Unheated Ruby for $350?!

[ChrisA222]

I have nothing to do with this vendor or listing...but, with all the ruby talk I've been window-shopping...this is an Ebay listing, and the stone is regrettably a pear shape...but it has an AIGS cert...I mean, are these type of stones out there? Untreated Rubies for under $500/ct?? If you look at the listing, the video of the stone looks amazing. I am not even considering purchasing the stone, but I thought someone may either be interested, or it would be something we could discuss....

The stats: .88cts, Pear shape, 6.27x5.44x3.09..AIGS cert states Natural Ruby with no indication of heating.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AIGS-Certified-Unheated-0-88ct-Pear-100-Natural-Gem-Red-Ruby-MOZAMBIQUE?item=220918364172&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8343294463899788408

 

[LD]

My only advice is to check out the seller's name on this forum.

 

[innerkitten]

Not a surprise. It is Ebay after all. It's full of gems that look too good to be true. No offense to those that find great deals on Ebay. I know they can be found. But let's face it there are thousands of suspect listings to be found there.

 

[ChrisA222]

Yeah, I know..tons of fakes...Ebay is a scary place. But still...if this is a stone that was certed by AIGS...I guess any vendor can do any number of things they want...but I just wasn't aware that you could find an unheated Ruby for this price, with a guaranteed cert. I myself am staying pretty far away from this stone/vendor, but still. I wonder if some of the great "deals" that some of the members have gotten, have come from taking a chance on something like this...

Im just too scared...lol While $350 isn't much for a Ruby, it is a lot of money for someone like me to take a chance on something that could be a fissure-filled mess!

 

[innerkitten]

Yeah your probably right that some great deals were from taking risks.

 

[LD]

Videos can and are doctored - believe it or not.

Don't forget, natural rubies can be dark and horrible.

I'm not saying this is but .................. as I said, search for this vendor's name.

 

[chrono]

3 main things:
1. I am very sure the colour of the ruby in the still picture has been manipulated
2. I am quite sure the colour of the ruby in the video is also manipulated
3. I am also very sure the ruby has a gaping window

Why? As LD mentioned, check out reviews of the vendor and you'll understand points #1 and #2. The window is based on my depth calculation of around 52% which is shallow, and if you look closely at the picture, you can spot it too. The colour has been darkened to make the window less obvious.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I think I see that the stone is scratched or there is a surface reaching inclusion at about 1 o'clock.

 

[minousbijoux]

Chris: it is a great question you ask and you have heard from some of the seasoned vets here who've provided good feedback. If I could go back in time, I would've slowed down and asked more questions before jumping in and buying. I agree with LD - use the search function above and see what you get. I bought from them and was shocked at the difference between the photos/videos and the actual stones. Now that I have learned to take photos of my gem babies (thanks TL, Ooh-Shiney, Kenny, and VL), I have learned how easy it is to manipulate photos - if that's what you want to do. Some vendors on ebay bank on the fact that either the buyer doesn't know much about gems and won't notice; or for lesser priced stones, won't bother to take the time and incur the expense of returning the stone for a refund.

Frankly, I don't know how they stay in business, but they certainly do. That said, there are folks here that have bought from them, been disappointed, contacted them and been sent a replacement gem of much higher quality and more representative of the photos/videos. They, like all vendors, rely on positive feedback and will do what it takes to get it.