Are flux healed rubies fragile?

[KLC]

I am NOT a ruby expert.

I have a beautiful Ruby cabachon from the John Saul Mine in Kenya and Yvonne has a beautiful Kenyan ruby in her shop that I've personally seen and fell in love with (out of budget for me). Both tend to lean more fuschia/pink-red in tone, which I think is common for Kenyan rubies...I love the color but not your traditional red ruby.

I can't find your earrings on the JTV site but when I google 'Kenya Ruby JTV", the rubies definitely look opaque/low quality...and one would assume they use a better example for their listings. For example, the video in this listing:

Red Kenya Ruby Rhodium Over Silver Ring 2.46ctw - EJB117

Enjoy exceptional value and unbeatable prices. Explore this Red Kenya Ruby Rhodium Over Silver Ring 2.46ctw from JTV today.

www.jtv.com

-or- this picture https://5a0388bda0d20.streamlock.net:8443/Product/EJB158-ECU-ALT.jpg

Does your listing have a video?

Again, it doesn't hurt to try as returns are easy but my expectations would not be high at the price point.

Yes. Here's a link

Red Kenya Ruby Rhodium Over Silver Earrings. 2.72CTW - EJB199

Explore Red Kenya Ruby Rhodium Over Silver Earrings. 2.72CTW in JTV's gorgeous selection! JTV's undeniable prices are too good to pass up.

www.jtv.com

 

[KLC]

This is cleaner effect..the same happens with a drop of lemon juice.

Oh my goodness! That's insane. I think I'll just look for some lab created in a similar style.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

This is cleaner effect..the same happens with a drop of lemon juice.

It looks like a boiled lolly that's been in my handbag for a couple of months

 

[VividRed]

Synthetic all the way, pretty (which is what you want), flawless (durable) and cheap.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Holy crap!

The first picture was what the stone looks like before it went through the cleaner, right?

It actually looks quite... speckled I suppose, is the word I would use, but still wearable. The one on the bottom is unrecognisable!

They were an identical pair.
The speckles are probably the bubbles.
I took the pic with a flash on my phone.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Usually saddle back hoops. I tend to sleep in my earrings and studs poke me.

OK, then if they do not go clunk when you engage them, then you need to learn to tighten them.
One way is with the middle part of tweezers (so you have more control).
Engage the post part and squeeze gently.
Test and make sure they clunk in and are a little harder to open.

 

[KLC]

OK, then if they do not go clunk when you engage them, then you need to learn to tighten them.
One way is with the middle part of tweezers (so you have more control).
Engage the post part and squeeze gently.
Test and make sure they clunk in and are a little harder to open.

Thank you

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Thank you

Please let us know how you go.
And I am noit liable hahaha.
Well, OK, for the cost of the fee I charged.for the free advice.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

They were an identical pair.
The speckles are probably the bubbles.
I took the pic with a flash on my phone.

Would you say glass filled rubies are easy to spot by eye, then?

I was gifted a pair of ruby earrings some time ago and the person who gave them to me had no idea of the treatment - they could be anything from flux heated to glass filled. I did't want to ask how much they paid for them. I was scared that they may be glass filled so I've only ever cleaned them with soap and water, but they dont look like these, so I guess they're probably flux heated and basic cleaning is alright?

Edit: thank you in advance for the free advice and I promise I won't hold you to it

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Would you say glass filled rubies are easy to spot by eye, then?

I was gifted a pair of ruby earrings some time ago and the person who gave them to me had no idea of the treatment - they could be anything from flux heated to glass filled. I did't want to ask how much they paid for them. I was scared that they may be glass filled so I've only ever cleaned them with soap and water, but they dont look like these, so I guess they're probably flux heated and basic cleaning is alright?

Edit: thank you in advance for the free advice and I promise I won't hold you to it

I would not try to do that unless you have some experience with a loupe and are prepared to do some learning.
FredF and others may give you some tips but I am afraid I could lead you astray.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I would not try to do that unless you have some experience with a loupe and are prepared to do some learning.
FredF and others may give you some tips but I am afraid I could lead you astray.

I made a separate post to ask for advice Garry, thanks!

 

[JewelledEscalators]

The JTV earrings say flux healed, I don't think that's the same as glass filled. Glass filled rubies are composite rubies.

 

[Avondale]

I did some digging around the site to see what treatments they list for rubies. They have pieces which are described as lead glass filled, so I'd assume when they're listing flux healed they do mean flux healed and aren't confusing it with anything else.

With that said, here's a little lesson I learned relatively soon - when calculating the price the qualities of the stone far, faaaar outweigh any treatment it may have received. A pretty, transparent and clear stone which has been beryllium treated can still cost double the price of another heat only stone which is moderately included and more translucent.

Add to that one of the product reviews below: "These would have been perfect BUT instead of being a beautiful red as the photo shows they had almost a “milky” look to them. There was white swirled in the red which made them cloudy looking."

I believe in this case the low price comes not from the treatment of the rubies but from their low quality. They probably won't be transparent and will have multiple inclusions affecting the way they look. And it's very likely you won't be at all happy with them.

 

[KLC]

I did some digging around the site to see what treatments they list for rubies. They have pieces which are described as lead glass filled, so I'd assume when they're listing flux healed they do mean flux healed and aren't confusing it with anything else.

With that said, here's a little lesson I learned relatively soon - when calculating the price the qualities of the stone far, faaaar outweigh any treatment it may have received. A pretty, transparent and clear stone which has been beryllium treated can still cost double the price of another heat only stone which is moderately included and more translucent.

Add to that one of the product reviews below: "These would have been perfect BUT instead of being a beautiful red as the photo shows they had almost a “milky” look to them. There was white swirled in the red which made them cloudy looking."

I believe in this case the low price comes not from the treatment of the rubies but from their low quality. They probably won't be transparent and will have multiple inclusions affecting the way they look. And it's very likely you won't be at all happy with them.

I've decided to look for some lab grown in a similar style.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I've decided to look for some lab grown in a similar style.

If you want start a thread in the lab forum so we can watch along

 

[JewelledEscalators]

If you want start a thread in the lab forum so we can watch along

Sounds kind of naughty

 

[chrono]

Glass filled rubies are composite rubies.

Glass filled isn't composite. It means glass was filled into the cracks of a single stone to make it look cleaner. Composite is when multiple smaller stones are melted down and remade into a whole larger single gem.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Glass filled isn't composite. It means glass was filled into the cracks of a single stone to make it look cleaner. Composite is when multiple smaller stones are melted down and remade into a whole larger single gem.

Thats what people call them to distinguish between Gary's stone example and heated with residues no?

 

[chrono]

Thats what people call them to distinguish between Gary's stone example and heated with residues no?

Apologies. I confused composite with reconstituted!