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Does this stone have a large window?

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lucyc

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 15, 2025
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9
Is this a nice ruby? Does it have a large window?IMG_5434.jpeg
 

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Welcome to PS!

Can't tell based on the photos alone.

Can't even tell if it is silky from the photos, sorry.

DK :))
 
I don’t know about the window, but I am not a fan of this style of photograph that purposely hides the table.

Also, but that's a personal opinion, the color is on the brownish side, not what I want in a ruby, and a strong indicator of absence of fluorescence. A bit like a garnet, but 20x the price.

Would it be a sound purchase? Depends on the price and on how much you like it. Personally, I would pass
 
lucyc said:
I’ve got a better picture that shows a scratch across the middle
Click to expand...


Also wanted to add a random guess that’s not a scratch over the table surface but a veil at the surface & within.

I think the stone has a window, yes. The material isn’t as crystalline as example pictures given, so doesn’t look exactly the same.
 
Also a no from me as I am not keen on the colour as I can see brown.

Still can't see from the larger photo if there is a window of concern.

DK :))
 
dk168 said:
Also a no from me as I am not keen on the colour as I can see brown.

Still can't see from the larger photo if there is a window of concern.

DK :))
Click to expand...

Thank you, a few people have said it looks brown so I’ll keep on looking. Is this stone a better colour? The certificate says vivid to deep red so I’m worried it will be dark once set. Unfortunately the vendor is overseas so there is no way for me to view the stones in real life.

IMG_5444.jpegIMG_5447.jpegIMG_5446.jpegIMG_5443.jpeg
 
Hello there and welcome to PS! :wavey:

So the color looks a little better on the second one. As others already mentioned, the first stone was far too orange/brown, IMO to even be classified as a ruby... I might consider it orangey/brownish-red corundum. As @VividRed said, in that case, one might as well buy a garnet at a fraction of the cost.

In any event, with regard to the second stone, I can't really tell much about the clarity or cut quality, because it's rather silky. But the first stone's "scratch" was most certainly a large and unattractive inclusion. So if this is from the same seller, and he/she was not disclosing that before you asked for more photos, beware. The inclusion looked strategically hidden in the first set of photos.
 
The colour is nicer in the second stone.

However it is silky, if the silkiness is real and not manipulated to look blur to hide a window. It looks too evenly silky is my concern.

Not an expert, just commenting based on my own opinion and what I can see from the photos.

DK :))
 
Welcome.
Rubies are tricky.
The two main rules are-
No 1 is a reputable lab certificate and
No 2 is the ability to return the gem if it isn’t as expected.
Anyone selling gemstones will take the photos that best display the gem however how a gemstone actually performs in real life can depend upon where you live, time of year and whether inside or outside and that’s even before setting the gem.
Aside from origin and treatment status, tone and hue matter a lot.
Some rubies tone towards brown and/ or can be very dark with little to no fluorescence.
Some rubies have significant inclusions that affect light return ie silk and some inclusions can affect the rubies structural integrity.
Going back to why a reputable lab certificate is necessary it is because treatments can turn a horrible blob into a marketable gemstone. Treatments can include coloured flux to improve colour and high heat to alter/ improve structural defects, colour imperfections. And while it may not matter for “looks” it hugely affects price / value. You do not want to be buying a $5,000 ruby actually worth $500 or less. And these days no one sells a top quality ruby cheap. No one.
There are a few Psers who adore rubies and are always on the lookout for an excellent example at a fair price. Some have been looking for years for the best type being Burmese, unheated with excellent tone and hue. At this pointy end of ultimate Ruby cut is down the list of preferences because 99% of these rubies will be old Mogok rubies with a native cut ie cut for carat not optics.
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I started looking a few weeks ago for a ruby for a ring but I’m starting to think I’m never going to find the ideal stone with my budget. I’m looking to spend $13-17k for a stone around 2-2.3 carats. Either oval or cushion, I’m not bothered about where the ruby is from but I want something that hasn’t been heat treated and is eye clean. I’m finding it difficult to ascertain the colour of the stones from photos and videos - they can look ok in some pictures but too dark in others. I’ve come to the conclusion that I like the look of bright red stones.

Most of the rubies I’ve seen online are either GIA or GRS certified which seem to only comment on carat weight, dimensions, origin and whether the stone has been heat treated. GRS does have a comment on colour but I’ve compared several stones that they have labelled as “vivid” but they all look slightly different in colour to me. There’s no mention on cut or clarity and I’ve seen more lopsided stones than nicely cut stones.

