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Ruby in question

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frailey53

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 28, 2013
Messages
4
So, I'm pretty new to gems, or jewelry as a whole for that matter. I am trying to find a ruby for an engagement ring for my future fiance. This community seems so helpful in looking at a stone and telling whether it is a quality stone or not. I have found a ruby on Gemsny.com and I was wondering if a few of you could take a look at it and tell me what you think.

http://www.gemsny.com/ruby/1.00-Carat-Oval-Ruby-RU7009COV/

I haven't bought it yet, but it looks like a cool Ruby and I'm pretty sure the color is what my my would want. However, it just seems hard to buy a stone online and I don't know how accurate the pictures are in as far as color goes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Hello and welcome! :wavey:

Rubies are lovely and a great e-ring choice! I'm sure that we can find a Ruby that you will be proud to give to your intended!

Firstly I need to say that the one you've linked to is, unfortunately, really not very nice. If you look at the colour it's very brown and dark. With a Ruby you want to see red.

What I've gathered from your preference is that you're looking for:-

1ct or above
Oval Shape
Budget of around $3,500

The one thing you haven't referenced is whether you're worried about treatments? Basically you have 3 different types with (1) being the most expensive:

(1) Natural without any treatment
(2) Heated only
(3) Heated and then treated in some other way ie BE diffusion, dyeing, filling etc etc.

With all of the above in mind, I've looked around and would suggest other alternatives that you may want to consider:-

PHOTO 1
Untreated Ruby Oval Mixed Cut
Weight:1.17 cts
Measurements: 6.9x5.6mm, depth 3.5mm
Clarity: VS-VVS
Origin: Mozambique
Enhancements: None
Price: $ 2570.00
Order/Stock No.: ruby_544
Description: Glowing pinkish-red ruby, gorgeous! Certifed untreated. Pantone calls this one "Ruby RedC". AGL lab report included.

PHOTO 2
THIS ONE LOOKS TO HAVE A WINDOW AND AN INCLUSION RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE SO YOU NEED TO ASK ABOUT THAT
Cut/Shape: Oval Burma Ruby
Weight: 1.56ct
Measurements: 8x6 mm
Clarity: VS-SI1
Origin: Burma
Enhancements: Heat
Price: $ 2300.00
Order/Stock No.: ruby-514
Description: Yummy cherry red color! Calibrated size oval, ready for your setting – THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN BUY AN OFF THE SHELF SETTING AND WON’T HAVE TO GO CUSTOM.

PHOTO 3
MY FAVOURITE BECAUSE OF THE CUT. THIS MAY BE A LITTLE ON THE PURPLE PINK SIDE BUT I’D CHECK. EVEN IF IT IS, IT’S STILL STUNNING IF YOU LIKE THIS COLOR.
Ruby Oval "Portuguese" Style Cut
Weight: 1.52 cts
Measurements: 7x5.7mm, depth 4.8mm
Clarity: VVS
Origin: Africa
Enhancements: Heat
Price: $ 2950.00
Order/Stock No.: ruby_551
Description: Certified. Fantastic cherry red with fuchsia flashes. Excellent cut and clarity. AGL lab report included. (Cut by Andrew Gulij)
Pantone 2385C and "Ruby RedC"

You can see all of these here http://www.gemfix.com/ruby.html

This was just a quick look and may not be what you're looking for but hope this helps.

rubies.jpg
 
Are you SURE this is the colour you want? Although the website says it is pigeon's blood red, it isn't. Don't buy the name but buy the look. If you want a good (not even fine) coloured ruby, this is not it.
1. Overly dark to the point it is difficult to see that the hue is red.
2. Giant window, which coupled with the dark tone, makes this stone dead and lifeless.
3. Shallow and flat as a pancake which accounts for the giant window, and lifeless stone.

No amount of money will tempt me to buy this ruby. Yes, unheated and clean rubies are rare but not when it is overly dark with poor colour.
 
That color I am seeing cannot be correct, can it??!!
I would have guessed that to be a dark red Garnet.
 
Thanks for your input! Yes it's a very dark ruby. Part of me was hoping it was just my computer screen that made it so dark. My significant other loves darker rubies and I know I should be staying away from pinkish or purple rubies given her color preferences. A deep glowing dark red is what I'm going for.

