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Help first time ruby ring buyer

rubymd

rubymd

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
82
I am in the market for a ruby and diamond ring right now. It isn't actually the first time I have purchased rubies but it is the first time I am trying to do a bunch of research to understand what I am doing and get the best ring I can afford.
The ring will be a right hand ring. I am a july birthday turning 40 in a little over a week. It is also in honor of my now passed grandma who had a large (or large to me as a child) ruby ring that was passed to me when I was 18. Unfortunately my house was robbed a week after I was given the ruby so it was taken. The sweet part of the story is my now husband spent years buying me small rubies including as side stones to my e-ring to make up for me losing my grandmas ring. So I do have a set of standard quality small rubies.
Anyhow my budget isn't large for my ring. I am looking to spend around a $800-$1200 for the ring and setting. I have been lurking for the last week reading all the info on here. I must say I am now lost (or overwhelmed). Partly, it is because people on here seem to be getting much larger rubies than I can afford.
Anyhow my questions are. 1. Is it possible to find a decent heated stone (around a carat) for around $500 +/- and a setting/set for $500 +/- that is either a halo or princess Diana in white gold? So basically a ring for 1000 or 1300?

Where would you go for a setting that was less expensive? I did notice people saying you should worry about a stone first then a setting.

I noticed people mentioning Tan from ebay. I found this on one of his sites. What do you think of this stone ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-17ct-UNHE...1048?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item3a75cad828
Or this from him as well http://odysseygem.com/Gem_Shop/product_info.php?products_id=1718
My eye for online is not very developed so I would love thoughts on it

I am also looking at this stone from GemsNY (any thoughts on them?)
http://www.gemsny.com/ruby/1.87-Carat-Oval-Ruby-R5849OV/
and here is the Diana setting http://www.gemsny.com/ruby-rings/Princess-Diana-Replica-R11143RB/
this would expand my budget so I don't know if it is possible but I love the Diana setting for a ruby.


Or this one
http://www.ajsgem.com/ruby/burma-ruby/burma-ruby-0.68-carats.html

Sorry if this is all silly questions I am just worried about buying a stone and having problems or missing clear issues because I am not seeing the flaws.
Thanks for any advice and for dealing with my long rambling post.
 
Hi. It is REALLY hard to find a sizeable, clean and heat only or unheated stone. I found these two:

http://www.faycullen.com/products/J213R8RD/ With this one, you get both stone and setting, so you don't have to worry about finding a setting. They have some other rubies, but at a higher cost.

And this one from Tan: http://odysseygem.com/Gem_Shop/product_info.php?products_id=1551 has a nice size to it.

I was not in love with the other stones you posted from Tan. On one of them, the pear shape, I didn't like where the inclusion was situated in the stone. That would bug me and cause me to dwell on that spot. The other from Tan, the oval, looks like it will be too dark IRL.
 
I would knock out the Fay Cullen, unless you knew treatment on it (or unless you don't mind if it likely has been invasively treated).
 
I agree with Chrono that it appears that Gemfix has a few nice Burma stones.

ETA: better known as Burmese stones ;))
 
Rubymd - I agree with Minousbijoux about the Fay Cullen. If you are interested in the Fay Cullen, you should contact them to see if they know anything about treatment. Who knows - they may also be willing to have the stone certified - nothing ventured, nothing gained I say. It is probably a good option considering your budget priorities. That said, Gemfix has 3 or 4 stones that are CLOSE to your budget.
 
I really do like the fall Callen. The major issue is that I forgot to mention I wear white gold. I may contact them and ask about the stone and if it is possible to do in white gold. I think that is a long shot since it looks like they put that ring on sale to move it.

I am worried that tan will be too pink for me. I actually like rubies a bit deeper and not as pink. I am tempted to see by ordering it and returning it if I don't like it. How long does Tan take to ship to the US. Also why does he have 3 eBay stores ? That seemed strange to me.

I am luck that I have super small hands my ering and wedding band are sized to a 3 3/4 ( they are actually freakish small since I am 5'9) but this might help a smaller ring stand out on my hand ( I hope)

On gem fix I do like the 1 ct cushion 6 x 4.9 VS Burma 517 for $750 it says deep cheery color eye clean Heat treated or The oval 6.6 x 4.7
Vs Burma 513 Heat With deep red color. Given what you all said before should I assume the second one will be too dark?

