real gemstones:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-17ct-Top-Notch-Heart-Natural-Cherry-Red-Color-Spinel-/250947916889?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6da95459 Quite an orangey - brick colour - red

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-28ct-Amazingly-RARE-Heart-Natural-Color-Change-Garnet-/370265025907?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563583ed73 This is a good size and the bonus with this is that you get two different colourways! During the day it will be a brown colour and then at night will be a pinkish/red

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-16ct-CERTIFIED-Heart-Natural-Tanzania-Hot-Pink-SPINEL-/370565028149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5647659935 This is about as close to red/red you'll get. This is a lovely gemstone but I suspect it won't be big enough for you.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-66ct-Beautiful-Heart-Natural-Bluish-Purple-Tanzanite-/350513577744?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item519c3cbf10 I know it's not red but do you remember the film Titanic? This is the gemstone that was used for the Heart of the Ocean necklace.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-09ct-Certified-Heart-Natural-Red-Ruby-No-Beryllium-/350183639462?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item51889249a6 A Ruby but it really isn't good quality. This will be very dark but at least it's a ruby!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-61ct-Enchanting-Striking-Heart-Top-Orange-Red-Spinel-/250829157333?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a669533d5 Brown/orange spinel

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-21ct-Breathtaking-Heart-Concave-Cut-Rhodolite-Garnet-/250668967053?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5d08e48d Purple but this has a great cut (will really reflect like mad!) and it's the size you're looking for. It's also a great price.

Written by princessre » December 16th, 2011, 8:50 pm:Thanks! How about this one? Is it too dark??

It's more than 15 carats SPESSARTITE ?

That's what you DON'T want. It's awful, and it will look like a black hole in person.

Written by LD » December 17th, 2011, 8:00 am:Here are some hearts - mostly smaller than you want but they are real gemstones:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-17ct-Top-Notch-Heart-Natural-Cherry-Red-Color-Spinel-/250947916889?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6da95459 Quite an orangey - brick colour - red

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-28ct-Amazingly-RARE-Heart-Natural-Color-Change-Garnet-/370265025907?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563583ed73 This is a good size and the bonus with this is that you get two different colourways! During the day it will be a brown colour and then at night will be a pinkish/red

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-16ct-CERTIFIED-Heart-Natural-Tanzania-Hot-Pink-SPINEL-/370565028149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5647659935 This is about as close to red/red you'll get. This is a lovely gemstone but I suspect it won't be big enough for you.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-66ct-Beautiful-Heart-Natural-Bluish-Purple-Tanzanite-/350513577744?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item519c3cbf10 I know it's not red but do you remember the film Titanic? This is the gemstone that was used for the Heart of the Ocean necklace.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-09ct-Certified-Heart-Natural-Red-Ruby-No-Beryllium-/350183639462?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item51889249a6 A Ruby but it really isn't good quality. This will be very dark but at least it's a ruby!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-61ct-Enchanting-Striking-Heart-Top-Orange-Red-Spinel-/250829157333?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a669533d5 Brown/orange spinel

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-21ct-Breathtaking-Heart-Concave-Cut-Rhodolite-Garnet-/250668967053?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5d08e48d Purple but this has a great cut (will really reflect like mad!) and it's the size you're looking for. It's also a great price.

Oh Gosh!!! Thank you thank you thank you!! I am so honored that you look the time to look for me!! That is amazingly generous of you!!

You gave me some good options, and your comments helped me think about what to look for! Thanks so much!!

I guess I will continue to look and see if the perfect one comes up for sale.......or maybe I need to contact some gem cutters to see if they have rough that they can cut for me......It seems like oval or cushion is more common a cut than heart!

Thank you again!

Written by TL » December 17th, 2011, 1:13 pm:

Written by princessre » December 16th, 2011, 8:50 pm:Thanks! How about this one? Is it too dark??

It's more than 15 carats SPESSARTITE ?

That's what you DON'T want. It's awful, and it will look like a black hole in person.

Thanks! So even though I want a deep true red, I need to look for more brightness online because they will look darker IRL?

If you want big (ie over 5cts) and a bright red, and you are interested in the look rather than the actual stones, then your best bet would be a lead-glass filled ruby. They aren't expensive and look very good (Macy's ruby jewellery is full of them). The issue would be that it is not a stone that will hold any value and you will need to be careful that your jeweller knows not to put a torch near them or to put them in any acids (even lemon juice can affect them).

Otherwise, I think you will need to drop the size or the clarity a fair amount to stay in budget. In a smaller size, a Beryllium diffused sapphire might fit the bill and the budget.

I wouldn't advise a garnet in a large size as they can black out so much, especially the redder ones.

A 5 ct red red anything is probably still going to be super expensive and elusive. The 99 cent stuff on eBay is probably synthetic or the picture has been tampered with, thus the buyer will receive a stone that doesn't look anything like the pictures. I am sorry but a true red with superb saturation aren't easy to find and when found, are very expensive.

Written by princessre » December 18th, 2011, 8:25 am:

Written by TL » December 17th, 2011, 1:13 pm:

Written by princessre » December 16th, 2011, 8:50 pm:Thanks! How about this one? Is it too dark??

It's more than 15 carats SPESSARTITE ?

That's what you DON'T want. It's awful, and it will look like a black hole in person.

Thanks! So even though I want a deep true red, I need to look for more brightness online because they will look darker IRL?

Seriously, that stone looks like a black hole in the picture.