Burmese ruby: healed fracture

[Sydneyphoenix]

So, you love the stone, but want to know if its a fair price considering the various parameters of the stone which have been discussed? Again, trying to understand the crux of your concerns so more experienced posters can answer, since I do not know.

In essence, yes. That I am not making a disasterous investment. Gut feeling says it's okay value, and do like the stone substantially.

 

[voce]

I really don't know about the value of H(a) since I buy untreated rubies and avoid treatment unless it's for melee, which is difficult to find untreated. $5000 would be more than I personally would pay for a 1-ct H(a) ruby, but I can't say it's not a fair price since I have zero experience buying H(a) ruby. I'd much rather find a nice red spinel, rather than H(a) ruby.

Can you spot the Burmese ruby of the bunch?
(Edit: Side Note: top picture was taken with side lamp+overhead ceiling fan light. Bottom picture was taken with side lamp only, no overhead light. It's freaky how a Google Pixel phone can "correct" for low lighting. They look almost the same.)

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

I really don't know about the value of H(a) since I buy untreated rubies and avoid treatment unless it's for melee, which is difficult to find untreated. $5000 would be more than I personally would pay for a 1-ct H(a) ruby, but I can't say it's not a fair price since I have zero experience buying H(a) ruby. I'd much rather find a nice red spinel, rather than H(a) ruby.

Can you spot the Burmese ruby of the bunch?
(Edit: Side Note: top picture was taken with side lamp+overhead ceiling fan light. Bottom picture was taken with side lamp only, no overhead light. It's freaky how a Google Pixel phone can "correct" for low lighting. They look almost the same.)

From middle column, second, or maybe fourth row? I think the whole thing repeated twice…

I paid just under $3200 USD for the stone (plus postage) if it makes any difference…

 

[voce]

From middle column, second, or maybe fourth row? I think the whole thing repeated twice…

I paid just under $3200 USD for the stone (plus postage) if it makes any difference…

I posted two pics taken in different lighting. The Google phone self-"corrected" the colors so they ended up looking same in the photos although different to my naked eyes.

$3200 USD is OK for H(a) ruby. I wouldn't consider it a great bargain, but it's good if you like the stone.

Nope, you didn't get it right. Middle column second row from top is my ruby from Mozambique. It's not the "typical" Mozambique ruby but shows you exceptional stones from other origins can look more attractive than the typical or average Burmese ruby. My Burmese ruby is third row, the one with a pave diamond band. It's got just a tad more fluorescence than the Mozambique ruby, but only a tad. The fourth row shows a Burmese red spinel, purportedly a "Jedi" color. The bottom row shows a less neon Burmese spinel.

When I got my Burmese ruby vintage ring for $5k, I loved how it looked indoors, but not so much under strong sunlight. A lot of PSers told me I should return it, but I decided to keep it and have not regretted that decision since. It always looked pinkish on camera and the window showed up in phone pictures, but to my eyes out was redder, and the window was not visible to the naked eye without magnification.

I still love the ring, even if I can only wear it in the winter months when my fingers slim down, haha. When I browse ruby rings today, there isn't a single one that comes close to the one I purchased for the same price, even not considering whether the ruby has been heated.

What I mean to say is, you may be making a great decision to keep it, if it's your pick out of all the H(a) rubies currently available on the market. If you send it back, you may kick yourself in five years because at that point none of the H(a) rubies within the budget and available for sale would satisfy you half as much as this one is right now.

 

[Starstruck8]

Can you spot the Burmese ruby of the bunch?
(Edit: Side Note: top picture was taken with side lamp+overhead ceiling fan light. Bottom picture was taken with side lamp only, no overhead light. It's freaky how a Google Pixel phone can "correct" for low lighting. They look almost the same.)

It's off-topic, but that's a fabulous collection of rings.

And yes, the two pics are amazingly similar. I had to flip between them many times to spot the difference. Isn't modern technology amazing? You wonder how they do it.

 

[VividRed]

@Sydneyphoenix fluorescence in rubies is wildly misunderstood. Put a UV torch and it will glow red, that’s because of the chromium content. Even African rubies with relatively iron content will glow red under a UV light, although much less.