Is $13-17k a realistic budget?
 
lucyc said:
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I started looking a few weeks ago for a ruby for a ring but I’m starting to think I’m never going to find the ideal stone with my budget. I’m looking to spend $13-17k for a stone around 2-2.3 carats. Either oval or cushion, I’m not bothered about where the ruby is from but I want something that hasn’t been heat treated and is eye clean. I’m finding it difficult to ascertain the colour of the stones from photos and videos - they can look ok in some pictures but too dark in others. I’ve come to the conclusion that I like the look of bright red stones.

Most of the rubies I’ve seen online are either GIA or GRS certified which seem to only comment on carat weight, dimensions, origin and whether the stone has been heat treated. GRS does have a comment on colour but I’ve compared several stones that they have labelled as “vivid” but they all look slightly different in colour to me. There’s no mention on cut or clarity and I’ve seen more lopsided stones than nicely cut stones.

Is $13-17k a realistic budget?
Click to expand...

I think we can all agree that ruby shopping is one of the most daunting experiences for a collector. We've all been in your shoes at some point. Just keep in mind that an unheated ruby which is medium in tone, vivid in saturation, and eye clean is one of the most cost prohibitive gems on the market. So is your budget realistic? It's difficult for me to say "no," because $17k is a lot of money. But will you find a stone over 2ct. that meets the parameters you mentioned above, all while staying on budget? I think it's more likely that you may need to compromise a little bit on one or more factors. But don't get discouraged... I do believe the right gem is out there for all of us!
 
I don’t think that realistic unless you make large compromises. I would recommend looking for a smaller gem to maximize color and ensure it’s a gem for a lifetime. I would personally be fine with heated which might stretch size a little.

I would also personally work with a vendor to source me a stone as for a purchase this important I would want to ensure I had excellent images and a return policy, plus the benefit of the vendors eye and connections.
 
lucyc said:
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I started looking a few weeks ago for a ruby for a ring but I’m starting to think I’m never going to find the ideal stone with my budget. I’m looking to spend $13-17k for a stone around 2-2.3 carats. Either oval or cushion, I’m not bothered about where the ruby is from but I want something that hasn’t been heat treated and is eye clean. I’m finding it difficult to ascertain the colour of the stones from photos and videos - they can look ok in some pictures but too dark in others. I’ve come to the conclusion that I like the look of bright red stones.

Most of the rubies I’ve seen online are either GIA or GRS certified which seem to only comment on carat weight, dimensions, origin and whether the stone has been heat treated. GRS does have a comment on colour but I’ve compared several stones that they have labelled as “vivid” but they all look slightly different in colour to me. There’s no mention on cut or clarity and I’ve seen more lopsided stones than nicely cut stones.

Is $13-17k a realistic budget?
Click to expand...

I think it might be realistic, just need some patience and looking around, but it depends on what you want exactly. Small quality differences can make a big difference in price. Many prefer a touch of silk. But if you are looking for a more clear crystal that would be costlier and difficult to find.
For example, if not for being so windowed and if you were happy with some silk, this might have been a contender. However, it might lean orangey - I can't tell for sure based on the videos.

Loose Ruby - Oval 2.25 Ct. - #R13471 | The Natural Ruby Company

<p>Discover the epitome of elegance with our rare 2.25 carat oval-shaped red ruby. Certified by GRS, this exquisite gemstone from The Natural Ruby Company is a testament to both beauty and rarity. Crafted with a mixed brilliant cut, the ruby showcases dimensions of 9.75 x 7.47 x 3.09 mm that...
thenaturalrubycompany.com

I echo the above that if you are dropping a bunch of $ then you should be completely satisfied with the stone and not 'settle'.

I wouldn't fuss about GRS's color grade. They do actually have a cut grade ("vibrant") which is oddly placed in the color descriptor. But I've seen windowed stones with that note.
 
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toomuchB said:
I think it might be realistic, just need some patience and looking around, but it depends on what you want exactly. Small quality differences can make a big difference in price. Many prefer a touch of silk. But if you are looking for a more clear crystal that would be costlier and difficult to find.
For example, if not for being so windowed and if you were happy with some silk, this might have been a contender. However, it might lean orangey - I can't tell for sure based on the videos.

