Fracture filled rubies?

[Upgradable]

I'd really like a simplish pair of red (ruby or spinel) earrings to compliment my new ring. I prefer round or oval, but could be talked into pears. Situation is, I'm really, REALLY tight on budget, so I'm considering fracture filled stones.

I love my colored stones, but I'm also practical. These wouldn't be everyday wear. I'm wondering WWPSD?

 

[chrono]

How big/small? And what is WWPSD?

 

[innerkitten]

What would pricescopers do?

 

[Upgradable]

Rounds: 5mm, +-.5
Ovals: 4x6

WWPSD: What would Pricescopers do? (Thanks, Ikitten. I didn't see yours before posting.)

 

[innerkitten]

I would attempt red spinels first. Then if I couldn't find what I wanted I'd start looking at other options. But I don't think I'd do lead glass filled. I'd go with diffused stones before I'd go with lead glass filled stones.

 

[Upgradable]

So far, I've found these: http://www.gemselect.com/spinel/spinel-286814.php#

these: http://www.gemfix.com/ruby.html the 1.68 pair three rows from the bottom

and these: http://www.ajsgem.com/ruby/burma-ruby/burma-ruby-1.00-carats.html

 

[innerkitten]

Wonder if the gemselect spinels are very dark in real life? I know gemfix would be a safe place to buy rubies and it looks like there are a couple pairs for under $300, and a few more pairs for under $500. Not bad prices. Love the look of the drops from AJS. If thats your price range I think you'll have some good options. Have you contacted any vendors or cutters to see if they might have something not listed yet?

 

[chrono]

Why not garnets or red zircons?

 

[innerkitten]

Red zircons could be very interesting. And on your ear you don't have to worry about damage so much.

 

[Upgradable]

I'm open to anything not too big or too expensive that would look nice with my ring. Feel free to post suggestions.

I'm worried about garnets having a brown modifier. Off to look at zircons.

 

[innerkitten]

Yeah I know what you mean about garnets. I love them, even the darker wine colored ones but they may not go well with the ruby ring. Different kind of red. GL with the zircon search! If they are as red as the ones pictured in the pendant ,(in this link below) then they may be a good choice.

http://www.ajsgem.com/gemstone-information/honey-red-zircon-44.html

 

[Upgradable]

What do you think of this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/57-99-1pc-4mm-ROUND-NATURAL-PIGEON-BLOOD-RED-RUBY-/370491606023?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item5643054407

 

[innerkitten]

Well they don't really disclose the treatments and it might be hard to return. So there is some risk. But if you don't mind various treatments and feel this seller is trustworthy you may wind up with some nice stones.

 

[Upgradable]

Well they don't really disclose the treatments and it might be hard to return. So there is some risk. But if you don't mind various treatments and feel this seller is trustworthy you may wind up with some nice stones.

for less than $125 shipped. May be worth the risk.

 

[SB621]

Uppy,

I have 2 rubies that I'm sure are fracture filled that I was actually going to put on LT. However they are square cuts with clipped corners and they are sort of largish at 8mm...not sure if you are interested. If so let me know and I will put them up sooner rather then later. My hubby brought them back from his tour in the sandbox so they were dirt cheap. We made some into solitare rings for our little nieces.

 

[innerkitten]

Well they don't really disclose the treatments and it might be hard to return. So there is some risk. But if you don't mind various treatments and feel this seller is trustworthy you may wind up with some nice stones.

for less than $125 shipped. May be worth the risk.

Yeah, that's true. Do they have some sort of return policy just in case?

 

[innerkitten]

Uppy,

I have 2 rubies that I'm sure are fracture filled that I was actually going to put on LT. However they are square cuts with clipped corners and they are sort of largish at 8mm...not sure if you are interested. If so let me know and I will put them up sooner rather then later. My hubby brought them back from his tour in the sandbox so they were dirt cheap. We made some into solitare rings for our little nieces.

Sound pretty. Did you make any into jewelry for yourself?

 

[chrono]

I guess if you don't mind risking the shipping cost to check out the spinels. My gut feel is that they won't look this nice in person. The rubies are so-so. Clearly hazy in the pictures and more translucent than transparent. The AJS stone is promising but lately, I've read concerns about their lack of colour representation accuracy.

 

[Upgradable]

I'd love some links, Chrono. I had a beautiful pair of pinkish red spinels that I sold because I didn't like the mountings. Stupidity.

 

[chrono]

If you have time, can it wait until Monday? I have a better monitor then and won't have to squint on my phone. Also, gotta watch out for lurking stone snatchers. This behaviour lately has made me reluctant to post recommendations; I want to help a friend but instead end up unknowingly assisting some unknown folk.

 

[innerkitten]

I guess if you don't mind risking the shipping cost to check out the spinels. My gut feel is that they won't look this nice in person. The rubies are so-so. Clearly hazy in the pictures and more translucent than transparent. The AJS stone is promising but lately, I've read concerns about their lack of colour representation accuracy.

Will AJS send extra photos? I've never asked them myself but I once needed an opinion on two stones on their site, and they were pretty good about getting back to me with a description of the two stones.

 

[Upgradable]

Absolutely, and completely understand. Poaching is a field sport, not board sport.

 

[chrono]

They used to but they have stopped providing extra photographs a few years ago.

 

[chrono]

What do you think of this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/57-99-1pc-4mm-ROUND-NATURAL-PIGEON-BLOOD-RED-RUBY-/370491606023?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item5643054407

Very dark. Might as well get these Ant Hill garnets where you know they are 100% untreated.
http://www.diamondexpert.com/diamonds/dbs.cgi?sf=detg.setup.cgi&active=active&stock=GP00091&submit_search=1
http://www.diamondexpert.com/diamonds/dbs.cgi?sf=detg.setup.cgi&active=active&stock=GP00128&submit_search=1

 

[innerkitten]

If you're going that route here is another pair of anthill garnets.

http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9222

 

[SB621]

Uppy,

I have 2 rubies that I'm sure are fracture filled that I was actually going to put on LT. However they are square cuts with clipped corners and they are sort of largish at 8mm...not sure if you are interested. If so let me know and I will put them up sooner rather then later. My hubby brought them back from his tour in the sandbox so they were dirt cheap. We made some into solitare rings for our little nieces.

Sound pretty. Did you make any into jewelry for yourself?

Nope- I thought about setting them in a 3 stone for something but honestly I don't love them so they sit at the bottom of my gem box with all my other beginner gemmies.

 

[innerkitten]

I think those spienls you have posted in your other post from AJSgems have potential. From the pic it kind of looks like my red spinel from Sri Lanka. It's a deeper red and very beautiful. But check out the photo next to this chrome garnet. This garnet holds it's own. It's so red. Even from the bottom. I'm currently searching for a match. The spinel was part of a pair but I lost the other one. Hope this is not considered highjacking but I wanted to show you how red these garnets can be.

 

[innerkitten]

from the bottom. No brown.

 

[Upgradable]

Very, very pretty!!

 

[chrono]

So far, I've found these: http://www.gemselect.com/spinel/spinel-286814.php#
these: http://www.gemfix.com/ruby.html the 1.68 pair three rows from the bottom
and these: http://www.ajsgem.com/ruby/burma-ruby/burma-ruby-1.00-carats.html

If you don't mind pear shapes, I think the AJS pears are the nicest of your three options.