Oval ruby ring: HELP!

[DiamondsNPearls]

I’m a July baby & looking for a true ruby right hand ring w/ side stones (don’t have to be diamond but don’t want moissanite). Side stones I’d like for them to be another gemstone, preferably under $1000, don’t want to break the bank. Can anyone help recommend some good sites?

 

[JackTrick]

Do you have a size in mind for the stone?

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

Do you have a size in mind for the stone?

I am good w/ 1ct but I have never seen a 1ct oval (don't want one too large or gaudy/costume), I am most concerned with ruby clarity (I've seen a lot of knockoff rubies )

 

[Niffler75]

@caribbeanbridetobe Are you looking for something contemporary/ bespoke or vintage/ antique?

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

@caribbeanbridetobe Are you looking for something contemporary/ bespoke or vintage/ antique?

Vintage/antique is what speaks to me, plus for rose gold!

 

[Niel]

You’ve got a lot of criteria for your budget.
I love the hunt tho.
So I am clear, ruby needs to have what form of treatment? You want paperwork with that ?
Has to be oval?
Style specifics?

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

Whatever happens I MUST stay away from this “type” of “ruby”

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

You’ve got a lot of criteria for your budget.
I love the hunt tho.
So I am clear, ruby needs to have what form of treatment? You want paperwork with that ?
Has to be oval?
Style specifics?

Oval shape-yes
Style-rose gold, vintage, milgrain (if none of these works rose gold is my only non-negotiable)
Treatment-??

 

[Niel]

Oval shape-yes
Style-rose gold, vintage, milgrain (if none of these works rose gold is my only non-negotiable)
Treatment-??

Ruby in rose gold? That combination is usually not done as that type of gold isn’t particularly flattering. There are a fair amount of mid century diamond and ruby rings in rose gold that would be in your budget but I can’t imagine they’ll meat your criteria.
there’s cheap rose gold ruby rings out there with synthetic rubies. The last stone you posted is sure to be heavily treated,appears semi- translucent (at best) ....

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

Ruby in rose gold? That combination is usually not done as that type of gold isn’t particularly flattering. There are a fair amount of mid century diamond and ruby rings in rose gold that would be in your budget but I can’t imagine they’ll meat your criteria.
there’s cheap rose gold ruby rings out there with synthetic rubies. The last stone you posted is sure to be heavily treated,appears semi- translucent (at best) ....

In that case, I am ok with Yellow Gold instead of RG

I want a ruby that is not treated at all (if possible) I'm aware that might hike up the price.

 

[Niel]

The rubies aren’t oval shaped but the general outline is oval. This would be my suggestion based on your requirements.

JHK Art Deco Style 18K Rose Gold Ruby and Diamond Ring (Size 6 1/2) | eBay

One "Stunning "JHK Art Deco Style, 18K Rose Gold,Ruby and Diamond Ring. 50ct+/- tcw , G/H-VS/SI). The Ring is a. 9.3mm+/- Wide. There are3 Brilliant Round Cut Rubies (3-R/BR-. Size 6 1/2, weighs.

www.ebay.com

 

[Niel]

In that case, I am ok with Yellow Gold instead of RG

I want a ruby that is not treated at all (if possible) I'm aware that might hike up the price.

Any ruby you’re going to fined with proof it’s untreated will be your entire budget most likely. The cost to have it certified isn’t worth it unless you’re going to get a fair price for the item, you know?

 

[Niffler75]

@caribbeanbridetobe I like to look at Ruby Lane and 1st Dibs for inspiration. You'll find quite an eclectic mix that should give you some inspiration.

 

[Jadeite_101]

I’m a July baby & looking for a true ruby right hand ring w/ side stones (don’t have to be diamond but don’t want moissanite). Side stones I’d like for them to be another gemstone, preferably under $1000, don’t want to break the bank. Can anyone help recommend some good sites?

Hi caribbeanbridetobe this is what I did to my oval ruby. I accented in with diamonds and set in 14k yellow gold. The above posters are right YG is the most flattering to rubies. That’s why in Myanmar where some rubies are mined they are sold on brass plates.

 

[qubitasaurus]

I think perhaps it would work to buy this one and reset it if need be

Natural Ruby and Diamond Ring Set in 14k Gold Size 6.5 Sizable - Etsy Singapore

Natural ruby (I am not aware of any treatments) measures 5.9 x 4.2 mm. The diamonds are very clean and white and weigh approximately .35 ctw. The Face of the ring measures 9 x 14 mm and sits 7 mm off the finger. 2.3 grams. READ BELOW FOR MY SHOPS SHIPPING/SIZING/LAYAWAY/RETURN POLICIES AND

www.etsy.com

Otherwise you can look into buying this and switching out the center stone

View this content on Instagram

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Details can be found on her retail website. The seller for that ring may be able to find you a suitable ruby, and even swap the stone for you (need to let them know budget though.). Otherwise it may be compatible with the following (youd need to check that these two were compatible very carefully)