And on setting I looked through the color ring pinned thread and seems a lot of people got settings from LOGR on eBay that were pretty and reasonable. If I do that and take it to a local shop to get set what should I factor in for the labor?

And I am curious what I should think of gemsny. They do explain the treatments, have pictures of each stone, country of origin PLUS they have setting and will set with a stone you pick. If there isn't something wrong with them it seems an interesting simple option. They even have a decent return policy (30 days) even on the build a ring option. They also have the diana setting which I love. Am I missing something on them on why they are not a good option. I am ignoring the part where they claim all thier stones are worth 4 times what you are paying for them since that never seems true in anything you buy and everyone likes to claim you are getting a bargain :-)
 
Also I forgot to say thank you jeweljunke, Chrono, Minousjoux, For the advice, links to stones, rings and options. Once I starting doing research on treatments echo got a bit overwhelmed on where to start so you all are being so helpful.
 
Please read the return policy on Fay Cullen. There is a restocking fee and refunds are only made out as store credit.

The stones you selected are not only dark, but also brown. I'd rather a pinkish ruby over a brown ruby. It is common for eBay vendors to run multiple stores. It is usually for more exposure and I think some stores carry lower priced stones and the other store carries higher priced stones. If you do registered mail, it will take a month to arrive. With DHL, it'll arrive in 2 or 3 days.

Generally, rubies look better in yellow gold. White metals tend to bring out any orange or brown in them. Your local jeweller would charge you anywhere from $50 to $100 to set it, depending on your location and the shop pricing. Not every store will accept outside settings or stones because their preference is for you to purchase their inventory.

517 has better colour although the shape is off-symmetry and faceting not as good.
513 is cut better but darker, less brilliant and less transparent.

I'm having Internet issues at the moment but will get back to you on why I'm hesitant about Gemsny.
 
Took a look at Gemsny via my phone. :tongue:

I scrolled through over 30 pages of rubies and found all to be lacking. The stones are not only dark and brownish, many are overly included to the point of being opaque. They look like the typical mall and department store type "dead" and lifeless rubies.
 
Thanks for looking for me it is too bad that they don't have good quality since it would have been easier. I guess that is the point a decent ruby isn't going to be easy with a smaller budget.
On gem fix are there ones that you think are better (but under $1000) that you see? Partly this helps me see what I am looking for online?

I emailed Tan but the response was confusing. I think he thought I was talking about another stone given his response (he said something about the red pink ruby being actually orange and that I should wait for the spinal he has tomorrow) I responded with a link and also a description of what I am looking for to see if he has thoughts.


Thanks
 
Item 535 (0.6 ct 5.1 mm round) seems like a decent stone considering the price point. It seems to be slightly pinkish red, decently cut and is eye clean. The rest are either too orangish or too pinkish or have other issues. The other plus about a round is that it is very easy to get standard off the shelf settings.
 
Chrono thanks for the help on that stone. I was drawn to that stone. It has a lot of sparkle. I did go to Boones and Sons today to look at what diana halo rings they had in different sizes. They had one about the same size center stone (which was actually beautiful). I wanted to see how a smaller but nice stone would look on my hands (plus get my right hand sized my ering is sized to a 3.75 on my left hand my right could go as small as a 4 but likely I will do a 4.25 to ease taking it off. I did like how it looked on my small fingers. In fact, I loved the ring itself. The jewel maker was actually in meeting with Boones so I was able to ask about treatments and country the ruby came from. They said it was sourced from burma and only heat treated. It was a .6 oval in a diana setting with .40 diamonds VS. It really popped and had great color (to me). They want $2200 but I can likely talk them down to like $1800. I would only do that if I there return policy is strong enough for me to get it certified and if it comes back more treated than just heat to bring it back.

But I am still looking for stones. If I can find the right stone I think I would rather get the stone and the setting separate. The one you said you liked is the top of what I am looking at. And I had a good exchange with LOR on ebay about settings. I would still rather have a oval and may

With the setting venders is it safe to send them a stone and have them do all the work to put the ring together?

