Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!!

[zebra]

I was hoping for some opinions on the following ruby, as well as some Photoshop help... My boyfriend recruited me to help pick my engagement ring & we've been looking at rubies for a simple platinum bezel ring. So far we haven't found anything that we love. This is the 1st that we both like that generally fits what we're looking for. http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10910/15761

Neither of us knows anything about colored stones, so this is a bit of an overwhelming task. Could definitely use some advice & outside opinions. I realize it's all about what we like personally, but we feel a little out of our depth.

-Ruby (preferably unheated/untreated, though this could possibly change depending on what we find)
-Round, or fatter Oval, though open to other shapes, about 6-7mm
-I love the true reds, or those with a bit of orange in them (generally don't like pinker stones, though purple sometimes works)
-Budget is about $5-7K for the stone

-Have been looking at platinum bezel settings, like the Etienne Perret low-profile bezel or the Mark Morrel bezel I'm attaching. I haven't had much luck finding pictures of bezeled rubies -- does anybody have any good pictures? Or could someone help Photoshop one together? Has anyone seen either of these settings (or similar ones) with gemstones? Or has anyone worked with these designers?

Thank you all for any help or advice -- very much appreciated!
Zebra

Mark Morrel

Etienne Perret

Ruby

Ruby cery

 

[zebra]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

sorry the pictures are so big -- didn't realize they were gigantic!

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Hi, there are some really nice rubies here to coose from too: http://www.gemfix.com/ruby.html

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Hi again. I photoshopped the ring with ruby-525 from Gemfix (its at bottom of the page).

 

[chrono]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

I think the stone has more than a bit of orange, which even GRS noted as orangy red.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Have you thought about size at all? There is a pretty significant size difference between the two gems you liked. Also, be careful since the ring you shopped the rubies onto is probably for a larger gem and, depending on your ring size, you probably won't get as much coverage.

 

[Enerchi]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

LOVE the photo shopped pics Jeweljunke!!! you are GIFTED (from someone who can only type!)

I love that look - so clean and modern.

 

[T L]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

LOVE the photo shopped pics Jeweljunke!!! you are GIFTED (from someone who can only type!)

I love that look - so clean and modern.

Just because you photoshop it in there, does not mean it will look exactly that color in there. The problem is that white metal, IMO, tends to kill red stones (especially orangy red ones) unless the stone is super saturated to begin with. I have a orangy red spinel that looks much like that ruby. I put it in a white gold setting halo (not even a bezel which is more enclosed), and it killed the stone's color, and darkened it. If I had to do it over again, I would do high karat yellow gold. I have since removed the stone from the setting and it looks much better and brighter out of it.

 

[zebra]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

thank you for all your replies!

My finger size is a 5 1/4 or a 5 1/2 so I think that size stone will be plenty big for me -- I'm also not a "jewelery" person in general, so I'm not used to the rather large stones found so frequently around here!

About the platinum vs. yellow gold -- I like the look of platinum, but would also be a bit concerned about doing yellow or white gold because I am an R.N. & wash my hands (with not so nice chemicals) about 100+ times a day... I also use my hands a LOT... so I'm guessing gold would get scratched significantly, and badly affected by all the soap/sanitizer chemicals... Am I wrong?

I realize photoshopping something in won't portray what the stone will actually look like set -- but to me, it's like painting the 1'x1' square on the bedroom wall with a new color paint before diving in & painting the whole room. It helps give me an idea at least -- not looking for 100% authentic, just help with visualizing the concept!

Jewel Junkie-- thanks for the editing talent! Very much appreciated!

I looked at the link you listed for gemfix, but was little dismayed about the conflicting "unheated vs. heated" comments on a few stones. It would say one thing & then the opposite on the details section.

Do you guys have any other suggestions on sourcing rubies? Just trying to discover as many options as possible -- just seems like many gem dealers have amazing selection, and then little or nothing listed under rubies...

Thanks for all the feedback!