Listing for Sigmund - Etsy Singapore

Ruby from this listing and center sapphire from this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDFSPXgVLJo .4 ct, 4.5mm, Ceylon no heat from Nivitigala. $800/ct = $320 Providing high-quality gemstones on Etsy since 2009! Cecile Raley Designs is a proud member of the American Gem Trade

www.etsy.com

Yvonne has a good setter who could just build you the ring from scratch with this stone. The design you want has only got a pair of smallish daimonds so it should be possible to build for arround 600-ish (dont quote me) plus the price of the center stone. Note that current gold prices may cause this number to fluctuate up temporarily. Alternatively I get the feeling Yvonne's setter may be willing to swap the stone over for you into the setting linked above. If you go this route I'd be open and transparent about what you are considering doing with both vendors -- they are friends and likely to be able to collectively help and offer better solutions if they know what is happening. Youd also need to check carefully that yvonne's stone would fit in inken's setting. Finally note that this last option probably blows your budget -- I'd be surprised if it came out less than 1700.

Also one last edit -- cut out a 4.5 mm round circle our of paper. Then cut out a 5 mm round one and a 6 mm round one. Check what they look like. It can be a shock the first time you see a small gem. Ruby under 1 ct typically is a dense stone that does not face up large. Ruby is inordanently expensive (go look at gemfix. They have reasonably priced rubies. So you can get an idea). Because of this it is also often treated.
You are probably either going to end up with a less than 1 ct stone, a massive hole in your budget or a heavily treated stone (Please note standard ruby treatments involve filling cracks with synthetic ruby flux, and basically some kind of radiation style treatment to improve clarity. So this is what we mean when we say heavily treated. Nevertheless these are all stable treatments so it is not that bad really. You do need to avoid lead-glass filled ruby. As it is unstable and can fall apart. Which is why it can be really difficult to buy rubies cheapily off ebay where treatments are often not disclosed). It is worthwhile looking critically at these tradeoffs before you decide which is the better option here. Ofcourse it may be possible to get lucky -- and find a killer deal. But this last option can be more about luck than anything else, and thus should not be relied upon in the first instance.

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

What are the ruby grades? I went on rubylane & saw that there were some rubies graded "B" & such, what would a "clear/red" ruby be graded as?

 

[qubitasaurus]

What are the ruby grades? I went on rubylane & saw that there were some rubies graded "B" & such, what would a "clear/red" ruby be graded as?

No sorry no standard grading for rubies (some labs have their own nomeclatures like 'pidgeon blood' etc but it is not standardized, and even these designations differ between different labs -- i.e. two different labs will grade the same stone differently as it is highly subjective). Anything that reads B, A, AA, AAA, A+ should be straight up ignored -- it is rubbish.

The thing to look out for is 'heated', 'Be diffused', 'lead glass filled', 'lattice diffusion', 'flux residue' minor, or moderate. These refer to different types of types of treatments and levels (crassly speaking how much of the stone is actually ruby, and how much is something else (synthetic or polymer material) that has been impregnated into fishers in the stone), sometimes GIA reports designate them as H(a) etc. 'Heated' is fine, anything else is more dicey.

Also normally not a problem, but you might also encounter synthetic ruby, or reconstituted ruby (a sophisticated synthetic made by melting down old chunks of ruby and then letting them cool to form new crystals). People give this last type of synthetic random names like 'reclaimed ruby' or some other more romantic sounding names -- but it should all be read as 'fancy synthetic'. Just in case you are scanning listings -- it is worthwhile knowing what to watch out for. Ruby is a tricky stone to buy honestly.

 

[Bron357]

What are the ruby grades? I went on rubylane & saw that there were some rubies graded "B" & such, what would a "clear/red" ruby be graded as?

There is no recognised A, B, C grading for rubies. You instead have unheated, heated, heated with some evidence of flux, heated with flux, heated with BE treatment.
I would presume B grade means heated with some evidence of flux. This sort of grading by a vendor has to be treated with caution. In the absence of a proper lab report the ruby could be slightly treated or treated to within an inch of its life because visually they can look identical. Some of the great “looking” rubies are more glass flux than ruby!
Good quality rubies of any size with no or minimal treatment are expensive and sought after.
Stick to reputable vendors and remember if the price seems to be too good, that’s a red flag.

 

[LilAlex]

I would get a spinel. You will not get a pretty, untreated 1-ct ruby ring for < $1K. Maybe 10 or 20 years ago. I think you would struggle at 10X that budget now, tbh.

Spinel is durable and quite ruby-like in appearance. It would be challenging enough to meet your criteria with a red spinel.

I think in the end you want a lovely ring -- not just to say that you own a ruby...?

 

[Niel]

I would get a spinel. You will not get a pretty, untreated 1-ct ruby ring for < $1K. Maybe 10 or 20 years ago. I think you would struggle at 10X that budget now, tbh.

