Looking for a pair of ruby pears

[Owies Nana]

I am new to colored stones and am looking for a matched pair of high quality, very deep color ruby pear sidestones to set with a 1.2 ct RB diamond. The diamond is just shy of 7mm.

Questions:

What size stones would be the right proportion to go with a 7mm center stone on a size 6 finger?
Which vendors would be good sources?
Rough ballpark cost of such stones?

Thanks so much!

 

[AGBF]

I am new to colored stones and am looking for a matched pair of high quality, very deep color ruby pear sidestones to set with a 1.2 ct RB diamond. The diamond is just shy of 7mm.

Questions:

What size stones would be the right proportion to go with a 7mm center stone on a size 6 finger?
Which vendors would be good sources?
Rough ballpark cost of such stones?

Thanks so much!

Hi, Owies Nana- I have seen you in at least one other forum. Welcome to Colored Stones! I don't think there is one answer to any of the questions you ask. Each question is actually huge and could be the topic of a major thread here! I think that you have raised some great talking points, however!

I do not believe that there is any "right" sized pear to go with any center stone in a three-stone ring. Certainly one could guess that the accent stone should be smaller than the center stone, but not so small as to be invisible, but barring that, the size of the side stone is truly a matter of taste. When I chose pear side stones (diamond pears) to go beside my center red spinel I asked my jeweler to try different size pears with my virtual stone so that I could see what they actually looked like. (By the way, I happen to have a size six ring finger on each hand.)

There are many good colored stone vendors. People here will help to steer you away from bad ones. Which one is the best for you may depend upon what kind of stone you decide to look for...and what kind of service you are looking for as well. Do you already have a jeweler in mind who is going to set your stones and make your ring or are you looking for someone to that as well as to find you rubies?

The cost of the stones will vary hugely depending on what you decide you want!

I hope that this helps to start a discussion.

Deb/AGBF


Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

 

[Owies Nana]

AGBF/Deb,

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I am definitely looking more at "accent" size rubies rather than "equal partner" rubies, if you know what I mean. In such a small size, I am not thinking that the cost will be outrageous, even if they are top of the line stones. But I could be wrong: I guess I will need to shop around when I get some recommendations.

The impetus for this thread is that I was sent home from my local jeweler today with two sets of semi precious (garnet and peridot) pears for consideration to set with this stone. I should probably try to find some calipers in dh's tools to measure them as I forgot to ask the jeweler the size. I think the proportions of these sidestones is about right for the diamond and for my finger size.

But it was the jeweler (great salesman that he is! ) who strongly encouraged me to consider using rubies instead of the garnets (my children's birthstones), especially since the color of the RB requires that I set it in white metal and since I cannot wear white gold without having an allergic reaction to it. I will have to set it in platinum. Even white gold/palladium alloy is irritating, but oddly, yellow gold does not bother me at all...yet!

But yellow gold is not an option with this RB because it has a greenish cast to it and has a "fancy" look to it. The dark garnets really warm the color of the RB stone, but interestingly, the peridots make it look blue, which I also like (because it is unusual!), but which seems pointless since peridot doesn't wear particularly well over time and since I have to set it in platinum. And since that is the case, I am thinking I might as well go with precious stones all around!

I am trying to ballpark the cost to "pitch" it to dh , especially since he has already purchased me a honker to wear with my wband, and which I have been too indecisive to set and too slammed at work to get to NY for a long weekend to shop around!

 

[AGBF]

But it was the jeweler...who strongly encouraged me to consider using rubies instead of the garnets...especially since the color of the RB requires that I set it in white metal....

I totally agree with your jeweler that you should use rubies rather than garnets or peridots with your diamond, particularly if you are going to be investing in a platinum setting as well as in the diamond! (But then rubies are by far my favorite stone!) I am interested in what kind of diamond can only be set in white metal, however! I have never encountered such a stone myself. Do tell! What are its specs? (I am teasing you. My point is that I have no idea why you feel that your diamond must be set in white gold, although I thoroughly respect your decision to set it in the color metal of your choice for any reason on earth that you choose. I have diamonds that range in color from D to G and they are set in many different metals.)

I'd love to help you browse for rubies! People helped me to look for red stones when I was first looking for a red spinel or a ruby. You can look at websites or ask a vendor to find some stones for you. One site that I enjoy perusing is Wild Fish, which has untreated rubies on it. Another (although not a retailer) is Palagems.com, which supplied me with the red spinel I used for another ring I had made and which specializes in high quality gems. Start looking at least!

