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Thoughts on the Ebay ruby ring?

Rubies-R-Me

Rubies-R-Me

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 8, 2011
Messages
2,749
That is a lead glass filled ruby, you can tell from the photo. Look at the cracks in the upper right hand corner. Those cracks and the semi-opaque look to the stone are a give away.

As far as the value, it is only worth what the setting is worth IMHO.

_4914.jpg
 
I don't know anything about rubies except that I love their color but this one is not appealing to me. It looks sort of hazy and uneven in color. And now that colorluvr has pointed out the cracks and the fact that it is lead glass filled just confirms that you can do better! The setting is pretty.
 
"We do not accept any returns unless the item has been grossly misrepresented. In such case, you must contact us via ebay within 3 days from the day you receive your item. (If there is an issue with your item, please contact us before leaving feedback)."

They were careful how they worded the listing so you probably wouldn't be able to return it. I'd pass unless you just want the setting for a different stone.
 
Ahaaa!!! Thanks so much for the heads up that it's filled and pretty much worthless except for the setting!! Good advice always appreciated! :appl:
 
Rubies-R-Me, I love the ruby ring in your avatar!!! :love: Gorgeous!!!
 
Yeah I would guess filled as well.
 
A ruby that size that isn't treated beyond traditional heat is going to be extremely expensive.

Also be aware of ebay sellers touting a GIA lab report for their rubies. They make a big deal about the lab report, but don't mention the fact that GIA states that the ruby has moderate or even significant residue in the fissures. They show the rating at the bottom, but don't show what that rating means (such as TE3 - moderate residue). You can't enlarge the part of the cert that actually states what TE3 means.

Nothing wrong with a TE3 ruby IF you know what you are getting, but listings like these are misleading in my opinion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221206833011
 
Thanks for the info about GIA reports and colored stones colorluvr. What is the "gold standard" of colored stone certification?
 
Me too!!! Such amazing things and super nice people.. great combination! :love:
 
Rubies-R-Me|1364564474|3415899 said:
Thanks for the info about GIA reports and colored stones colorluvr. What is the "gold standard" of colored stone certification?
Click to expand...

Most CS PSers prefer AGL in New York, but GIA, GIT, GRS and AIGS are all reputable labs capable of testing for various treatments. (I think??? AIGS can test for BE heating now)

I didn't mean to down a GIA lab report in my previous post, I was only trying to point out that ebay sellers are now paying for a GIA report and touting it as verifying that a ruby is high quality and not fully explaining what the report means.
 
Rubies-R-Me|1364562091|3415878 said:
Thanks! It's a ring I saw in person at a fancy estate jeweler in Greenwich CT. I think it's still for sale.
Here it is! :love:
http://www.betteridge.com/tiffany-1.95-carat-ruby-diamond-cluster-ring/p/2216/
Click to expand...

I wouldn't buy an expensive ruby from ANYONE without a lab report from a reputable lab. I don't care WHO is selling it.

*Edited to add that I wouldn't buy an expensive sapphire without a lab report either.... been there, done that..... :nono: :nono:
 
I agree. No expensive stones without a cert, or a generous refund period that allows me to take it to my independent appraiser who has a tools to distinguish treatments.
 
Betteridge has an amazing burmese ruby set in an east-west orientation in a diamond pave setting. So beautiful.
 
It's all good to know! Thanks and have a wonderful holiday. :D
Yuppers.. the ruby pieces at Betteridge are truly eye candy!
 
Slight threadjack if I may...

I too love the jewelry Dover has on their ebay site but does anyone else here think that much of their stuff goes for way more than it is worth? I don't know what it is but their auctions go for so much more than I would think it would go for. Is there a Dover feeding frenzy going on or what? A long time ago I got a few very reasonably priced items from them but in the last couple of years I don't even bother bidding because I don't see many good buys from their ebay site anymore. I also think they overvalue/overestimate what their jewelry is worth in their descriptions. They have a very liberal view as to what their items are worth IMO! And as for their no return policy I think you can take that with a grain of salt as much of their stuff is really not as described in my opinion and you can make a case for return if you are disappointed. But who wants to go through the trouble. I know a few people though who have returned what they got from Dover or got a discount on what they originally paid due to the fact that the item was not accurately portrayed. FWIW.
 
