Ruby to Celebrate!

[scoseg]

My wife is 6 months pregnant with our first (and the first grandchild for both of our parents) and I have a strong feeling that a ruby would be a good way to celebrate!

My wife previously commented on how much she loved her mother's vintage ruby ring which she sold when they moved from Russia. I know this ring was not overly expensive but my wife admired it often. I have a note to my mother in law and she is going to take pictures of a ring very similar to hers that her mother still wears.

My wife currently is the happy owner of some lovely diamonds (earrings, wedding band, wedding ring) that this forum has kindly guided me through in the past which is sincerely appreciated as she loves them all.

I went through a similar search for beautiful emeralds last year and almost pulled the trigger on a pair of smaller but high quality stones for earrings. We ended up going to Columbia this year and my wife found a large, very flawed emerald ring that she decided on instead that was about 1/8 the cost of the studs I was going to pick out. I'm finding she likes high quality, smaller diamonds, but when it comes to colored stones, she prefers large and flawed (which turns out to be cheaper).

I'm now on the hunt for a larger (relative, I'm sure) ruby ring or earrings. Size is more important than quality and I have figured out she would like something more "vintage" in a setting while no other stones to distract from the ruby/rubies. I have not set a budget but after some research I believe the $1500 mark is a good starting point.

Any recommendations for where to start looking for the stone + setting combinations? I found the "deals" section at the link below but with her preference toward a vintage setting I'm not sure I have the smarts to pick a stone without seeing it in a vintage setting:
http://www.africagems.com/discount-ruby.html

Thank you all!

 

[Starzin]

Just to clarify... is the $1500 for the stones alone or for the stones and setting? We can help you find vintage settings as long as the stones are close to calibrated size, semi-mounts (stock settings) should be the way to go rather than expensive custom.

If that is Africagems discount rubies page then they have no pairs.

How do you feel about #560 on Gemfix?
http://www.gemfix.com/ruby.html

 

[scoseg]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and offering your guidance. The #560 pair on Gemfix look great. The shape and color seem great to me and with the right setting they just might work. I'm trying to interpret my wife's preference of vintage look with a these nice round stones. I appreciate the help from everyone in finding good stone options as well has helping me interpret what I learn from my wife without having her pick out the stones and setting herself. Guessing games are fun!

And to make sure I was clear previously - earrings or a large ring will do the trick so I don't specifically need pairs.

I don't have a strict budget but also know this particular purchase doesn't need to be top quality at a high price. For now, we can say my all in budget is not to exceed $2500. My main goal is to get a noticeable stone(s) in a vintage design. Flaws, in a way, are welcome as long as the flaw is not that it's simply red-colored glass.

I'm happy to answer any more questions and really do appreciate your guidance.

 

[chrono]

If size matters more, there are other PSers who can sniff out a good ruby deal. No idea what sorts of treatment the ruby underwent but it's a readymade ring (if the size fits) and you're okay with the final sale policy.

http://diamondbistro.com/category/219/Colored-Center-Stone/listings/38961/Ruby-halo-ring.html

 

[scoseg]

Excellent, thank you so much! This might be more in line with what I'm looking for. A few thoughts:

I know treatment is important when considering rubies but as long as the stone does not fall apart my wife will be happy.
She specifically mentioned she does not like other stones around the ruby. She wants it to be the star. Maybe a unique setting/settings would help give the entire piece more personality and the vintage feel she is going for?
Price looks good but willing to spend more for a larger stone.

I've included pictures of the very flawed emerald we purchased in Colombia which she picked out herself and she absolutely loves it.




Thank you for helping me hunt!

 

[Starzin]

I know treatment is important when considering rubies but as long as the stone does not fall apart my wife will be happy.

As long as you (and she) are realistic about this
Congratulations on the bub to come by the way

Some people really do like the size and more casual "earthy" look of these stones. One Etsy vendor whose work I like very much and who specialises in this type of jewellery is Melanie Casey and I've attached two pink sapphire rings she currently has, as a bonus there's also a pair of earrings. You might like to ask Melanie if she has/can get a ruby.

Unfortunately, you are probably NOT going to find the size and umm... clarity (or lack of) among the stock of vendors in our sticky at the top of the forum because well... it's more easily found on etsy or ebay.

