Tiffany ruby ring questions.. thanks in advance..

[Rubies-R-Me]

Hello!
I just moved my post from the diamond board to this board.. wasn't sure which board to post it on..
I am interested in this ring on Ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130678542955?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
I have three questions about it..
First.. it seems to be a very light colored ruby.. is it possible it's a pink sapphire?
Also.. when Tiffany made ruby jewelry back in the day did they only use rubies from Burma?
Lastly.. in your smart opinions.. is that a good price?
Thanks to the experts in advance.. I totally appreciate it!

 

[T L]

Hello!
I just moved my post from the diamond board to this board.. wasn't sure which board to post it on..
I am interested in this ring on Ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130678542955?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
I have three questions about it..
First.. it seems to be a very light colored ruby.. is it possible it's a pink sapphire?
Also.. when Tiffany made ruby jewelry back in the day did they only use rubies from Burma?
Lastly.. in your smart opinions.. is that a good price?
Thanks to the experts in advance.. I totally appreciate it!

1) It's hard to judge from photos, but it looks more like a pink sapphire, but the line between pink sapphire/ruby is speculative
2) Not sure about the origin, but I would imagine that the Tiffany&Co of the 1920's used the best possible materials, and they are a far cry from the overpriced average jewelry they sell today
3) I think the price is a fair second hand retail on that ring IF the ruby is untreated and it's a real Tiff piece. You have to ask yourself the other following questions:

a) Is the ruby treated and if so, how? Some treatments can render a ruby worthless
b) Is the ruby original to the setting?
c) Is it really a true Tiffany piece. There are lots of people forging Tiffany jewelry and where is the paperwork on this one?? I don't see it in the listing

For me, there are too many unknowns with this piece for me to risk $7K, so I would skip it.

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Hi TL!
You brought up so many things that I was thinking about. When the listing did come up I emailed the seller about if the stones were original to the ring and they said they were pretty sure they were but were not 100% positive. I do believe that the setting is Tiffany because the Hallmarks look good on the inside. It is unusual for a piece like this not to have some Tiffany paperwork on it but the seller did offer to get a valuation report from Tiffany for me. I didn't want to make them do that unless I was absolutely sure if the ring checked out I was going to buy it. I think the ring looks pretty recent.. like from the 80s or 90s. I have a ruby Schlumberger eternity ring from that time period and the rubies are dark red. This does appear much lighter but it might be the lighting? I think I will just be in a holding pattern for now. The seller might get a great number of requests for paperwork and might get it evaluated on their own. I will follow it.
Thanks so much for your time and ideas.. I appreciate it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'll just say again here as I said on the other thread that it looks more like a pink sapphire to me, and in addition, Tiffany will usually put yellow gold prongs on a ruby. This one is a ruby:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230712068452?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_584wt_1154

 

[LD]

I don't think this looks like a pink sapphire. It's a very purple/red ruby (but that's actually my preference)! The best photo to judge the colour are the handshots and these look fairly natural (see how "normal" the hand colour is?). However, I would urge caution for a number of reasons:-

1. You are quite right that this ring has a premium attached because it's "Tiffany" - so if you're interested you MUST verify (or make the purchase conditional on it being verified.

2. Unfortunately, you'd think that Tiffany's only put top quality coloured gemstones in rings but unfortunately that's NOT the case. So my next piece of advice is that you should get the Ruby checked out by AGL. IF, for example, it's lead/glass filled or some other such nasty, then you're paying top top top top dollar for the name only (and perhaps the metal weight). The Ruby would be of little value and as such the ring would then become enormously expensive. Again, the sale should be dependent on this verification.

3. The other thing I would ask for is a close up shot, straight on, of the Ruby itself. It's difficult to be precise but it looks like there are a number of inclusions that might affect the cut. It's less of an issue really if this is a natural untreated Ruby as inclusions are a great sign of what's been done/not done to a stone but you don't want the inclusions to affect the overall look of the Ruby.

Good luck and please update us if you decide to proceed.

 

[JewelFreak]

I have big doubts about the authenticity of this ring. You're smart not to grab it up.