As for the treatments, I would like a completely untreated ruby, but I wouldn't be opposed to a ruby with only heat treating.

LD, those rubies are all beautiful but all still a bit light for what I'm looking for. However, there were some gorgeous rubies on the site. If I was to pick two of the colors I really liked these would be it.

http://www.gemfix.com/images/stones/ruby/ruby_546.jpg
http://www.gemfix.com/images/stones/ruby/ruby_545.jpg

Unfortunately, they aren't the cut or measurements I want. Ideally I would love to have around a 7x5 oval. I would like it to be 1 ct. but if it was a little heavier or lighter that would be fine too.
 
You might want to take into account that, generally, pictures of colored stones are lighter than the stone actually is. These are studio shots so they are well lit. If you want a ruby that is as dark a red in person as those gemfix pictures, then look at pictures that are somewhat lighter.
 
The problem with the rubies you've indicated to like isn't only that they are dark but they are brownish. A ruby can still be dark and attractive if the saturation is there. You mentioned that you want it to be a deep glowing dark red which means that it has to be well saturated (no brown). Even the 2 Gemfix rubies you linked to are distinctively brownish.
 
VL's suggestion of the Wildfish ruby is pretty shallow and normally expensive but if on 30% sale, it becomes a good price! Looks very red on the GRS report too.
 
Yes, my suggestion is shallow. I am aware of the depths of my shallowness.
 
VapidLapid|1359391461|3365508 said:
Wildfish is having a sale on oval gemstones, 33% off, with which this is almost well priced.

http://www.wildfishgems.com/ruby_1_to_2_carat?b=1
Click to expand...


I know Ed is well respected here on the forum and I do not want this post to sound disrespectful- but how can you judge the color of his stones by the way he photographs them? I see his pink and red gemstones flooded with backlight or many of them photographed on black backgrounds. Does he provide handshots? Do people just take his written descriptions as how the gem will appear in real life? And to be honest- I love looking at his gemstones, but most are out of my price range. I know that people love his gemstones so once again I do not want to appear disrespectful, as I am sure he has earned his reputation as a fine gemstone dealer.
 
Lisa,
You aren't the only one. I've asked this very same question about Ed's photography on numerous occasions. I always presume his stones to be darker and less flashy than shown for the same reasons you listed.
 
Totally agree with you both AND I'd say he's not the only one!

Generally speaking I think vendors amp up the lighting so their gems appear flashier and lighter than real life. What I do now if I'm looking to buy is to assume that the gem will be darker and that way there are no surprises.

I just have to highlight here that there is one vendor, Gene of Precision Gems, who's photography is accurate. If anything, his gemstones look better in real life.
 
Erinl

Yea the pricescope link you posted was an absolute gorgeous color. If it was a tad darker that would be awesome, but even how it looks the ruby is stunning. Question though, what are some of the online retailers you guys would recommend? Also, how much lighter or darker are most rubies compared to how they photograph online?

Should I expect a completely different ruby when I see it in hand?
 
frailey53|1359407188|3365762 said:
Erinl

Yea the pricescope link you posted was an absolute gorgeous color. If it was a tad darker that would be awesome, but even how it looks the ruby is stunning. Question though, what are some of the online retailers you guys would recommend? Also, how much lighter or darker are most rubies compared to how they photograph online?

Should I expect a completely different ruby when I see it in hand?
Click to expand...

frailey53, I found this pinned topic really helpful, and it might answer both of your questions at once:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/vendor-pictures-and-owner-pictures-of-ps-stones.109420/

It's a long thread so I'm not sure what's in there with regard to rubies.
 
frailey53|1359407188|3365762 said:
Erinl

Yea the pricescope link you posted was an absolute gorgeous color. If it was a tad darker that would be awesome, but even how it looks the ruby is stunning. Question though, what are some of the online retailers you guys would recommend? Also, how much lighter or darker are most rubies compared to how they photograph online?

Should I expect a completely different ruby when I see it in hand?
Click to expand...


1. Online vendors - please see the post that is a sticky at top of this forum.
2. Photographs - depends on the vendor. Generally speaking gemstones look lighter/more vibrant so assume the gem will be slightly darker than the photograph.
3. You shouldn't expect to see a completely different ruby if you buy from one of the vendors in the sticky. If you buy from elsewhere you may get something very different.
 