This is not the “desired” fluorescence that connoisseurs talk about, although it is related

Here is a little Mogok ruby showing fluorescence in indoor daylight (no UV torch). That’s what you are looking for.

 

[Bron357]

Here is mine in different lighting.
Because of its strong fluorescence even a tiny bit of light will cause it to “light up”.
small but mighty.

 

[Starstruck8]

@Sydneyphoenix fluorescence in rubies is wildly misunderstood. Put a UV torch and it will glow red, that’s because of the chromium content. Even African rubies with relatively iron content will glow red under a UV light, although much less.

This is not the “desired” fluorescence that connoisseurs talk about, although it is related

Could you say more? I've often wondered about this. I have lots of stones that glow red under LW uv, but none that I would consider fluorescent in the sense you mean. What exactly is the difference? What causes it?

 

[JewelledEscalators]

I have an African ruby and it flouresces pretty strongly - in a sunny day, bright red red - though l've never had a Burmess to compare it against.

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

@Sydneyphoenix fluorescence in rubies is wildly misunderstood. Put a UV torch and it will glow red, that’s because of the chromium content. Even African rubies with relatively iron content will glow red under a UV light, although much less.

This is not the “desired” fluorescence that connoisseurs talk about, although it is related

Here is a little Mogok ruby showing fluorescence in indoor daylight (no UV torch). That’s what you are looking for.

I would say mine has similar intense bright redness in daylight, but not as prominent as yours. The photo in the OP may show tiny bit of fluorescence? Will try to take a better photo tomorrow
@Bron357 ’s ruby fluorescence is the whole different league.

So my realistic bucket-list ruby (though probably after a “imperial” jade cabochon)…or should get Enhoerning jewellery to source something for similar budget…not exceptional but still excellent?

GIA Certified Untreated 1.20 cts. Ruby Oval

www.gemsny.com

 

[VividRed]

I would say mine has similar intense bright redness in daylight, but not as prominent as yours. The photo in the OP may show tiny bit of fluorescence? Will try to take a better photo tomorrow
@Bron357 ’s ruby fluorescence is the whole different league.

So my realistic bucket-list ruby (though probably after a “imperial” jade cabochon)…or should get Enhoerning jewellery to source something for similar budget…not exceptional but still excellent?

GIA Certified Untreated 1.20 cts. Ruby Oval

www.gemsny.com

Bron’s ruby is mighty!

 

[icy_jade]

Have you had a look at Starlanka and other vendors?

 

[Bron357]

Could you say more? I've often wondered about this. I have lots of stones that glow red under LW uv, but none that I would consider fluorescent in the sense you mean. What exactly is the difference? What causes it?

I have a few wee rubies. Sold to me as rubies but one is maybe more purple than red. In any regard they glow nicely under UV but what Burmese rubies can do is glow with sunlight.
Excuse my rubbish photos btw but I think it shows what the “glow” difference is.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Have you had a look at Starlanka and other vendors?

Lol I can see you choking on some of the prices that have been mentioned. I am too!

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Have you had a look at Starlanka and other vendors?

I dont know much about coloured stones, especially rubies, but I have purchased through Starlanka before, and they were great to deal with (I bought tourmaline and emerald though)!

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Have you had a look at Starlanka and other vendors?

I did look at that site and many other vendors. There is actually one Burmese ruby I was looking at and considered elsewhere, supposedly unheated but without any certification. I thought it might get good grading by some labs (e.g. GRS pigeon blood) looking at the video but wasn’t super-convinced and didn’t want to fork out $420 AUD/$300 USD just to be disappointed and without a stone, having already done that once during the past month. The price is higher than the AJS heated ruby but not high enough to be convinced of good grading. Maybe I should have gone for it, trying not to think about it; if by miracle if it’s still available in few months and my “imperial” jade cabochon search isn’t forthcoming, might run it through GIA or GRS. There’s always the NY store I linked (several others in that store) and another ruby with certified Mogok unheated origin I can chase before turning to Enhoerning if I decide to go for a good unheated ruby. But I also want a decent un-oiled Colombian emerald and a Russian Alexandrite in due time, thankfully Mogok sapphires aren’t too expensive, greedy bugger I am!!

Lol I can see you choking on some of the prices that have been mentioned. I am too!

