Amazing RED Ruby & A Quandary

[iLander]

So I purchased this ruby from Michael at Gemline/Litnon

http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9551

The thing is huge, around 8 x 12. The color is EXTRAORDINARY! As stunningly red as anything I have EVER seen. Breathtaking. The transparency is lovely.

The color and size are beyond even my holy grail desires.

The cut is abyssmal. I think it's too shallow, but I'm checking with Jerry at Gemart to see if he can do anything. I doubt it, because it's so shallow. DH took a cell phone pic of it upside down, to show how shallow.

I'm debating. Do I return it, and wait for a ruby with a better cut? I probably wouldn't be able to afford that. Do I keep it and just not expect sparkle? Think of it as a cabachon, sorta? Many rubies don't sparkle, they are just too opaque or silky. Good color is soooo hard to find, and this is it, no question.

Then if I do keep it, how to set it? I don't want the usual big diamond halo, that's been done to death. The halos always make you say "Great ring", I want a setting that says "Great stone!".

Ugh, this one is actually keeping me up at night . . .

 

[chrono]

With that size, you don't need a halo. Just a more enclosed gallery (it doesn't even need to be bezeled, prongs will do) to make the window less obvious. Are you saying this ruby has little to no sparkle?

 

[VapidLapid]

WoW

No re-cut will be able to change the 50% depth unless you would be content with two .75 carat stones.

A special custom setting is the way I would go. Either having the back foiled, or a setting with the interior of the basket "faceted" and polished to mimic a deeper stone. Or possibly a reflector setting similar to that pendent that Arkteia had a few years ago, after that guy had one made for his wife with a tsavorite (?) from Gene. If you want it to be a ring that could still be done on a smaller scale.

I think it is a keeper, just one that needs special considerations!

 

[chrono]

The pendant was made by Peter Lees, right? Yes, a reflector or foil of sorts will help make the window less obvious. Great idea, VL! I doubt any man or woman can do anything about the 45-ish % depth unless you are willing to make major size reduction concessions, which sort of defeats the purpose of getting a large ruby to begin with, not to mention the negative effect it will have on the colour.

 

[innerkitten]

I would get the opinion of a cutter maybe two. I see it's really shallow. The thing is it will be really hard to find another Burmese ruby and with no treatment.

 

[AGBF]

iLander-

What had you planned to do with the ruby? Had you planned to set it in a ring with prongs? Would setting it in some other way upset you?

Deb

 

[innerkitten]

Can you post a few more photos?

 

[iLander]

With that size, you don't need a halo. Just a more enclosed gallery (it doesn't even need to be bezeled, prongs will do) to make the window less obvious. Are you saying this ruby has little to no sparkle?

Yes, it's the lack of sparkle and my lack of setting ideas. That's what is bothering me.

The window doesn't show at all when it's just sitting on my finger, all you see is the red. I think any setting would close up the window, no question. But still, there's no sparkle.

VAPID- I like the Peter Lees setting, but it would have to be the size of a dinner plate to hold this stone.

I need to take more pics, will do later today.

 

[iLander]

iLander-

What had you planned to do with the ruby? Had you planned to set it in a ring with prongs? Would setting it in some other way upset you?

Deb

A bezel would bother me greatly, yes.

Maybe a 3 stone, with little side stones? The thing is huge . . . it is larger than my pinky fingernail.

 

[iLander]

Can you post a few more photos?

I will do that later today, maybe that will help.

 

[innerkitten]

What does the bottom look like? Is it close to cabochon shape. Maybe it could become a cab by smoothing out the bottom and be set upside down??
It is possible though that with the right setting you could minimize the window etc. It's such a great color that it can almost get by on that alone.

 

[iLander]

What does the bottom look like? Is it close to cabochon shape. Maybe it could become a cab by smoothing out the bottom and be set upside down??
It is possible though that with the right setting you could minimize the window etc. It's such a great color that it can almost get by on that alone.

Actually, the photo is of the bottom. It is upside down, to show how there's not much going on there. The front is pretty flat.

I'll shoot more pics.

This thing bothers me so much, it's almost all I think about all the stinkin' day.

 

[AGBF]

iLander-

What had you planned to do with the ruby? Had you planned to set it in a ring with prongs? Would setting it in some other way upset you?