But you are going to have to be vigilant if you're not to buy a ring that WILL fall apart!
Heat only is okay (but the term heat can cover BE and G-F)
BE diffusion is okay
Glass-filled is NOT okay in any way shape or form and this one WILL fall apart on you
Brecciated - ground ruby glued together with resin of some description a la turquoise (avoid)

You are going to have to ask the specific question "Is this stone glass-filled" and if they try this on-
*Genuine Rubies, in general, are filled with an organic material due to natural occurrences of fractures in the gemstones. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solid-10k-Y...54043391?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item19f32dbcff
Run away as fast as you can because it's a lie and a big red flag! Nowhere in his listing does he state it's natural OR treated and I would read it as glass filled (G-F)

I managed to find a couple of others on a quick ebay search which might fit the bill.

Unfortunately this is probably too small for your need because it's even got a GIA report stating it's unheated!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-32ct-GIA-...4333?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4625ef82ed

This carved one OTOH is probably too big (and a bit dark) for a ring but how about a pendant?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Natural-rub...t-can-be-set-on-a-crown-or-cane-/141171735118 I don't know about the mystical protection though. Where do they find this stuff? OTOH maybe the mention of pregnant ladies is just a way of jumping out at you
Comment: Ruby 441ct. Natural un cooked real Ruby. As a mystical protection for pregnant lady from miss carrying.when touching the body.

This one may fall in to the Just Right basket for size and it does state it is "diffused". This usually means BE diffused but don't assume - you need to ask "What is is diffused with?" because the answer might be glass. Note the upside down colour because that's closer to what it's likely to be.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Natural-loo...7671?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item20eb3a6ad7

Other than that,if none of those works for you, have a look and come and ask us to take a look at it.
You can start here http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...ated.TRS0&_nkw=loose+ruby+BE+treated&_sacat=0

 

[Starzin]

Oops! The carved one is auctioning - starting at $500

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Natural-rub...t-can-be-set-on-a-crown-or-cane-/141409661418

 

[scoseg]

Starzin! You are amazing! Thank you so much for all of your guidance and suggestions. I've done some digging and got in touch with Melanie Casey who quickly responded, read (and appreciated your kind note), and we're starting to work out the details.

Thank you so very much for your recommendations!

 

[Starzin]

You're welcome and... Fantastic!!! I'm so pleased you followed up with Melanie as I think she's one person who is doing this well.

Please do keep us updated.. I'm very interested to see what you come yo with together

 

[pregcurious]

I like the earrings that Starzin posted.

 

[LD]

Starzin has linked to some great options for you but I would add one caution. Nearly all of those big rubies have been dyed to the max. What that means is that over time the colour will fade (slightly). I was given a piece of emerald, sapphire and ruby in a large size as a gift from a vendor and even though they're in my safe and not in the light, their dye leaked out onto the cream backing they were sitting on.

 

[scoseg]

Hello and thank you all again for guiding me along this adventure and to Starzin for suggesting Melanie Casey and to Melanie for her amazing vision and partnership over the last month. The final product on Melanie's site below.

http://www.melaniecaseyjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-custom-vintage-inspired-ring-with.html




The goal was to come up with a modern spin on the vintage ring of my wife's grandmother substituting a Ruby for the Garnet all while keeping the budget within reason and the Ruby stone as natural as possible given the price constraints. I know, not an easy request and it became clear the more I learned about what I was asking for, the more I needed someone in the know.

Melanie jumped right in and her passion for the process was immediately apparent. We had some great brainstorming sessions and I helped where I could but deferred 99.9% of the vision to Melanie's expertise and I'm glad I did. She found the stone, had it cut and designed and created the incredible ring and setting. Melanie is extremely collaborative in her process and I'm also grateful she isn't afraid to guide the way with her own opinion when faced with someone like me who just wants to celebrate my wife and her awesomeness while bringing a little boy into the world.

Sincere thanks to Melanie and those of you on PriceScope.

 

[Starzin]

Hi scoseg What great timing... I was just thinking of you yesterday and wondering how you got on.

I'm so pleased for you that you were able to connect with Melanie and together were able to come up with a new and special ring for your wife which does indeed echo her grandmother's. Yet the gentle curved shape of the shank with the princess cut diamond echoing the cutouts makes it one of a kind.

I don't know whether it's the way the ring is sitting or perhaps the way it's photographed, but is the stone a little off the straight? If it is and it concerns you, perhaps talk to Melanie about it.

Thank you soooo much for coming back and showing us the end product - so many times we're left hanging without knowing what the end result was

So when's D(addy)-day?

ETA: Forgot to ask... what were the dimensions of the ruby in the end? I trust your wife will love it and thank you for the great sense of humour you brought to the quest, you've been a delight!