Was not sure if you were referring to me or @icy_jade !!

 

[icy_jade]

Lol I can see you choking on some of the prices that have been mentioned. I am too!

Yup. I know what you mean. Generally I try not to comment on “US vendor/western market” prices too much unless really cannot control.

@Sydneyphoenix I honestly don’t think it’s a fantastic/value buy or stunning stone, but I guess all that matters is that you really love it. As in REALLY love it.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

@Sydneyphoenix I was referring to Icy. I am well aware that different people have access to different vendors and have different risk appetites but some of the prices I see are like....... No comment!!!

If you love it though, it's worth it. Goodness knows I buy all kinds of bizzare things (to others) that I love but I do think you must love it!!! Otherwise clinically it should tick all the boxes.

 

[icy_jade]

but some of the prices I see are like....... No comment!!!

Gosh yes. And I feel like a cheapskate when I think like that. Or very lucky that my gems don’t cost as much so that I can buy more/bigger.

If you love it though, it's worth it. Goodness knows I buy all kinds of bizzare things (to others) that I love but I do think you must love it!!! Otherwise clinically it should tick all the boxes.

Yes. I also buy all sorts of stuff that people won’t buy. But I’m happy with them so ok.

 

[roxta]

Oh my gosh! Having gone through my ruby/garnet drama, this is definitely my first and last ruby project. I don't care who gives birth in July next!
How are rubies so expensive? Even little heated or treated ones! I've never looked at rubies (or ruby threads) before this but seriously, I can't get over it.
Absolutely gobsmacked....

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Oh my gosh! Having gone through my ruby/garnet drama, this is definitely my first and last ruby project. I don't care who gives birth in July next!
How are rubies so expensive? Even little heated or treated ones! I've never looked at rubies (or ruby threads) before this but seriously, I can't get over it.
Absolutely gobsmacked....

They're expensive because they're rare, and though you don't like red stones, a lot of people do.

I do wish it was cheaper though. With big deposits found in Mozambique, you'd hope it became cheaper, but ironically, the more there is, the more it drives demand and the more expensive it becomes...

 

[JewelledEscalators]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who fantasizes about having a time machine and going back to the 80s and buying up tons of rubies for bargain prices

 

[Starstruck8]

I have a few wee rubies. Sold to me as rubies but one is maybe more purple than red. In any regard they glow nicely under UV but what Burmese rubies can do is glow with sunlight.
Excuse my rubbish photos btw but I think it shows what the “glow” difference is.

Thank you! That comparison pic is well worth its thousand words.

 

[Bron357]

Lol I can see you choking on some of the prices that have been mentioned. I am too!

If you want to be “gobsmacked” have a look at the range of Kashmir sapphires on 1st Dibs / Lang Antiques.
The prices

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Okay peeps, guess I am keeping this ruby given no hard reason to return…

 

[roxta]

They're expensive because they're rare, and though you don't like red stones, a lot of people do.

I do wish it was cheaper though. With big deposits found in Mozambique, you'd hope it became cheaper, but ironically, the more there is, the more it drives demand and the more expensive it becomes...

More supply = more demand = higher price? I remember something like this from the Economics post-grad course I took. It's one of those unique situations driven purely by human emotion that doesn't make sense but it happens with a number of products on the market.

Also, I'm SO THANKFUL I don't like red stones. Just as I'm glad I prefer pastel tanzanites and well, pastel everything. No need for Kashmir blue or emerald green or Paraiba aqua in my life. Though unfortunately, I make up for it in other areas like food!

 

[roxta]

If you want to be “gobsmacked” have a look at the range of Kashmir sapphires on 1st Dibs / Lang Antiques.
The prices

I wonder if they take "first-born children" as payment....

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Completely off-topic here, but am I the only one with a flourescing ruby that finds themselves regularly 'sunbathing' their ruby because it feels as though it's good for the stone even though you know it makes no sense whatsoever?

It's just me, isnt' it?

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Just a few photos in the morning sunlight this morning, what do you think about fluorescence, any at all?
@icy_jade @Bron357 @voce @demantoidz @VividRed

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Is that out in the sunshine or in the shade with sunlight?

Mine in the shade on a sunny day



Out in the sunshine