Confused about Bluenile ruby pendant

[blue ice]

I don't post here much, but I lurk a lot - probably read 100 topics before posting this, and I'm still confused.

My lady's July birthday is coming up, and I've always wanted to buy a beautiful ruby, so I have been looking at this pendant:

http://www.bluenile.com/ruby-diamond-pendant_6118

What I'm confused about is the center ruby and the price of the pendant. From what I can tell Bluenile has been accused of using synthetic stones, glass-filled stones, and enhancements; they admit to a variety of enhancements but don't touch either of the previous two topics (and dodged them in an email.) They claim the stone is eye clean and has a medium-dark, purplish-red color, which as far as I can tell makes it a pretty, and pretty desirable stone.

Here's what I don't get: you can find similar-looking pendants around the web for as little as $200; and even Bluenile offers a similar pendant, slightly smaller ruby, for $1150 here: http://www.bluenile.com/ruby-diamond-pendant_6266.

Why the wide disparity in prices? What all would I be paying for if I bought the pricier pendant? Would I be going severely astray?

Some perspective: I'm looking for a pretty stone that has the durability that corundum (and rubies) are famous for. I like this particular setting. Money really isn't an object, resale value is not an issue, but I can't spend this much money without understanding what I'm spending it on. I've dealt with bluenile several times in the past and been quite happy with the results.

From my reading so far, I do understand that rubies aren't diamonds and that their valuation is not determined by an almost mechanical process, the way that diamonds more or less are. I am looking for facts, but also opinions, so please, any opinions about buying a pendant like this would be appreciated.

 

[minousbijoux]

Personally, if they can't answer your questions to your satisfaction, I would not purchase from them. For that amount of money, I would want to know the level of treatment the ruby has, and would want a lab report to confirm. I would not buy it for that price if it was glass filled or otherwise heavily treated. In terms of the significant price difference, between the two, I would speculate that it has to do with the smaller size of the ruby in the other pendant, perhaps more invasive treatment or smaller and/or lesser quality diamonds. Other than those possibilities, it beats me...

 

[chrono]

Unfortunately, rubies are one of the most highly treated, yet undisclosed gemstones around. Worse yet, treatment affects the price greatly, therefore, I would never buy unless the vendor has full disclosure and can PROVE it. Knowing the treatment the ruby has undergone will also help in knowing how to care for it. If the stone is a composite, for example, then you'll know (as will the jeweller who has been informed) not to let it undergo any acid cleaning or your stone might just fall apart.

[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]

 

[partgypsy]

Personally? I'd ask Wink Jones to source something for you. The price won't be any less, but you will know what you are getting.