Spinel is durable and quite ruby-like in appearance. It would be challenging enough to meet your criteria with a red spinel.

I think in the end you want a lovely ring -- not just to say that you own a ruby...?

But she wants a ruby for her birth stone so doesn’t really fly here. Kwim? if she just wanted red, maybe , though a nice red spinel is still $$$

 

[Niffler75]

I am not the biggest fan of rubies due to it being such a minefield to find material that has not been heavily treated. However I do really do like Tanzanian material (Winza, Songea) and examples can be found that are natural/heat only. This material is bright and can have a clarity that is very unusual indeed for ruby. It is mined out now I think.
Here is an example of certified Winza ruby that I have. Small stones yes, but the colour and clarity are knockout and they are natural.
There are some examples that pop up on Etsy.

 

[voce]

With that kind of budget, getting an unheated ruby is out of the question unless you're willing to go much smaller in size. Any unheated ruby under $1k will likely be purplish and not an ideal red. What is possible is to compromise and get a good heated with clarity ruby. I agree with @qubitasaurus about checking out Gemfix for standard prices.

Heat with clarity residues can be quite stable, unlike glass filled rubies, from what I hear, and these ones come with an AGL gem brief, which is quite reliable as "certification" and verifying the stability of a gem.

0.92 ct. Ruby — The Gem Trader

Color: Dark Red Clarity: Eye Clean Origin: Unknown Cut: Oval Mixed Treatments: Heat and Clarity Measurements: 5.8 x 3.7 mm An attractive and very usable size, this Ruby is eye clean and is competitive for the quality.&nb

www.thegemtrader.com

Natural Burma Ruby 1.01 ct - AGL Gem Brief in Ruby and Sapphire

 

[voce]

Just FYI, this is my ruby engagement ring, which is definitely not for sale, just to give you a reference. It's Tanzanian origin and unheated, and my fiance bought the ring for around $3k after I picked it. This ring at this price (1.15 ct ruby with 0.32 ct F VS diamonds in 14k WG) is already considered a steal (cannot be replaced for at least $6k in current market), so you'd have to have a lot more lucky than me to land something lower for a good untreated ruby, which is unlikely... Not to say it's impossible, but you might have to search as lifetime for that kind of deal to pop up. So it's best to compromise and accept a stable treatment.

 

[LilAlex]

But she wants a ruby for her birth stone so doesn’t really fly here. Kwim? if she just wanted red, maybe , though a nice red spinel is still $$$

I know we try to be supportive on this forum but if I go on a car forum and say I'm looking for a late-model, low-miles, all-original, one-owner Ferrari -- and I have $10K to spend -- it's more helpful if someone says "You have Miata money" than if they share their Ferrari-buying tips, imo.

By definition, any ruby meeting the OP's criteria will be: a) terrible; or b) grossly misrepresented. With that price threshold, you are pretty much restricting your search to only unscrupulous vendors. Better to get a $1,000 mall-ring and not ask any questions about the "ruby."

Also, for a consumer not in the trade, custom-sourcing stones and custom-making rings is for the well-off. Or for people with incredibly esoteric needs that can not be met on the vintage market (Jedi spinel, cobalt spinel, etc., etc.) You will spend a quarter as much with a vintage piece. (I've done both, multiple times.)

If it must be ruby and it must be nice, I would start with some good vintage sites (Lang comes to mind), select all ruby gemstone rings, and sort on price from low to high.

 

[qubitasaurus]

What about taking these and using the largest three to make a 5 stone band? You would be able to look at mydaimondzone for the two diamonds youd need as spacers -- I estimate you may be able to get it done for 1.2 k if you have a good bench,

REDUCE 1.00ct. unheated round Vietnamese rubies | Loupe Troop

loupetroop.com

 

[dk168]

I too am in the camp that the OP's budget for a decent untreated 1ct oval Ruby is unrealistic, however I am prepared to be proved wrong.

Good luck with your search.

DK

 

[dk168]

Hmmm, I am wrong, as I did manage to bag a small unheated Baringo Ruby (actually an intense pink Sapphire) for 890 USD, with the cut stone estimated to be about 5mm round cut stone from Jeff White recently!

Old stock with the rough purchased in 2008!

Here is a pic of the uncut rough grabbed from the video he sent to me.



The stone is being cut, however I have not received the pic of the cut stone yet.

DK

 

[Bron357]

Ivy & Rose have this sweet little ring. Well under budget at $425. It’s .40 carat ruby with two accent diamonds. Vintage style. I remember they had another ruby ring but it was sold.
Even with $1,000 for a Ruby, unless you buy a standard size / shape, having a ring made will add lots of $$$.

 

[chrono]

I agree that something has got to give in your budget. Untreated, eye clean red ruby in 1 ct with sidestones and setting is impossible.

 

[voce]

Did OP ever say untreated? Or are we making assumptions? I think heat with clarity treatment is as close as she can get if she still wants money left in the budget for a ring.