Pls help gem stone newbie! Ruby, sapphire questions

[Ashleigh]

Hi,

1. I understand that H&A round is best for sparkle for it comes to diamonds. I'm very new at gem stones and need advice on which shape is preferred for ruby or sapphire. I'm considering both for RHR. I know "big belly" is good for color saturation, but what shape is preferred? I see many ovals around. Is there a reason for that?

2. Ruby and sapphire, which is more durable?

3. I know my 1st question is which shape is preferred for best performance. But I really love cushion shape. If I were to get a cushion shape gem, is there H&A cushion or maltese cross cushion in ruby/sapphire just like in diamond?

Thank you.

 

[chrono]

If you think diamonds aren't easy to purchase, add a magnitude of 100 for coloured gemstones. There is no preferred shape because colour is what matters most. Sparkle, isn't anywhere near the top of the list, even though it matters to some degree. Fat pavilions is to be avoided where possible as it is hiding weight (paying for material you don't see aka faces up smaller than it should). Ovals are more common because the rough material is more conductive to that shape. It makes little sense to cut away the ends just to make it a round stone.

Material wise, ruby and sapphire are both corundum. They are essentially the same, other than the fact that they are tainted by different colouring agents, making one red and the other blue, orange, green, etc. I am aware that you are referring to blue sapphires in particular but sapphires come in a variety of colours. Therefore, ruby and sapphire are equally durable. That said, rubies are rarely clean and clarity plays a factor in durability. A clean stone is more durable than its clarity challenged kin.

If you want a stone with high brilliancy, a precision cut stone may be what you are looking for. That said, few precision lapidaries are able to get the very best coloured rough, if your intention is to get a fine coloured gemstone. If you are looking for the maltese cross type antique cushion, the only way to get this is to contact a precision lapidary. Even then, he or she may not be able to source a ruby / blue sapphire that is well coloured, clean enough, big enough, untreated, etc..... I hope you are starting to get the big picture. Coloured stones are so much rarer than diamonds that many have to decide where to compromise.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/corundum-sapphire-and-ruby-treatment.175354/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/corundum-sapphire-and-ruby-treatment.175354/[/URL]

 

[athenaworth]

What Chrono said. Damn you’re good at this.

 

[peacechick]

+1. So succinctly put! I think this answer from Chrono should be added to the sticky intro thread about buying colored stones as it includes a little more extra information about what to consider.

 

[SB621]

What Chrono said. Damn you’re good at this.

And that is why she got the 1k prize from PS. So helpful Chrono!!!!

 

[Ashleigh]

If you think diamonds aren't easy to purchase, add a magnitude of 100 for coloured gemstones. There is no preferred shape because colour is what matters most. Sparkle, isn't anywhere near the top of the list, even though it matters to some degree. Fat pavilions is to be avoided where possible as it is hiding weight (paying for material you don't see aka faces up smaller than it should). Ovals are more common because the rough material is more conductive to that shape. It makes little sense to cut away the ends just to make it a round stone.

Material wise, ruby and sapphire are both corundum. They are essentially the same, other than the fact that they are tainted by different colouring agents, making one red and the other blue, orange, green, etc. I am aware that you are referring to blue sapphires in particular but sapphires come in a variety of colours. Therefore, ruby and sapphire are equally durable. That said, rubies are rarely clean and clarity plays a factor in durability. A clean stone is more durable than its clarity challenged kin.

If you want a stone with high brilliancy, a precision cut stone may be what you are looking for. That said, few precision lapidaries are able to get the very best coloured rough, if your intention is to get a fine coloured gemstone. If you are looking for the maltese cross type antique cushion, the only way to get this is to contact a precision lapidary. Even then, he or she may not be able to source a ruby / blue sapphire that is well coloured, clean enough, big enough, untreated, etc..... I hope you are starting to get the big picture. Coloured stones are so much rarer than diamonds that many have to decide where to compromise.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/corundum-sapphire-and-ruby-treatment.175354/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/corundum-sapphire-and-ruby-treatment.175354/[/URL]

Thanks for taking the time to write this detailed response, Chrono. It clarified some misconceptions I have and also made me realise that more research is needed as I want a quality piece of RHR. Thanks for the links too. They're very helpful.

 

[JewelFreak]

Chrono did it again! Complete & on point.

--- Laurie