If you have any more ideas on additional trustworthy place to look for stones let me know. I will likely find a few more that seem to fit and post them for advice.
 
You mention possibly getting the B&S ruby checked out. Who do you plan to send it to? An appraiser or a lab? Neither will certify anything but will give their best opinion, hence it is called a lab memo or verification. My personal preference is to send it to AGL, which they will check out the stone in its setting (don't have to be removed) for an extra fee.

Another company that makes slightly less expensive settings is Lanbo.

Ebay Setting Vendors
American Set - http://myworld.ebay.com/americanset/?_trksid=p4340.l2559
Lan.bo4 - http://www.ebay.com/sch/lan.bo4/m.html
diamondmounts - http://myworld.ebay.com/diamondmounts/
jewe2004 - http://stores.ebay.com/jewe2004
LOGR (Lord of Gem Rings) - http://stores.ebay.com/Lord-of-Gem-Rings

I would not have any eBay vendors set the stone. The stone could get lost in transit, the vendor could misplace the stone, the entire ring might get lost in transit to you and more. It is better to have a local jeweller set the stone for you.
 
AJS' stones are darker IRL than shown in their pictures based on other PSer's experiences so i'm afraid it will end up too dark. The colour is also rather flat. Unfortunately, AJS does not take additional pictures and I'm unsure of their return policy since they are based in Thailand. You might want to inquire about their return process / policy.
 
Rubymd - I use diamondmounts on ebay for some of my settings. This one is Diana-like: http://www.ebay.com/itm/18090969551...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_4603wt_1163

They will do it in whatever color or karat of gold you prefer. You may not want to, but I have sent my stones to them for setting many times, and in fact have one in the mail to them right now. I send it express mail, with signature required and insurance. It costs me $38, and they get it within like 5 days or so. So far (knock on wood), I have had no problems. They send it overnight to me at their expense and I have it in no time back in my hands. I have sent expensive stones (emerald, ruby, and sapphire), and they have done a fantastic job, but you don't have to send your stone to them. Just be sure to give them exact measurements of the stone L,W&Depth, and have a local jeweler set it. Although I have had local jewelers work on my pieces- I have a jewelry center close by with a multitude of benches in the back -and they have set stones crooked and have scratched stones. But to date, I have had no problems with diamondmounts on ebay, and their work has been very well done (smooth edges, straight stones, etc). And their diamonds are VS quality when they say they are.

I have also found other styles I liked from other vendors and send diamondmounts a photo or item number of what I want, and they quote me a price and make it for me. They even did a wax for my recent ruby ring I posted here.

Can't wait to see what you get. :love:
 
I looked up the returns and it is 14 days no strings so that seems good.

Jewel Junkie I love that setting. This is why I really want an oval stone or the one at the local jeweler.

One question, I had asked LORJ about up grading stones on a setting and they gave me a good quote on a mount that would be for the .6 round that was recommended.
WIth the rings you have gotten from these folks do you upgrade your diamonds? If you do how much average has it run ? If you don't are the diamonds really VS ?


Thanks I am really excited. I know I can't afford a super big expensive ring but with my tiny fingers it would probably look too big any how. I am looking forward to getting a nice special ruby for a right hand ring.
 
Hi, well, the ring I am having made now was originally $480, and has .42 points of dias in 14k. I upgraded it to 18k yellow gold and vvs dias, and it came to $550. With the Diana- like ring the dias are a little bigger than the one I upgraded, so it may be a little bit more. But I have to say, the rings I did not upgrade dias on had beautiful quality. Read the listing and if it says vs then I wouldn't feel the need to upgrade, but some listings indicate si quality, then those I would upgrade.
 
After a ton more research, visiting of B and M including one with a box of loose stones I am ending up buying the ring that I looked at from Boone and sons. When I first looked at the ring the designers/jewelery makers where there down from NYC to bring supply to Boone and Son. The ring I picked out was part of the broader inventory of the designer so I was able to talk to the jeweler directly about the stones and the ring. And since then I haven't found a stone or a ring that I remotely like as much. They are sizing it now for me and I am picking up next Friday. I will post pictures when I get it. It is 18 K white .60 oval ruby with .40 diamond VS in a Diana like halo. He came down further on the price for me so it fit within my budget.

