Is it worth it to try and get an unheated ruby?

[paperunicorn]

Hi friends!

I've decided that I'd like to start saving for a ruby or an emerald and have been doing some research. Obviously a ruby is probably going to be more expensive due to rarity, but in my searching I've found so few unheated rubies, with such a huge price difference between them and the heated gems, that I'm hoping to get some thoughts from PSers with more gemstone experience than I. Could you share your thoughts about completely natural vs. heat treated gemstones? Thank you in advance.

 

[chrono]

The heated 1 ct ruby range I like are already in the 7K to 10K price range, therefore I’m fairly sure I won’t buy any.

 

[lovedogs]

I am definitely someone who doesn't care about heat treatment. It's incredibyi common and doesn't alter the stabilty of the stone. For me, the price jump is completely not worth it for unheated. But it's definitely a personal preference.

 

[voce]

What will you do with the ruby once you have it? If you plan on getting it primarily to wear yourself, why should heated vs unheated even matter?

In my humble opinion, the only reasons to go unheated are if you are buying gems as an investment, selling them later, or if the ruby you fall in love with in person happens to be unheated, and you can't be persuaded to love another ruby as much.

 

[strawrose]

I’m okay with heat as long as it doesn’t come with lead-filling, too.

 

[T L]

Many unheated rubies look like pyrope garnets, but cost $$$$$$$ simply because they’re unheated. You want to make sure it’s nice ruby color even if you’re looking for an untreated stone.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I would care if I had a gazillion dollars but I don't so I'd rather spend that money on another ring!

That said I accidentally bought an unheated pink sapphire and I do get a kick out of it but it was an accident. I wouldn't pay more for no heat!

 

[arglthesheep]

It depends on you. If you just go on color, heat or no heat shouldn´t be the decision breaker. But if you want an untreated (be careful as faceting is already a kind of treatment) you need unheated. So whats your idea? But to be clear just heat, no flux, no glas filling, no diffusion.....

 

[Anne111]

I'd rather sacrifice size than buying a treated stone. I think we all agree that 'heat-only' is kind of OK, but making sure that it is actually heat-only and nothing else is not that easy. Also, reading through past years many treatments were sold as 'heat-only' until somebody discovered that mischief had been done nevertheless, e.g. high-heat-treating synthetic ruby to make it look almost indistinguishable from natural heat-only. Therefore I stick with no treatments at all, or rather nothing. IMO.

 

[Indylady]

Heat is fine but fissure filling or BE is not fine for me. It won’t look any different to the eye. On rubies, I do prefer Burmese or a ruby with flouro and a pure red or purple modifier. Finewater gems has a nice ruby with a slight orange modifier for $2k now.

 

[paperunicorn]

Heat is fine but fissure filling or BE is not fine for me. It won’t look any different to the eye. On rubies, I do prefer Burmese or a ruby with flouro and a pure red or purple modifier. Finewater gems has a nice ruby with a slight orange modifier for $2k now.

I am very strongly considering that one. That bright red is very much what I'm looking for.

 

[Indylady]

I recently inquired about it and he sent me a video--you might ask him to send it to you too if you considering it. I'm still considering it but am just not quite there yet on pulling the trigger; I also made some other unrelated jewelry purchases recently so I'm trying to slow down. It is about the 'best deal' I've seen in a while.

I think Burmese pair of 5mm rubies is also a good deal https://gemfix.com/gems/ruby-19-572, a bit hazy, yes, but I like the color a lot.

This one at 4.7mm is also affordable and nice. https://gemfix.com/gems/ruby-19-570 I already have one in that size and I am itching for bigger, though.

 

[Indylady]

This is very nice too. Perhaps a bit too purple, but I do really like it: https://gemfix.com/gems/ruby-19-583. Reds are hard to find without a modifier; and the ones that don't one can be pricey (as we all know). While I love jewelry, I am shy to plunk the kind of cash necessary on a fine and sizeable ruby, which is why my reds are small, lol.

 

[paperunicorn]

This is very nice too. Perhaps a bit too purple, but I do really like it: https://gemfix.com/gems/ruby-19-583. Reds are hard to find without a modifier; and the ones that don't one can be pricey (as we all know). While I love jewelry, I am shy to plunk the kind of cash necessary on a fine and sizeable ruby, which is why my reds are small, lol.

I'm definitely trying for the .90-1+ct range, so I still think the finewater one is my top pick, especially since it's more of a cardinal red than a wine red; the pinker one is beautiful but my synthetic Alexandrite has a very similar color to that in certain light, so I feel like I have that bold magenta covered.

I am thinking about doing a 3-stone with a 1ct and a pair of smaller stones as well...I've seen a few good deals on wee matched pairs or mixed lots.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Red is hard to capture in photos, I think, so your best bet is to order it from Gary and see it in-person.