Loose Ruby - Oval 2.25 Ct. - #R13471 | The Natural Ruby Company

<p>Discover the epitome of elegance with our rare 2.25 carat oval-shaped red ruby. Certified by GRS, this exquisite gemstone from The Natural Ruby Company is a testament to both beauty and rarity. Crafted with a mixed brilliant cut, the ruby showcases dimensions of 9.75 x 7.47 x 3.09 mm that...
thenaturalrubycompany.com

I echo the above that if you are dropping a bunch of $ then you should be completely satisfied with the stone and not 'settle'.

I wouldn't fuss about GRS's color grade. They do actually have a cut grade ("vibrant") which is oddly placed in the color descriptor. But I've seen windowed stones with that note.
Click to expand...

I think the color is quite nice actually... it's also clean AND untreated. I know we're not as fussy about cut when it comes to rarer gems, but this one is extremely shallow with a colossal window that is nearly the area of the entire stone. It's a shame, really, but I assume the cutter did the best he/she could with a thin crystal. And I guess that's why it's so reasonably priced. This is what everyone means by the possible need for compromise. Anyway, great suggestion nonetheless. It should give OP hope that something might be out there in the 2ct./$17k range that ticks the majority of the boxes!
 
Is this considered a nice stone? I asked about the marks beside the tweezers and the vendor told me it’s just a reflection of the tweezers. I also told the vendor that the colour was a bit dark for my liking but he said that under different lighting it would look more red.


IMG_5601.jpegIMG_5605.jpegIMG_5603.jpegIMG_5600.jpeg
 

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lucyc said:
I also told the vendor that the colour was a bit dark for my liking but he said that under different lighting it would look more red.
Click to expand...

And then you end up with a stone that only looks good under certain conditions, while in any other light it's dark and unattractive to your eyes.

In short, the seller is trying to pull the wool over your eyes in order to make the sale.

One of the most desirable qualities any stone could have is holding its appearance and good colour under most light conditions. If you want something brighter, then you should definitely not settle something that's only occasionally bright.
 
lucyc said:
Is this considered a nice stone? I asked about the marks beside the tweezers and the vendor told me it’s just a reflection of the tweezers. I also told the vendor that the colour was a bit dark for my liking but he said that under different lighting it would look more red.


IMG_5601.jpegIMG_5605.jpegIMG_5603.jpegIMG_5600.jpeg
Click to expand...

I think most of us live (or shop) by the premise that vendors usually send you photos of the gem looking its best. So I would expect this stone, the majority of the time, to resemble the 2nd and 3rd photos in terms of tone and brilliance.
 
Thank you - I appreciate everyone’s comments on the stones I’ve shown. Could you also critique this stone? I like the colour, size and how it reflects light but it has this blackness which I think is extinction. Does this mean it’s cut badly and will look even worse once set?


IMG_5753.jpegIMG_5719.jpegIMG_5712.jpeg
 
Yeah, it has some extinction, but not unexpected for a native cut ruby. It is, however, extremely silky. So that is an individual tolerance thing. There's also quite a bit of feathering going on in the lower left quadrant. With regard to the color, again, this is a preference thing, but she's a tad orangey for my tastes. All-in-all, I fear she may be rather lackluster in person. But price vs. weight, treatment, and origin will influence the desirability.
 
lucyc said:
Thank you - I appreciate everyone’s comments on the stones I’ve shown. Could you also critique this stone? I like the colour, size and how it reflects light but it has this blackness which I think is extinction. Does this mean it’s cut badly and will look even worse once set?
Click to expand...

I have seen this kind of dark 'patchiness' in photos of this material and I assume its a cut thing or light return thing (due to silk).

This one photographs with some dark patches, but the video shows it has a minor and typical half-half 'darkening' (not extinction) effect common in cushions, and not uneven dark patches as the image indicates (but its heated).
gemfix.com

ruby #19-575, Cushion Mixed Cut, 2.01cts - Gemfix

Natural Ruby Cushion
gemfix.com gemfix.com
 
IMG_6885.jpegIMG_6886.jpegIMG_6887.jpeg

Does this stone have a lot of silk?
 
Agreed its hard to read those photos but I do notice a silky area beside a transparent area, suggesting the silk is uneven (heavier in some places, little in others) which would bother me personally.

1.png
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm seriously considering getting a red spinal instead - with my budget I don't think I'm going to be able to find a nice ruby.

This stone is outside of my budget, but is this what I should be looking for in terms of clarity and transparency? I'm not sure about the colour - does it have a hint of pink?

storage.googleapis.com/vskstorage/i/v/2MZUH01501.mp4
 
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