I am now looking at ruby studs. I had/ have pear ruby earrings with a diamond halo from the 90's. The halo is just like the Diana setting in that the diamonds are pointy flower like design. I lost one 2 years ago. I have decided to try to do ruby studs and then down the round get a jacket so I can switch the studs out. I think I am going to start a threat on the studs.
 
Well on friday I picked up my ring from Boone and Sons (local brick and mortar). I love it. Here is a couple of bad pictures of it since my iphone isn't helping today. The ring is the one I mention above .6 ruby with 10 round cut diamonds for a total of .40 in diamonds in VS. The ruby has great sparkle and is a great bright red with bright dark pink undertones in it. So indoors it reads extremely red and in sunlight it reads red with bright dark pink flashes. Since I have very small hands and the side diamonds are fairly big it gives me just the right amount finger coverage. I am extremely happy with it. Thanks to everyone for there help. I am now on the hunt for smaller ruby studs and getting IDJ jackets for them. Now that I see what I assume is 4 PT stones based on the math (.4 carat ten stones on the ring) I am leaning towards getting there 3 PT jackets but will certainly at least get 2PT jackets. I really like the balance in this style halo of good sized diamond stones.

I was able to wear my ring when my husband and I went out to an amazing restaurant (Restaurant Eve in DC area) for a tasting menu on Friday night which was in celebration of my 40th bday.

_211.jpg
 
Here is another one of the ring.

_212.jpg
 
Rubymd, you did a FANTASTIC job. That is one very pretty ruby and setting. LOVE it. Did you find out about any treatments? Do you care?
 
It was sold to me as heat only. I talked to the store and also the jeweler himself. Both the store and the jeweler assured me that they only deal in heated stones. The jewelry himself was in the store when I first looked at it so I had talked to him about the ring for awhile. I realize that it is gamble that everyone was lying to me but I would say that they have a strong rep in DC about disclosure and are a family run high end DC jewelry store in DC with a great reputation. I realize that and $4 will buy me a cup of coffee but I love the ring so basically decided that I am comfortable with the answers I got to my questions. I ended up paying $2000 for the ring. I am sure it is possible that I could have put together the ring for slightly less but felt like that was more of a gamble since I am so new at really understanding rubies and really feel for the ring when I tried it on. It is basically exactly what I was looking for.

Also I think I mentioned that for me it is both a 40th bday present but also the replacement for the ruby ring that was my grandmas. Which was stolen from me 1 week after it was passed down to me by my grandma. Her's was a cushion in yellow gold. Since I was also a july birthday she had told me that it would be mine someday. When I was robbed a week after it was passed to me it was gut wrenching to lose. My hubby knew how much that ring meant to me and always wanted me to have one to replace it.
 
HI:

Your ring is lovely and congrats on finding exactly what you wanted. Happy Birthday!

cheers--Sharon
 
Congrats! The ring looks very nice!

Just throwing this out there...if it helps your peace of mind, you can send the ring intact to AGL--they will do an analysis for you so you know exactly what treatment the stone has had..don't assume just because the stone is already set, that it cannot be tested and certified. I know the cost for their gembrief is reasonable--if memory serves it is around $70 or so with the stone already set. With insured shipping, I'm guessing you would have your answer for $100 or so. If you feel that the peace of mind knowing that it is heated-only is worth $100, I say do it. Now, if the stone were to turn out to be lead-glass filled, or beryllium treated, you would also have to be OK with that--or go after the store/jeweler. Its all up to you...I am just pointing out that the stone can be tested and certified, for a reasonable cost, even without having to remove the stone.

Whatever you decide--good luck! Keep this ring stored under lock and key so that it is never taken from you :-)
 
Rubymd, your ruby is gorgeous!! I love the color and you've chosen a mounting that showcases it beautifully. It has perfect proportions on your hand. :love:
 
Actually, 2K from a high B&M store for a ring like that is very inexpensive, which leads me to wonder if it is indeed heat only. Most B&Ms, even high end stores know a lot more about diamonds than coloured gemstones, even the big 3 (sapphire, emerald and ruby). If you don't need the peace of mind, that's fine but should you ever get curious, I'd send it to AGL as they will check and verify set stones for a slight added fee.
 
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