Ruby ring price help ! is the quote justified ?

[Confused_LOLO]

Hi everyone , i went ring shopping with bf and i spotted a ring that love. It is a three-stone ring. The centre stone is a diamond , with two tear drop shaped ruby on each side. The prong for the diamond is white, and the rest is yellow gold which i love.

As me and bf wants to get marry early and we both not earning much , i have decided to replace the middle diamond to cubic zicornia.

The two side rubies' :
Total carat weight is 0.72
I can see thru the rubies totally. It is red, not dark but a little dark pink. It reflect light like a diamond.
I am not too sure but i noticed a very slight hue of purple but first sight is dark pink.

Sizing and replacement is free of charge.
With the 1.03 centre stone replace by 1 carat cubic zirconia , and total carat weight of 0.72 tear drop rubies cost AUD$3600.

Is this price reasonable ? Over charged ? I would not try buying rubies from online vendors because i am in australia. The mailing cost is outrageous however i am going malaysia n singapore end of this year and bf will be there for a week. So i assumed that it might be too rush to get a ring . He will be in hongkong but i am not there to try the size and the pattern .

Should i buy this ring or get the ring in asia ? Ppl told me that australia jewellery is overpriced .
Help me please ~

 

[chrono]

So each ruby is approximately 0.36 ct, treatment unknown. Even if assuming untreated, $3600 is overpriced. There was a lovely untreated ruby pair on Gemfix not too long ago (possibly 4 or 5 mm each) for only USD$1500 thereabouts. Colour was quite nice with good cutting.

 

[Confused_LOLO]

So each ruby is approximately 0.36 ct, treatment unknown. Even if assuming untreated, $3600 is overpriced. There was a lovely untreated ruby pair on Gemfix not too long ago (possibly 4 or 5 mm each) for only USD$1500 thereabouts. Colour was quite nice with good cutting.

Hi chrono , thank you so much for the prompt reply i was eyeing the rubies at gemfix as well. But then the price of the rubies do not include setting cost . I need to get the gem by air (expensive for australia ) and the price for cubic zirconia isnt it ? I have no idea of the setting cost . But i know the shipping to australia is nornally ranged between 100 to 120....

I am sorry if i sounds stupid ..

 

[Confused_LOLO]

So each ruby is approximately 0.36 ct, treatment unknown. Even if assuming untreated, $3600 is overpriced. There was a lovely untreated ruby pair on Gemfix not too long ago (possibly 4 or 5 mm each) for only USD$1500 thereabouts. Colour was quite nice with good cutting.

Hi chrono , thank you so much for the prompt reply i was eyeing the rubies at gemfix as well. But then the price of the rubies do not include setting cost . I need to get the gem by air (expensive for australia ) and the price for cubic zirconia isnt it ? I have no idea of the setting cost . But i know the shipping to australia is nornally ranged between 100 to 120....

I am sorry if i sounds stupid ..

 

[cm366]

The cost of shipping to Australia will be less than $100 even with the fastest shipping and full insurance. Cubic zirconia is worth about $0.50 per carat, maybe $5.00 per carat if you're looking for a fancy shape or precise size. It'd help if you could find some pictures of settings like this one, but it's likely that you can get a nicer ring for much less than $3600.

Edited to add: I've been living in NSW for almost 2 years now and never had a parcel from the States cost more than $50, parcels from Asian countries usually run more like $20. Australian jewelry is expensive because of taxes and high labor costs, but the biggest markup comes from buying through a brick-and-mortar retail shop. That said, it's not necessarily wasted money - what you're paying for is a warranty, guarantees on workmanship, the variety they stock and the opportunity to chat with a salesperson (whose salary you're paying!) about their goods.

 

[Upgradable]

http://www.ajsgem.com/ruby/burma-ruby/burma-ruby-1.00-carats.html

 

[Confused_LOLO]

This is the color of the stone in the shop
http://www.ajsgem.com/ruby/burma-ruby/burma-ruby-2.7-carats.html

This is the closest that i can find. But i am not 100% sure .....
I m now slightly tempted to try online although i am not very dare to do it. Hope i make sense .... maybe i will look at ajsgem's collection and reputation first. Really appreciate these useful guidience , thank you so much

 

[chrono]

If that is the colour as you've shown, it's still a pretty colour. You made no mention of the ruby treatment but if they are heated, they should cost around $500 thereabouts for that size. AJS is recommended on PS and being in Asia, should cost less in shipping for you even though taxes still apply. Do note that the stones in person are slightly less saturated than pictured on AJS' website.

