omigod, save my marriage, need a ruby ring!

[minousbijoux]

You have some excellent sources in NYC that you should check out, like Primagems. I don't know where they are in comparison to the diamond district, but definitely worth a visit. Another one that is located in NYC is Natural Sapphire Company. That would be a great place to see a bunch of rubies first hand.

I don't think Prima has rubies, at least I didn't see any on his website. I could be wrong, but it would be good to call first to find out. He also specializes in African material. I don't think he carries gems from other locations, but again I could be wrong.

primagemsusa.com

Huh, live and learn! I just assumed he did since he seems to specialize in East African material. Who knew?

 

[chrono]

I am sorry to disagree with a few very knowledgeable and regular posters that heat only is fine. Personally, I am also concerned with the level of heat as well. I don't think I can ever accept any ruby beyond a faint level of flux as a mind clean issue. The problem is that most vendors are either uncomfortable and/or unfamiliar about the discussion of residue, so they just call it "heat only". Flux healing involves heating corundum with borax or other fluxes. These fluxes actually dissolve the surfaces, including the internal surfaces of cracks. The corundum within this molten material then re-deposits on the fracture surfaces, filling and healing the fractures shut. Undigested material cools into pockets of flux glass. Essentially this amounts to a microscopic deposition of synthetic ruby to heal the cracks closed. The positives of this treatment is that it improves the ruby's durability since the fractures are permanently healed shut, the treatment is permanent, irreversible and stable. The only reason I don't mind a ruby with faint flux residue is an allowance for cross-contamination of the oven used to treat other stones.

http://multibriefs.com/briefs/agta/gemguide1.htm

 

[T L]

I am sorry to disagree with a few very knowledgeable and regular posters that heat only is fine. Personally, I am also concerned with the level of heat as well. I don't think I can ever accept any ruby beyond a faint level of flux as a mind clean issue. The problem is that most vendors are either uncomfortable and/or unfamiliar about the discussion of residue, so they just call it "heat only". Flux healing involves heating corundum with borax or other fluxes. These fluxes actually dissolve the surfaces, including the internal surfaces of cracks. The corundum within this molten material then re-deposits on the fracture surfaces, filling and healing the fractures shut. Undigested material cools into pockets of flux glass. Essentially this amounts to a microscopic deposition of synthetic ruby to heal the cracks closed. The positives of this treatment is that it improves the ruby's durability since the fractures are permanently healed shut, the treatment is permanent, irreversible and stable. The only reason I don't mind a ruby with faint flux residue is an allowance for cross-contamination of the oven used to treat other stones.

http://multibriefs.com/briefs/agta/gemguide1.htm

Very interesting, thanks Chrono.

 

[misskittycat]

I suggest you give her a budget and let her get her own ruby ring.....and that because you are so "delinquent" in your gift that she charage you 10% interest on that budget amount as "interest" for a delinquent debt!

or

hire a personal shopper. I know you've been busy but it if you're only looking at ebay sources, well, you're still too busy to do this justice.

LOL, your wife is a saint! I don't know too many women [myself included] that would be this patient! me? I'd have started researching it back in July 2013 and bought the ring myself....and then told you what you'd gotten me for Christmas.......

I often do that... Otherwise I would wait and wait and wait.... I bought my own Christmas pearls, last year's Mother's day pearls, found my own birthday presents.... This year I didn't flag anything for Mother's Day and GUESS WHAT?? No present. At all. Not even chocolates. Sigh. Some men just aren't born with the gene.

But I would definitely involve her and get her to help with what she likes.