Help deciding on ring purchase

[invisible_dwarf]

Hi, I'm brand new to the world of gems and jewelry and am looking for help! I am buying an engagement ring. I'm on a budget and have been looking for something in the $500-$1000 range, and recently came across these two vintage ruby rings.

Although I'm been doing some research on gem quality, I'm not sure about quality of these rings and the gems, and wanted to get some idea if they are worth the price, or if I should keep waiting and looking. They are both .5 carat and 14k white gold.

Thank you for any feedback!

Ring 1





Ring 2

 

[ihy138]

Hi there! You may get a better response in the "Rocky Talky" forum, as it gets a lot more traffic. I don't know much about rubies, but these are lovely rings. Have you seen them in person?

 

[invisible_dwarf]

I did see these in person, and think the first was better. The ruby in the first one had a bit more sparkle (but was a little bit smaller) and had a sharper look than the second, and I like the setting a bit more. I did read somewhere that purplish rubies are less valued, and I'm not completely set on the color (I don't mind it, but was hoping to find more of a violet sapphire or a spinel). I really, really like the settings though!

 

[chrono]

What are you looking for in a ring? Colour? Clarity? Do you care about treatment?

1. "Ruby" 1 looks more like a pinkish purple sapphire than ruby. It seems to have a fairly large inclusion on the upper left, so it's not eye clean?

2. "Ruby" 2 is also pinkish purple and would be considered sapphire rather than ruby. It looks less sparkly than "Ruby" 1 due to the cut. It has a large window, which is where the cut isn't good so light leaks through the stone instead of reflecting colour back to the eye, hence the dead area in the middle.

For your budget, I doubt you will be able to score a reddish ruby unless it is lead glass filled and/or diffused.

 

[invisible_dwarf]

Thanks for the help. Besides, the setting (which is why I really like the two above), color is the most important factor. I don't really mind if it's heated.

For the color, I'm looking for a dark purple like the following:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUSTOM-CUT-...824387?hash=item567e295103:g:5NEAAOSw5ZBWQbxE

https://www.etsy.com/listing/256540066/unheated-purple-ceylon-sapphire-5mm?ref=shop_home_active_6

http://www.djraregems.com/gems2015/11/19047-Sapphire.jpg

http://www.big-sky-gems.com/siteimages/PICT0150.JPG

For the setting, I'm looking for something like the following (preferably in white gold):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ART...896613?hash=item280d200ee5:g:S5UAAOSwQJhUbpBv

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-DIA...730744?hash=item280cff0278:g:Fw8AAOSw6dNWTBFM

 

[chrono]

Oh, so you are after a heated purple sapphire, which is doable for your budget. Please post in CS where many will gladly help you spend your money....I mean, find the ring of your dreams.
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