Zebra

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

TL, I agree with you totally. For me, personally, I would only put a ruby in yellow, and I have never been a big fan of bezel setting.... maybe just haven't seen one I really like yet? Anywho... photoshopping is just for fun, and hopefully the OP will realize that it only gives you a vague idea of what it might look like. After all, when playing with photos like that, you use the vendor's photos most of the time, and vendors take great photos of their products to make them look the best they can.

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Hi Zebra. Our posts crossed in the 'mail' so to speak. Glad you like the photoshopping. I do the same thing with paint. I had one wall that looked like a chess board with all different color paint.

 

[Enerchi]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Jeweljunke - can you photoshop the WG ring to be a YG ring? is that a possibility using a paint program of any sort? AGain - I know nothing of photoshopping, just wondering, in light of TL's suggestion, how it might look if you WERE able to show in YG.

(you really have a talent for this - I've seen other things you've posted!)

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Enerchi. Thanks... I don't know. I'll try it when I get home tonight.

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

What do ya know. I guess it is possible. Was fun too. Here you go....

 

[zebra]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Jewel Junkie -- you are wonderful!! Thank you

That is beautiful, just maybe not me so much? I am also still concerned about the durability issue that I mentioned before. Would gold withstand the beating of such frequent handwashing/disinfectants/working with hands 24/7 that platinum would?

Chrono -- on my screen that stone looks red with a tinge of orange to it -- does it look really orange on yours? I know vendor pictures can be "optimal" so I'm wondering what color it will be in real life. I know this coloration certainly lowers the stone's price, as it is less desirable, but can it still be beautiful? I guess in my attempt to avoid pink, I leaned towards orange -- is this something I should avoid?

Any other votes on vendors? some of richard wise's rubies are GORGEOUS, but a bit out of our price range, unless we get a better deal on the house we're in the process of buying than expected. Little overwhelming to be looking at engagement rings AND houses in the same month

I tried contacting Jeff White but haven't heard back.

Also -- not sure if any of you in Colored Stones use Mark Morrell, but does anyone know if he's working currently? I tried calling & got a message from March saying he had needed emergency surgery

again, I cannot say thank you enough for all of your opinions & help!
Zebra

 

[chrono]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

JJ,
You are amazing!

Zebra,
Gold is durable; if not, why would it have been used as wedding bands since time immemoriable? Frequent handwashing is not going to damage gold. Neither will disinfectants unless it happens to contain ammonia. Since you are going with a plain metal design, there is no worry about the pattern being worn off.

My concern with the first ruby is what it may look like IRL. If GRS deems it orangy red, then it has a good amount of orange, much more than just a tinge. Otherwise, it will not be noted as such. Of course, such colouration makes it affordable but do not expect to see a stone that is predominantly red. Whether it is beautiful or not, will depend on individual preference. In terms of market preference, pink is preferable over orange.

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Thanks. I used a different ruby this time, but still from Gemfix. I have never ordered from Gemfix, but I like what I see. Can anyone chime in on this? Anyone buy from them? They seem to have good pricing. Zebra mentioned that their enhancement notations were different from their description, in that they didn't match up, but I could not find one like that. Maybe I'm missing something?

 

[chrono]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Thanks. I used a different ruby this time, but still from Gemfix. I have never ordered from Gemfix, but I like what I see. Can anyone chime in on this? Anyone buy from them? They seem to have good pricing. Zebra mentioned that their enhancement notations were different from their description, in that they didn't match up, but I could not find one like that. Maybe I'm missing something?

Ditto - I've only heard good things about Gemfix and have not noted any inconsistencies in their treatment disclosure.

Zebra,
Do you mind showing us an example?

 

[T L]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Also when purchasing a ruby, I always ask the vendor if it has fluorescence. A fluorescent ruby will have that extra punch of color in sunlight. If it's an expensive gem, it should fluoresce IMHO. Fluorescence is not always noted on lab reports, so you have to ask the vendor.

