Is this ruby glass filled?

[sparklystarrystar]

Hi everyone. I recently bought a ring which came with a valuation. The seller assured me that it was not a glass filled ruby and only heat treated. After receiving it, I can see some surface scratches on it and a tiny nick that I can feel. Is this normal? I’ve attached photos of the valuation and the nick. Thanks.

 

[LilAlex]

Welcome!

You will need a report from a reputable lab, imo. You can't really say anything from an "appraisal" like that. And I do not understand the phrasing of the (deliberately?) ambiguous statement about corundum being commonly clarity-enhanced. Usually we see this verbiage after a determination that a stone is or is not, whereas here it seems like it covers a multitude of sins, as it were. And at that price point it really matters since you could get something untreated -- although not big or super-attractive.

My understanding is that glass- or flux-filling pertains to surface-reaching fractures; I would not expect a sizable fraction of the dome to be glass (for example) and therefore be more scratch-prone. Old corundum can accumulate scratches or there can be "naturals" left after the final polishing. I have a high-dome sapphire cab that has some small "defects" (like gouges) even though it is transparent and AGL-untreated.

All sellers are different. If this is a high-volume IG "estate jewelry" seller, then I'd be pretty confident that there is more enhancement than just heating. If it is someone who routinely sells colored stones to knowledgeable/finicky clientele (i.e., those who frequent this sub-forum), then maybe not. But nearly all of the latter would have some type of lab report -- just maybe not a tippy-top one.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

My honest guess would be they don't use the word "enhanced" if the mean heat only. I think you need a report like suggested above to be sure. Depending on the age, rubies and sapphires can get abraded and "flea bites" from wear, so I don't believe you can judge if it's filled by what you describe.