1. The hallmark is the first red flag. I've never seen the C in Co. other than a round C -- not square like this is. The font on that entire hallmark does not look right. Should be like this:



Look again at your ring -- it will be like this if it's real. Tiffany changed the style a tiny bit over the years but it was never square letters. It does look like a fairly recent piece from its style & if so, the hallmark is definitely fake.

2. Tiffany does not authenticate their pieces anymore. They have never valued pre-owned pieces.

3. I agree the "ruby" looks more like a pink sapphire. If it's a modern Tiff ring & the stone is original, even if they had to treat it out the wazoo, the stone would be red, not pink. (One reason I won't buy their colored-stone jewelry -- go to their website & look at the section on treatments acceptable to them.)

I think you saved a bundle & some heartbreak by asking about this. Congratulations!

--- Laurie

 

[LD]

WOW JewelFreak - that's nailed it! Fabulous piece of research.

I wouldn't go near that ring now for all the tea in China!

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Oh my gosh!!
You guys are the best!!! I think you all made very valid points and I truly appreciate it.
Thanksthanksthanks!!!
I am going to "steer clear." Certainly the right thing to do..

 

[T L]

WOW JewelFreak - that's nailed it! Fabulous piece of research.

I wouldn't go near that ring now for all the tea in China!

Great work JF, totally agree with LD.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Is it possible that the appearance of the logo in the photo--is distorted because of the angle? Goodness knows all sorts of assumptions of "colors" of stones are made on these threads because of inaccurate pictures/monitors etc...etc....could it be that this is just another inaccurate depiction? At the very least we know rubies are of a few "shades".......

I don't know the ring in specific or the vendor in general: but they appear to have many T & C products with pedigree (documents from Tiffany....)--that I would be hesitent to disregard this out of hand because of a poor photo.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Hi Canukgirl!
I do agree with you that the seller is a good one.. they have a brick and mortar in Philadelphia and they have a return policy which to me means that they are totally on the up and up. Most of their signed items have paperwork with them but unfortunately not this ring..

 

[canuk-gal]

Hi Canukgirl!
I do agree with you that the seller is a good one.. they have a brick and mortar in Philadelphia and they have a return policy which to me means that they are totally on the up and up. Most of their signed items have paperwork with them but unfortunately not this ring..

It is comforting to know they have a good return policy, but I suspect it might not be "long" enought to have the ring authenticated by T & C. Or, could you ask them? If they say no, then no. Hurts nothing to ask.

cheers--Sharon

 

[T L]

Tiffany can verify the authenticity of the piece for a price. They charge around $200 last I heard in 2010.

 

[iLander]

HI:

Is it possible that the appearance of the logo in the photo--is distorted because of the angle?

It's not a bad angle. I deal with typography a lot (for over 25+ years), and the ebay ring is definitely using a san serif font. The upper parts of the letters are not correct for a serif font.

As far as I can tell, Tiffany has always used a serif (footed) font. Here is a link to their silver hallmarks;

http://www.925-1000.com/Tiffany_Date_Code.html

I'm with JF, she's dead on.

And LD is right, Tiffany does have some low quality stones. I looked at some of their sugar stacks rings in Real Life, and the stones were awful.

Also, as Diamondseeker pointed out, it just doesn't "feel" like Tiffany.

 

[canuk-gal]

Tiffany can verify the authenticity of the piece for a price. They charge around $200 last I heard in 2010.

A reasonable sum if the vendor will allow it within the return time....or whatever terms the buyer can negotiate.

cheers--Sharon

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Is it possible that the appearance of the logo in the photo--is distorted because of the angle?

It's not a bad angle. I deal with typography a lot (for over 25+ years), and the ebay ring is definitely using a san serif font. The upper parts of the letters are not correct for a serif font.

I'm with JF, she's dead on.

And LD is right, Tiffany does have some low quality stones. I looked at some of their sugar stacks rings in Real Life, and the stones were awful.

Also, as Diamondseeker pointed out, it just doesn't "feel" like Tiffany.

If the buyer is serious about the ring--she can ask to have it authenticated by T & C: and T & C will decide based on having the item in hand.

cheers--Sharon