I think Dover has become overpriced. I think many vendors start off reasonably priced, but once the become popular because of their good prices and decent customer service, they increase their prices. It's understandable because they're in it to make money. Most people are also willing to pay a lot for jewelry with little information. It's becoming more and more difficult to find good buys online.
 
I agree that some pieces from Dover and my other fave sflmaven are bid up on bidding frenzies but I do think you can still get a good deal every now and then on their items.. It's hit and miss.
 
I thought I'd share a few photos of a heavily treated (most likely glass filled ruby) and one that was honestly sold as "heat with residue - glass possible - not obvious".

The first ruby is 8mm and is a not bad "ruby red color". It's somewhat opaque, but not horribly so with the naked eye, but when you look at it through a loupe, it looks like it has a thousand tiny dark spots inside. The first photo is taken through a 10x loupe. The second picture I just took with my cell phone sitting on a printed page where the paper is off white - no retouching of either photo. The lights in my office are incandescent, so these photos add a touch of yellow I don't see with natural lighting.

I'm just sharing these to show how easy it is to make a lousy filled ruby look ok with a snap shot.

*edited to add that I didn't buy the first ruby, it was given to me to keep as a sample of a filled ruby.

glass_filled_ruby.jpg

glass_filled_ruby2.jpg
 
This next one is the ruby with much less filling that is transparent, not opaque. It's a Vietnam ruby and has a lot more pink, in fact most people think it's a rubellite when they first see it until they take a closer look. None of the filling is obvious with the naked eye unless you hold it up to a light and look from the side or loupe it.

This stone is 5.15ct and I paid less than $200 for it with full disclosure as to the treatment (residue with possible glass). It's my "fun" ruby. I've included an indoor and outdoor photo to show how it looks IRL and an enlarged macro photos to show the filling that you can detect from the side with light shining through.

The first one is indoors and the second is outdoors.

I thought I'd share this one to show that you can get a "pretty" ruby for very little money just as long as you know what you are getting. I don't use anything to clean it other than soap/water or gentle jewelry cleaner because it would probably ruin it if anything harsh touched it.

I know it's not everyone's cut of tea, but I get compliments on it all the time (mostly from people who thinks it's a rubellite).

viet_nam_ruby.jpg

indoors2.jpg

pinkish_ruby.jpg
 
Colorluvr! Your EW ruby ring is absolutely stunning! :love: :love: :love: I love the way you call it your "fun" ring. I think it's great that you are still happy to wear it.. knowing that you got it at a fair price and it is what it is. I would do exactly the same thing. I can't believe that it cost less than $200.. amazing. I love the setting as well.
I have a lot to learn.. each new piece is put in my ruby jigsaw puzzle of knowledge.. thanks!
 
Hmm, RRM. If you don't mind, I'll remember that one, SFLmaven, and check in to see what they have :naughty:
 
these lead glass fractured filled rubies are all over the place in thailand. every shop at the jewelry trade center has them and they are going for less than $5.00 a carat, the nicer colors a little more. They are sort of murky, with lots of fractures; under the microscope you can see a blue flash of the lead glass. but they are cheap and the colors aren't bad. here is one i had set in silver, i think it's two carats.
natural rubies are really expensive. these aren't a bad alternative.

mozmbq_2.jpg
 
one more unset. the color's not bad. i wouldn't put it in the ultrasonic cleaner though.

mzbqruby2.jpg
 
Oh goodness!! I had no idea that those treated rubies were virtually worthless!!! :shock:
 
Actually I should say almost worthless money wise.. but pretty wise many of them do look beautiful! I guess as long as you know what you are getting and don't over pay they make a lovely piece of jewelry. :loopy:
I would deem them "supermarket" rings vs "fancy party" rings. It's always good to have both!! :appl:
 
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