New to Gemstones and recently bought my FIRST! A RUBY!!!

[lilkutevboi]

Hi everyone,
I never knew much about gemstones, except that my wife favorite was a ruby. Until recently, I took a trip to Alaska and saw a Pigeon Blood Ruby in the cruise ship jewelry store. I decided to do some research over the past month and decided a ruby would be the perfect gift for our anniversary. The more I read into gemstones (especially ruby) the more I became drawn in. The Ruby we ordered finally came in and It looks amazing! The pictures cannot describe how beautiful it looks in person.
Because this was our first gemstone (and for first anniversary), I wanted to get her a very special one. I was lucky enough to find this gorgeous Untreated/Unheated Pigeon Blood Ruby that was in my budget.

What you think???

Identification: Natural Ruby
Shape: Round
Weight: 0.44cts
Color: Pigeon Blood Red
Clarity: VVS1
Enhanced: None
Brilliance: Excellent
Origin: Africa

 

[voce]

I think it's a beautiful stone, seems very Crystal, but it could also be a spinel, which often comes in the same color as rubies and has a more diaphanous crystal structure. I think it's a very nice gesture to make for the anniversary, but I'm afraid to ask how much you paid for it, and whether you saw a report from a gem lab identifying it as ruby, considering you bought it at a cruise ship jewelry store (which I would guess would make returns tricky). If it is ruby, then $1000 +/- $200 is a reasonable price to pay for one at that size assuming untreated, and if it is spinel, it's worth maybe $300-$500.

 

[lilkutevboi]

The certificate that came with the ruby is from UGL. I payed $1,200 for it.
Do you recommend having another laboratory to analyze the stone?

 

[Bron357]

Hi, unfortunately the report makes no mention, or even if it was tested, for heating, Beryllium treatment or worst, glass filling.
The report you have is more like an appraisal and not a actual lab report. It seems more like a “marketing tool” than an independent assessment.
A proper lab report is only ever about the gem, never a mention about value. Investigations are done so as to determine what level of treatments are evident and these are detailed in the report.
The treatments are THE determining factor in whether you got good value for money or were sold a rubbish ie glass filled gem.

 

[lilkutevboi]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm looking into getting it sent to either AGL and GIA to have it examine. AGL is quiet pricey compared to GIA, but is AGL preferred over GIA for gemstone?

Thank you, I'm still learning about gemstones and your input is greatly appreciated

 

[voce]

The certificate that came with the ruby is from UGL. I payed $1,200 for it.
Do you recommend having another laboratory to analyze the stone?

Thanks for the heads up. I'm looking into getting it sent to either AGL and GIA to have it examine. AGL is quiet pricey compared to GIA, but is AGL preferred over GIA for gemstone?

Thank you, I'm still learning about gemstones and your input is greatly appreciated

AGL is generally preferred over GIA for colored stones. I think you should probably be OK getting an AGL brief, which costs like $70 or $75. GIA doesn't do the brief reports, and charges like $150.

A UGL certificate is better than no certificate. You did pay on the higher end, but at least it wasn't quite through the roof.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

It's a pretty color! Glad you are so happy with it. But I'd also recommend getting an AGL lab report so you can find out what, if any treatments, have been done to it. Personally, since the stone is already bought and paid for (and I'm assuming non-returnable), I'd try not to think too much about its value. Instead, I'd be more concerned about treatments that may compromise its structural integrity (like if you try to clean or set the stone).

 

[Arcadian]

Its a pretty color but do get at least a gem brief on it. A stone that has been glass filled has to be treated a certain way versus one that is not. Its best for you to know for sure what you have so you can care for it properly.

Ok so enough about gems, did you enjoy the trip? One of my cousins just went to Alaska via cruise ship as well! I forget who had it, but one line had a fishing trip (hey its salmon season!!)

 

[lilkutevboi]

Hi Arcadian,
I already emailed AGL about the Gem Brief for a estimate turn around time. I'll try to get the Gem mailed out this week.
The Alaska trip was so much fun. There was fishing trips but we didn't pick that excursion. We mostly did kayaking and exploring because it was our first time on a cruise.

 

[voce]

@lilkutevboi I love kayaking! Glad you enjoyed the exploration and cruise!

Fishing is a waste imo on a cruise trip since if you catch fish you probably can't eat all of it...like, especially if you catch salmon/tuna/codfish. And well, even if you let fish go the pressure difference from pulling them up from the ocean kill them anyway.

Hope you'll share with us more details on the gem once you have more info from AGL brief. Have you thought of how to set it? A stacking ring, perhaps?

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

I love the color! I can see why you were drawn to it. Rubies are very special and a good luck stone for a happy marriage.

 

[lilkutevboi]

Hey Voce,
We haven't decide on which type of setting yet. I'll load some more pictures I was able to take while I wait to have the gem ship out to analyze.

 

[ZestfullyBling]

I lve the red!! The color and tone of your ruby!! Congrats and great eye!!! Cant wait to see the finished piece and hand shots!!!

 

[chatoyancy]

It looks like the perfect color.