 

[zebra]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

'm sorry guys -- really wasn't trying to accuse them of something. When I looked again, it's not even the site I was remembering. I'm trying to find it now (I didn't bookmark it because of the descriptions). I'll keep hunting! Again, I wasn't trying to step on toes, just misremembered, as I have looked at way too many sites recently!

Any thoughts on this one from Gemfix? I

This is the one that we keep going back to from Richard Wise... sometimes wish I'd never seen it! If we get the price we're hoping for on the house, it may be an option... Any thoughts? http://www.rwwise.com/products/id|1709


TL: is fluorescence still a good thing in bezel settings?

Guess I was wrong about gold's durability -- doesn't it scratch more easily than platinum though? Not sure why I thought that!

You guys are very helpful!
Zebra

 

[T L]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

TL: is fluorescence still a good thing in bezel settings?

Yes, you can still see fluorescence in a bezel. However, IMO bezels, and even halos, do have a tendency to darken stones that are already dark toned and extinct to begin with. HTH.

I would also view the stone against a white background. Darker backgrounds tend to make stones look more vivid than they may truly be IRL from what I've seen. Some vendors will provide additional shots against a lighter background.

Since you're spending quite a bit of money, please carefully double check the return policies of the vendors and return shipping methods, including potential restocking fees, so that you have an ample review period without too much risk.

 

[Jeweljunke]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Hi Zebra. No offense was taken, just couldn't find what you were talking about. LOL. You know this is your decision and you have to choose the stone that speaks to you. That said, if I were to choose between the first one you posted and the Gemfix ruby that you JUST posted, I would choose the Gemfix because I like the the size, the color and the shape and it comes with a great AGL lab report. I would ask them for more photos though. Rubies over 2 cts are always a very wise investment. Let us know which you pick!

 

[chrono]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Given the latest choice of the two, my preference is also the Gemfix ruby. It is cut well (isn't overly deep - the RW is quite deep so faces up smaller than its carat weight should), the colour, shape (well cut - the RW ruby is a little off symmetry) and I always prefer AGL over other lab memos. That said, my choice may not necessarily be something you or others like.

Fluorescence is a good thing with rubies - when outdoors, it gives the stone an extra kick of red goodness which is not affected by any type or style of setting.

Platinum scratches just as easily as gold; the difference is that the metal is displaced when scratched, rather than removed. That said, it is going to take umpteen years for gold to wear down to a point where it becomes noticeable. The other thing some do not mention is that as platinum scratches, it develops what is called a patina. The patina, depending on the alloy used, will be varying degrees of dull gray.

 

[Enerchi]

Re: Help with a Ruby? Photoshop help? Feeling a little lost!

Thanks. I used a different ruby this time, but still from Gemfix. I have never ordered from Gemfix, but I like what I see. Can anyone chime in on this? Anyone buy from them? They seem to have good pricing. Zebra mentioned that their enhancement notations were different from their description, in that they didn't match up, but I could not find one like that. Maybe I'm missing something?

I've purchased 3 stones from them and they were all BEAUTIFUL! their posted photos were true to life when the stones arrived. My tourmaline was a portugese cut by Andrew and it is just a stunning stone - in my opinion! I had it set in an ebay setting, where I quickly lost a few diamonds from the melee, so it is now off with DanielM being reset in a simple argentium silver U prong setting, E/W and I can't wait to pick it up at the end of June!!! The other 2 were stones I had set as pendants for my DD and my #2 DS's gf. DD was a pink tourmaline, DS g/f was a blue zircon. Both girls were thrilled with the pendants (but hey --- they are young ladies and it sparkles... it's a "given" they were excited!! ) Laura & Andrew were very helpful both on the phone and by email. The only downside was the amount of duty I had to pay, when shipped to Canada.

Also wanted to say, Jeweljunke - your YG photo shop skills ROCKED THE HOUSE!! Awesome job - you are really gifted with what you can do on photo shop! If I send you my picture, can you make me look tall, thin, young and beautiful???