A bezel would bother me greatly, yes.

Maybe a 3 stone, with little side stones? The thing is huge . . . it is larger than my pinky fingernail.

That is my favorite way to set a colored stone. Why not play with different arrangements to see what looks good with your stone? I did this for pages and pages and got tons of feedback from others on this forum when I was setting a red spinel. People helped me by posting virtual photos of how different size and shape side stones would look with my center stone!

Deb

 

[iLander]

That is my favorite way to set a colored stone. Why not play with different arrangements to see what looks good with your stone? I did this for pages and pages and got tons of feedback from others on this forum when I was setting a red spinel. People helped me by posting virtual photos of how different size and shape side stones would look with my center stone!

Deb
[/quote]

I've been messing around with that, using Litnon's photo, which is pretty accurate, but a tad dark.

Everything is done to scale, my hand, the stone, all correct mm sizes. The first (without hand) is with 4 mm RB (which I have), the second with some half moons from DBL, the first halo is with half pointers, the second halo with one pointers (it's a lot of ring!).

 

[minousbijoux]

I. LOVE. The. Color.

There. I said it!

 

[innerkitten]

That is my favorite way to set a colored stone. Why not play with different arrangements to see what looks good with your stone? I did this for pages and pages and got tons of feedback from others on this forum when I was setting a red spinel. People helped me by posting virtual photos of how different size and shape side stones would look with my center stone!

Deb

I've been messing around with that, using Litnon's photo, which is pretty accurate, but a tad dark.

Everything is done to scale, my hand, the stone, all correct mm sizes. The first (without hand) is with 4 mm RB (which I have), the second with some half moons from DBL, the first halo is with half pointers, the second halo with one pointers (it's a lot of ring!).[/quote]

Looks nice with the larger sides or larger halo to me. If you didn't want to do diamonds maybe you could do some cool metal work.

 

[innerkitten]

I don't know how my reply ( above ) ended up in your reply area instead of separated. Sorry about that.

 

[innerkitten]

What does the bottom look like? Is it close to cabochon shape. Maybe it could become a cab by smoothing out the bottom and be set upside down??
It is possible though that with the right setting you could minimize the window etc. It's such a great color that it can almost get by on that alone.

Actually, the photo is of the bottom. It is upside down, to show how there's not much going on there. The front is pretty flat.

I'll shoot more pics.

This thing bothers me so much, it's almost all I think about all the stinkin' day.

Maybe it could be cabbed then.

 

[chrono]

The rounds look odd and the half-moons disproportionate. It needs some sort of shape tie-in to balance the very tall length. Would you consider 2 or 3 small rounds on each side of the ruby?

The ruby is somewhat clean and would be a shame to be cabbed. Actually, I think its transparency will not do the window much favour in a cabochon either. Here's a funky suggestion. How about turning it upside down and making it a rose cut ruby? Wacky? Maybe.

 

[ChrisA222]

It looks WAY too shallow to do a recut....but, what about having the pavillion recut, setting it upside-down as a rose-cut? I did something similar with a luc yen Spinel that I have, which was too included to facet into a standard faceted stone. Just an idea....

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

I personally find this exciting. The color is beautiful. Now, how is it that no one has suggested this be sent to AGL to verify the claim of no treatment. There are 2 basic mining areas in Burma. Mogok and Mung Hsu. Most rubies nowadays come from Mong Hsu and are treated. I think Mokok is mined out. The embargo has nothing to do with treatment.

If the ruby is untreated(which I question at 2200 hundred dollars), I would just buy it. I prefer the larger halo, and might consider 2 rows. That would be an important ring. I don't get much sparkle from my rubies. Some have that inner glow.
I think you should check treatment out. If all clear, buy it. The color is beautiful.


Annette

 

[chrono]

iLander is no newbie and I thought a suggestion of a lab memo might be insulting to her.

 

[LD]

Apologies I haven't read all the responses but I read your initial post. I can tell you that there's no way that can be recut unless you lose at least 50% or more. The reason I know this is my Paraiba Tourmaline is also a very shallow cut (with a window) but it's not as shallow as yours. I contacted 3 or 4 cutters and every single one said they could but the loss would be huge.