 

[chrono]

Glad you managed to find something your wife loves without breaking the bank. I also agree with Starzin to take another look at the ruby ring because it looks as though it is slightly skewed in the setting (or a photographic effect if the ring isn't level to the surface it is on).

 

[melaniecaseyjewelry]

Melanie Casey here -- the artist who made the ring for this project -- to answer some of the final questions for you all.

The Ruby was photographed on an uneven concave plate, and it definitely threw off the symmetry of the setting in that photo! I took a quick video of the ring to show that it's not actually tilted like that. Since this ring was created by hand carving wax instead of using CAD or premade settings, there was some variation in the thickness of each prong that also made the setting look a bit wonky in that photo. Since taking those photos, I have refined the prongs further and I am happy to report that the Ruby is now perfectly straight, and the prongs are all perfectly matched! A little swipe of a file really makes a world of difference!

Here is the video of the ring: http://melaniecaseyjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/11/ruby-ring-custom-design.html

The final ruby measured 9mm x 11mm, and weighs a whopping 5.58 carats.

This Ruby came from my dealers very very old stock, so we were able to avoid most of the scary treatments that can cause a stone to fade/leak/break/or give me an "ew" factor. It has no glass filling or flux enhancement, and my dealer was quite certain that it has not been dyed or color treated. As I mentioned to Scoseg, there isn't a 100% guarantee that the stone is not color treated in some way because I have not had it tested, but the price was right and it's truly beautiful so I accepted my dealers personal guarantee. I had it custom faceted, because the original cut was a basic smooth cabochon. This was one difficult stone to find!

Thank you all so much for weighing in, the information provided here was extremely valuable! Also, I would like to add a huge thank you to Starzin for recommending me for this project!!

 

[chrono]

It looks so much prettier in the video with the large flash reflection as it moves.

 

[LoversKites]

Hi Melanie I'm a fan of the style. I hope you stick around or visit this forum from time to time.

I think in motion the ruby looks better than in the photos because you can see the lustre clearly -- I agree with Chrono.

 

[scoseg]

Starzin - We anticipate the little man arriving end of December or very early January.

Melanie was completely open each step of the way with what we knew as fact and the current assumptions with the stone. Our goal was to find something beautiful to the eye and as natural as possible. Much, much, much appreciation to Melanie for her partnership in this adventure!

I will try to get a video of my wife's jaw dropping when she sees the ring. Now to figure out when to hand it over. On the way to the hospital to help her take her mind off of the excitement to come or just after while the little man relaxes on her chest. I'll figure this one out on my own.

 

[chrono]

As a woman who has gone through this twice, I'd say after the delivery. She will have enough excitement on her hands dealing with the contractions on the way to the hospital.

 

[LoversKites]

As a woman who has gone through this twice, I'd say after the delivery. She will have enough excitement on her hands dealing with the contractions on the way to the hospital.

Sound advice

 

[partgypsy]

As a woman who has gone through this twice, I'd say after the delivery. She will have enough excitement on her hands dealing with the contractions on the way to the hospital.

as a mother of 2, ditto! I really like that design, I'd be very surprised if your wife didn't like it.

 

[distracts]

The ring looks very cool! I really love it in the video. Good work - both to the jeweler and OP! I am sure your wife will love it!

 

[Starzin]

Hi Melanie and welcome to PS!! Thanks for stopping by and clarifying a few things

Since taking those photos, I have refined the prongs further and I am happy to report that the Ruby is now perfectly straight, and the prongs are all perfectly matched! A little swipe of a file really makes a world of difference!

Well done you for taking it on board (or deciding on your own) and adding that finishing touch - we PSers are a bit of a fussy lot about things like that Thanks so much for the video - it looks great.

Congratulations also on accepting the challenge and managing to find that ruby - no easy task I'm sure. It's good that you have confidence in it's source and stability and I applaud both you and scoseg for the interpretation of grandmother's ring... very special indeed

The video certainly does show it off well and you seem to have won over a few PSers

Thank you all so much for weighing in, the information provided here was extremely valuable! Also, I would like to add a huge thank you to Starzin for recommending me for this project!!

I'm pleased you found the info helpful and hopefully you'll find enough of interest here to become a regular part of the community. Do have a look around at the other sub-forums.

Starzin - We anticipate the little man arriving end of December or very early January.

Then Christmas should be very exciting for you both - best wishes to you and your wife.

I will try to get a video of my wife's jaw dropping when she sees the ring. Now to figure out when to hand it over. On the way to the hospital to help her take her mind off of the excitement to come or just after while the little man relaxes on her chest. I'll figure this one out on my own.

I'd actually be tempted to again take PSers advice on this one