Deb/AGBF

 

[Edward Bristol]

Hi there,

In colored gems better decide a budget first; and then go and search the best that there is within that budget.

In ruby especially the ballpark can be very wide, in fact anywhere between $10 and $100.000/carat.

 

[LD]

Just to help a little further, budget depends on what you're looking for and is dependent on whether you're looking for top of the range or just a red ruby that will be pretty? So, in order from top to bottom:-

All of these will be sold as "natural" and some places won't disclose anything further unless you ask.

1. Natural Ruby, unheated, untreated.
2. Natural Ruby, low heat only (usually described as "heated" but this can be misleading because #3 below may well be sold in this way)
3. Natural Ruby, heated and treated - treatments vary see below:

Treatments range from Be diffusion (additives to the gem to give it the red colour), dyeing, filling with lead/glass/coloured fillers and various other treatments.

If you are looking for the best (ie #1 above), the price will be very high especially for matching gemstones and will take some time to find. #2 will still be tough to find also because again it's the specific shape and matching stones. #3 will be much easier to find and a quick scour of Ebay turned these up:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPARKLING-VVS-TOP-PAIR-PEAR-FIERY-RED-RUBY-NATURAL-/220948420542?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item33718d57be
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPARKLING-VVS-AAA-PAIR-PEAR-FIERY-RED-RUBY-NATURAL-/270910314933?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item3f138359b5
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHARMING-VVS-PAIR-PEAR-PIGEON-BLOOD-RED-RUBY-NATURAL-/270911144229?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item3f13900125

As you can see they're described as "heated" but honestly these won't just be heated. They will be treated fairly heavily I would think. So long as you're okay with that, its a great alternative if you are working to a budget but please make sure you ask what treatments have been applied. If the seller says they've been heated only .............. well, I'd assume that's not the case!

You also need to be aware that there are synthetics on the market so whatever you buy, take it immediately to your jeweller because if they're a reasonable working jeweller they should be able to run a few basic tests to reassure you.

If nothing else from the above you can see the dimensions of the stones. I suggest drawing them on paper and putting them next to a paper cut out of your diamond to get a "feel" for the proportions.

 

[Owies Nana]

Thank you, Edward Bristol and EB,

I am assuming that natural rubies with no treatment are the most expensive. The color saturation will matter in pairing with this diamond due to the "yellow-greenish" cast of its color. The diamond has an exceptional cut, so I would want high quality rubies so that the quality of the ring is consistent in the setting and the quality of the stones.

I guess the only way is to determine what size pears (using paper cutouts and measuring), then ordering in a few from reputable vendors with good return policies to see what I like.

Am I right?

 

[Owies Nana]

But it was the jeweler...who strongly encouraged me to consider using rubies instead of the garnets...especially since the color of the RB requires that I set it in white metal....

I totally agree with your jeweler that you should use rubies rather than garnets or peridots with your diamond, particularly if you are going to be investing in a platinum setting as well as in the diamond! (But then rubies are by far my favorite stone!) I am interested in what kind of diamond can only be set in white metal, however! I have never encountered such a stone myself. Do tell! What are its specs? (I am teasing you. My point is that I have no idea why you feel that your diamond must be set in white gold, although I thoroughly respect your decision to set it in the color metal of your choice for any reason on earth that you choose. I have diamonds that range in color from D to G and they are set in many different metals.)

I'd love to help you browse for rubies! People helped me to look for red stones when I was first looking for a red spinel or a ruby. You can look at websites or ask a vendor to find some stones for you. One site that I enjoy perusing is Wild Fish, which has untreated rubies on it. Another (although not a retailer) is Palagems.com, which supplied me with the red spinel I used for another ring I had made and which specializes in high quality gems. Start looking at least!

Deb/AGBF

Deb/AGBF,

The diamond color is greenish, and therefore yellow gold just does not complement it. I will look at the two sites you mentioned to see what I think and will surely post more questions!

 

[Pandora II]

Thank you, Edward Bristol and EB,

I am assuming that natural rubies with no treatment are the most expensive. The color saturation will matter in pairing with this diamond due to the "yellow-greenish" cast of its color. The diamond has an exceptional cut, so I would want high quality rubies so that the quality of the ring is consistent in the setting and the quality of the stones.

I guess the only way is to determine what size pears (using paper cutouts and measuring), then ordering in a few from reputable vendors with good return policies to see what I like.

Am I right?