 

[Confused_LOLO]

If that is the colour as you've shown, it's still a pretty colour. You made no mention of the ruby treatment but if they are heated, they should cost around $500 thereabouts for that size. AJS is recommended on PS and being in Asia, should cost less in shipping for you even though taxes still apply. Do note that the stones in person are slightly less saturated than pictured on AJS' website.

I actually have no idea because that person didnt show me the certificate. However, I remember she said it is from Burma and Real, something like that.... maybe I should try AJS instead ! Thank you so much for your patient reply, I think I will go in take a photo of the ring tomorrow and show everyone. I might drop the idea of getting it , after learning so much thanks a lot !!

 

[chrono]

Rubies are one of the most highly treated gemstone around. Yes, they are Burmese and natural but treatment also sets the price. A diffused and lead glass filled ruby is worth practically nothing and requires different care. For rubies that small though, it is highly doubtful they are accompanied by a lab memo. It wouldn't hurt to ask the SA what treatment the rubies have undergone.

 

[innerkitten]

Can we see a picture?

 

[LD]

I've re-read this thread and think that the price you've quoted is for the setting plus rubies - is that correct? If it is, it's still a very expensive purchase. You could get the rubies posted above (from AJS - which are lovely), perhaps look for a white sapphire centre stone (much better than a CZ) and have a setting made perhaps by an Etsy artist and all shipped to you for probably less than what you're contemplating now.

Don't be nervous about buying online especially from one of the vendors you see mentioned here. I'm in the UK and trust me, our import tax is so stringent that we pay horrendous amounts when we import! Most vendors are helpful when it comes to shipping and you won't be the first person buying a stone from down under!

 

[GliderPoss]

Hi Confused,

I'm Aussie too and trust me you are being ripped off! Go to a REAL jeweller (not a mall chain store) and discuss it with them. Do as much reading and research on PS as possible. Do NOT rush this! Better to take your time to get exactly what you want than rush in an waste lots of $$$ on rubbish (trust me - I learnt the hard way! )

As mentioned by the others rubies are often treated and I would suggest you ask for a certificate for authenticity before buying anything. The CZ is basically worthless so that quote is ridiculously high. I have had a 5 stone ring made recently in 18ct yellow gold and it was literally half that price!

Sounds like the ring design you want is quite simple and standard. Go back to the drawing board I beg you and take time to research what you are buying. Perhaps there are other alternitives too - red spinel, garnet, white sapphire?

 

[Confused_LOLO]

Rubies are one of the most highly treated gemstone around. Yes, they are Burmese and natural but treatment also sets the price. A diffused and lead glass filled ruby is worth practically nothing and requires different care. For rubies that small though, it is highly doubtful they are accompanied by a lab memo. It wouldn't hurt to ask the SA what treatment the rubies have undergone.

Hi chrono , i have decided to forgo this chance to own this ring with a cz. If so many ppl against it i think it is a big NO . Hence i didnt ask for the certificate. Instead i just pass by to look at it and snap a picture. Teehee !

 

[Confused_LOLO]

Can we see a picture?

iHello ! I managed to snap a picture just now. yay !! It looks so pretty !!

 

[Confused_LOLO]

I've re-read this thread and think that the price you've quoted is for the setting plus rubies - is that correct? If it is, it's still a very expensive purchase. You could get the rubies posted above (from AJS - which are lovely), perhaps look for a white sapphire centre stone (much better than a CZ) and have a setting made perhaps by an Etsy artist and all shipped to you for probably less than what you're contemplating now.

Don't be nervous about buying online especially from one of the vendors you see mentioned here. I'm in the UK and trust me, our import tax is so stringent that we pay horrendous amounts when we import! Most vendors are helpful when it comes to shipping and you won't be the first person buying a stone from down under!

Thanks a lot for your suggestion , seems like everyone thinks this is eztremely expensivr...
Yup ! I went online seeing the quality i get with similar price. Probably will try it soon ! They are ao pretty~ lurking around the forum for a while and i spotted quite a few recommended seller.hope i will see something i like soon ...