I KEPT IT BECAUSE OF THE COLOUR and the reason I'm shouting that is because of the way you've written about the colour. Keep it! For $2k and 4ct and a colour you love? It's a no-brainer. All you have to do is think very carefully how you'll set it.

EDIT: iLander, I've just gone back and read the thread now and see you're worried about the lack of sparkle? Sparkle is not a term I associate with Ruby to be honest. So long as it's not dead (and from your photos I don't think it is), it's still a keeper for me!

 

[AGBF]

The rounds look odd and the half-moons disproportionate. It needs some sort of shape tie-in to balance the very tall length. Would you consider 2 or 3 small rounds on each side of the ruby?

I isolated this image to look at it and I really like it. Maybe it can be tweaked to be even lovelier so that Chrono loves it, too. Perhaps two small side diamonds on each side as she suggested or a band set with tiny diamonds after the initial one side stone on either side as I prefer? I agree that the larger stones do not look as good. I understand that you want your stone to be the star, too, iLander. And it should be. The only question is how, best, to set it off.

Deb/AGBF

 

[AGBF]

The rounds look odd and the half-moons disproportionate. It needs some sort of shape tie-in to balance the very tall length. Would you consider 2 or 3 small rounds on each side of the ruby?

I isolated this image to look at it and I really like it. Maybe it can be tweaked to be even lovelier so that Chrono loves it, too. Perhaps two small side diamonds on each side as she suggested or a band set with tiny diamonds after the initial one side stone on either side as I prefer? I agree that the larger stones do not look as good. I understand that you want your stone to be the star, too, iLander. And it should be. The only question is how, best, to set it off.

The penny just dropped. Chrono may have meant that a jeweler should set a cluster of three small rounds in a triangle on either side of the ruby. Now that would be lovely!!!

Deb, a bit slow

 

[innerkitten]

What about oval side stones? I set my oval yellow sapphire with smaller ovals and liked the look. Or rectangles?

 

[iLander]

iLander is no newbie and I thought a suggestion of a lab memo might be insulting to her.

I appreciate the help Chrono!

Though you'd have to go a lot further to insult me (and many have).

Yes, it will be going off to AGL . . .

 

[iLander]

Apologies I haven't read all the responses but I read your initial post. I can tell you that there's no way that can be recut unless you lose at least 50% or more. The reason I know this is my Paraiba Tourmaline is also a very shallow cut (with a window) but it's not as shallow as yours. I contacted 3 or 4 cutters and every single one said they could but the loss would be huge.

I KEPT IT BECAUSE OF THE COLOUR and the reason I'm shouting that is because of the way you've written about the colour. Keep it! For $2k and 4ct and a colour you love? It's a no-brainer. All you have to do is think very carefully how you'll set it.

EDIT: iLander, I've just gone back and read the thread now and see you're worried about the lack of sparkle? Sparkle is not a term I associate with Ruby to be honest. So long as it's not dead (and from your photos I don't think it is), it's still a keeper for me!

Well, that makes me feel better, LD. I'm not sure I've seen a sparkler even close to this size in real life. It does have a glow to it.

 

[iLander]

The rounds look odd and the half-moons disproportionate. It needs some sort of shape tie-in to balance the very tall length. Would you consider 2 or 3 small rounds on each side of the ruby?

I isolated this image to look at it and I really like it. Maybe it can be tweaked to be even lovelier so that Chrono loves it, too. Perhaps two small side diamonds on each side as she suggested or a band set with tiny diamonds after the initial one side stone on either side as I prefer? I agree that the larger stones do not look as good. I understand that you want your stone to be the star, too, iLander. And it should be. The only question is how, best, to set it off.

The penny just dropped. Chrono may have meant that a jeweler should set a cluster of three small rounds in a triangle on either side of the ruby. Now that would be lovely!!!

Deb, a bit slow

YES! Chrono and Deb, I think the cluster of 3 stones on each side might just do the trick!

Tomorrow, I'll do some mockups to see if I can get the size/look on that. DH really thinks it should be a big halo, and it would be magnificent, but then it would be another "wear to dinner" ring. But I don't eat out THAT much.

 

[iLander]

Here's some more pics, in various lights (which ALL make my hands look blotchy ) if that helps.

I'll have to sell off quite a bit to replenish the coffers, but I might be ready to do that, if everyone thinks it's a keeper.