This is where you may find it tricky - finding matched pairs of high quality rubies is hard - let alone unheated and pear shaped. Unlike diamonds, which can be ordered off the shelf, it can take a long time to hunt down the right coloured stone.

Palagems have a pair of ruby pears on their website - although there is no picture and given they are trade only, no price but might be worth getting your jeweller to make enquires. They are heated.

Most of what I have seen are heated ovals or rounds.

I would expect a pair of unheated fine quality pears to run between $2-6k.

Please be careful - there is a lot of very nice looking cheap ruby out there... it's stuffed full of lead-glass and has lots of issues. If a ruby looks too good to be true then it almost certainly is.

 

[Owies Nana]

Thank you, Edward Bristol and EB,

I am assuming that natural rubies with no treatment are the most expensive. The color saturation will matter in pairing with this diamond due to the "yellow-greenish" cast of its color. The diamond has an exceptional cut, so I would want high quality rubies so that the quality of the ring is consistent in the setting and the quality of the stones.

I guess the only way is to determine what size pears (using paper cutouts and measuring), then ordering in a few from reputable vendors with good return policies to see what I like.

Am I right?

This is where you may find it tricky - finding matched pairs of high quality rubies is hard - let alone unheated and pear shaped. Unlike diamonds, which can be ordered off the shelf, it can take a long time to hunt down the right coloured stone.

Palagems have a pair of ruby pears on their website - although there is no picture and given they are trade only, no price but might be worth getting your jeweller to make enquires. They are heated.

Most of what I have seen are heated ovals or rounds.

I would expect a pair of unheated fine quality pears to run between $2-6k.

Please be careful - there is a lot of very nice looking cheap ruby out there... it's stuffed full of lead-glass and has lots of issues. If a ruby looks too good to be true then it almost certainly is.

Pandora,

What weight would you expect to find in that price range? I am sure that I am looking at .75 ctw at the absolute most, and probably more along the lines of .5 ctw.

And as in all things,I am sure that if it seems to be good to be true, it probably is. And I didn't even have to learn it the hard way!

 

[LD]

You are going to struggle to find what you want. Something will have to be compromised I'm afraid. The challenge you have is:-

1. Finding top quality, natural, unheated rubies
2. Finding them in the colour you want
3. Finding them in the cut you want
4. Finding them in the size you want
5. Finding a pair.

You may think this is easy but it's not. Your "wish list" is very specific and therefore narrows your search. You may be lucky (and I hope you are) but rather than worry about size, if I were you I'd go to the sticky at the top of this forum and work your way down contacting the sellers most of us use. Please be prepared to compromise because I think you'll have to.

 

[Owies Nana]

Would I have better luck matching the natural rubies if I went with french cuts and set the diamond in an antique style mounting?

 

[Pandora II]

Corundum is a denser substance than diamond so they face up smaller. Rubies are also the most expensive of all gemstones in fine quality - they blow the price of diamonds out of the water.

I did a rough sketch out and a 6 x 4mm pear would look a nice size with a 7mm centre - a 6 x 4mm corundum pear will weigh around 0.70ct each.

So, you're looking for best part of 1.5cts total weight.

I've found heated pairs of ovals in that kind of size from dealers who are generally very reasonably priced and they are running around $2k and they are not what I would call a red red.

Here are a few others:

Heated - 1.43cttw - $4,290
http://www.rwwise.com/products/id%7C1416

Richard has an AMAZING pair of ruby pears, but the price is on application and I would guess it's fairly serious 5 figures.

 

[Pandora II]

Another pair of ovals:

http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10907/12950

1.40cttw - unheated - African $1,980 (described as 'soft on the budget')

 

[Pandora II]

Would I have better luck matching the natural rubies if I went with french cuts and set the diamond in an antique style mounting?

The easiest to find will be cushions, ovals and rounds in the size you are looking for.

French cuts would need to be custom cut for the setting. Your issue there will be finding good quality rough. The USA also has the issue that there is a ban on importing Burmese rubies still.

It's not an impossible task to find side-stones by any means, but you may find it a longer and more expensive task than most people imagine.

If I see anything in the way of pairs or french cuts then I'll post them up.

 

[Owies Nana]

Pandora,

Thank you so much for all of your help! That's what makes PS so great: there is a wealth of knowledge from the posters here who are willing to share what they know to help educate consumers! I so appreciate all of you who post what you know here. Thank you for helping me make great choices!

 

[Barrett]

Great information provided in this thread!