OP: if you look at the top of this page, you'll see some pinned threads, two of which will help you. One is the new to Colored Stones thread written by LD which provides a quick tutorial on how to judge and what to look for in colored stones. The other is a list of all the trusted vendors. These are vendors that the have been vetted by many members of PS and found to be reliable and good to work with.

I would suggest you start there and many of your questions will be answered. :))

Oh, and welcome! :appl:
 
Hey guys so I found this at a local jewelry store.

It is an oval cut 1.44 ct. Ruby.
Don't know if you can tell but it has an inclusion in the middle of the ruby running width wise. You can see this inclusion with the unaided eye.
They offered me 1,800 for it. Assuming there is no treatment other than heat does this sound reasonable for this ruby?

I took the picture myself so sorry for any clarity issues.

20130129_171113.jpg
 
frailey53|1359529756|3367188 said:
Hey guys so I found this at a local jewelry store.

It is an oval cut 1.44 ct. Ruby.
Don't know if you can tell but it has an inclusion in the middle of the ruby running width wise. You can see this inclusion with the unaided eye.
They offered me 1,800 for it. Assuming there is no treatment other than heat does this sound reasonable for this ruby?

I took the picture myself so sorry for any clarity issues.
Click to expand...

Frailey - is there at chip at 12 o'clock or is that just the way the light is reflecting off the stone?

In terms of the inclusion - what type is it? Is it a fracture? It's very important to know. Also, unfortunately with rubies, you can't assume a lack of treatment. So whether the price is fair will depend on the treatment level. So, looking at it objectively:

1. it's a little on the dark side although not massively so - for the price it's a pretty good colour
2. it has an unknown inclusion that needs a bit more investigating
3. it has a window that's not too invasive because of the tone of the stone and will probably close up in a setting
4. from the photo there's a suggestion that it might have an off centre culet(?) - do you see that?
5. it's a nice size and shape
6. if it's heat only the price would be ok.

Can you make the sale contingent on getting a lab report (assuming you're bothered about treatment).

Lastly, how do YOU feel about it? Is it something that you can see in a ring/pendant? Did you see it in all lights and like it in all of them?
 
Looks wise, it's not too shabby although it does have issues.

Inclusion
Does it break the surface? I cannot quite tell but how long is it? Since you can see it easily, will it bother you (and her)? I would certainly check the stone for nicks, chips and facet abrasion.

Treatment
Please do not assume anything. If you pursue this avenue, have the sale contingent on the result of the lab report (AGL, GIA, etc and not some mom and pop appraisal company). Make sure it is heat only with traces of flux. More than that will drop its value considerably and require extra care by both you, the setter and jeweller. One cannot tell the level of treatment by eye balling it or even with a loupe.

Cut
Commercial quality in cut, meaning it is windowed and shallow but due to the darker tone, it's will not be too obvious once set. That said, due to the cut and tone, the stone is unlikely to be brilliant (sparkly) and lively.
 
I don't understand this! I replied to you several hours ago and my post has disappeared! Oh well, here we go again ......

Firstly, is there a chip at 12 o'clock? It looks like either a chip or it could be a reflection but can you run you finger nail along the edge to see if it's there?

So now looking at your question as to whether it's worth $1800 it's important to know what treatments have been applied because if it's BE diffused or filled or dyed then $1800 is too expensive. If it's heat only then it's not a bad price. To be utterly objective here are some points to consider:-

1. Is there a chip?
2. Is the inclusion across the middle just an inclusion that you don't need to worry about OR is it a fracture?
3. Is it heat only as you hope?
4. There is a window but this will probably close up in a setting because of the tone of the gem.
5. It's a nice colour red - a bit dark but it's red which is good (rather than orange or seeing too much brown or pink etc)
6. I think the culet is off centre - do you see that or is it just the angle of the photo?
7. If heated only, the price is ok for the colour/size.

I can't recall if you're bothered about treatments or not? If you are then I would make the sale conditional upon getting a favourable lab report (AGL are probably best). If you're not worried about treatments, have you seen it in all lights? If so, does it look good all/most of the time? Do you like it enough to part with $1800?
 
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