Unheated Ruby or Sapphire? Is this good material and cut?

[Probee]

Hello,

I’m hoping to buy a vibrant neon ruby/sapphire and found this one. It looks magenta but seller call it ruby. Would it meet GIA definition of ruby? I recently learned about window/extinction and this Ken doesn’t look like that would be an issue.

 

[VividRed]

Good question, this one walks the line. Personally, I would say it’s a pink-red ruby. But ultimately it’s just a label. Different labs will draw the line differently.

Note that lighting conditions and background will impact the way the stone looks on camera. My gut feeling is that it will look a smidge less red IRL than on the pictures you posted. Likely a strong blob of color in direct sunlight, and a deeper, closer to cool red color at sunrise/sunset - ruby magic.

If you want neon, you are bound to have a not insignificant amount of pink, unless you find one of those one in a million true vivid red rubies with medium saturation, perfect cut and just the right amount of silk. A unicorn really.

Btw, I like it a lot. Can you return it if you don’t love it?

 

[VividRed]

To add: no windows that I can see. And no extinction either. Very nice stone!

 

[Autumn in New England]

I agree... I don't think it crosses the line into pink sapphire territory. She's a "strongly pinkish-red" ruby, IMO, and I think most labs would certify her as such. I also don't think cut quality will be an issue, judging solely by these photos, and the color in person should be quite vibrant. But the clarity looks questionable. I would request detailed, close-up photos and video just so you know exactly (sort of) what to expect. Good luck!

 

[Bron357]

It’s hard to tell from two photos, you really need to see it in person and in your lighting conditions.
Don’t they say the seller calls it ruby, the buyer calls it sapphire! Thats because if it gets classed as a ruby it will probably be worth more than as a pink sapphire.
Different labs have different colour criteria, also in some cultures pink sapphires are called rubies regardless. I believe it was “western influence” that wanted the differentiation between the two.

 

[Probee]

Good question, this one walks the line. Personally, I would say it’s a pink-red ruby. But ultimately it’s just a label. Different labs will draw the line differently.

Note that lighting conditions and background will impact the way the stone looks on camera. My gut feeling is that it will look a smidge less red IRL than on the pictures you posted. Likely a strong blob of color in direct sunlight, and a deeper, closer to cool red color at sunrise/sunset - ruby magic.

If you want neon, you are bound to have a not insignificant amount of pink, unless you find one of those one in a million true vivid red rubies with medium saturation, perfect cut and just the right amount of silk. A unicorn really.

Btw, I like it a lot. Can you return it if you don’t love it?

Thank you. I felt the same about lighting and camera but wasn’t able to put it into words as eloquently as you did. I know unheated rubies and sapphires are tricky and can be expensive. Like you said it’s a label and I like it a lot regardless. It looks quite transparent in the center but no stone is perfect. I will ask for more photos and video.

 

[Probee]

To add: no windows that I can see. And no extinction either. Very nice stone!

Thank you. I’ll see if I can get more photos and video.

 

[Probee]

It’s hard to tell from two photos, you really need to see it in person and in your lighting conditions.
Don’t they say the seller calls it ruby, the buyer calls it sapphire! Thats because if it gets classed as a ruby it will probably be worth more than as a pink sapphire.
Different labs have different colour criteria, also in some cultures pink sapphires are called rubies regardless. I believe it was “western influence” that wanted the differentiation between the two.

Thank you for the insights. It’s this reason I wanted some inputs. I likely could not afford it otherwise.

 

[dk168]

Whether it is a Ruby or a Sapphire, it is my kind of red as in neon pink red!

DK

 

[Probee]

still waiting for more photos but adding some images of the rough.

 

[Crimson]

Hello,

I’m hoping to buy a vibrant neon ruby/sapphire and found this one. It looks magenta but seller call it ruby. Would it meet GIA definition of ruby? I recently learned about window/extinction and this Ken doesn’t look like that would be an issue.

It is pretty! Here is my pinkish-red ruby, 4.11 ct. Burmese unheated.
I guess yours could be a ruby, too?

 

[Probee]

It is pretty! Here is my pinkish-red ruby, 4.11 ct. Burmese unheated.
I guess yours could be a ruby, too?

That’s breath taking. I’m assuming it’s certified at this caliber? Thank you for sharing! I’m excited to potentially own it.

 

[Bron357]

Here’s mine alongside my ruby. In some lights it looks more red than pink but alongside a red ruby the difference is more noticeable.

 

[Probee]

Here’s mine alongside my ruby. In some lights it looks more red than pink but alongside a red ruby the difference is more noticeable.

Those are gorgeous. Do you mind sharing the size and cost? I really really like the stone but want to make sure I’m in the reasonable range.

 

[Bron357]

Both mine came from a very fortuitous and surprising auction lot purchase.
The round pink is circa 1.8 carats and the ruby is 1.13 carats.

 

[Dr_Diesel]

Hello,

I’m hoping to buy a vibrant neon ruby/sapphire and found this one. It looks magenta but seller call it ruby. Would it meet GIA definition of ruby? I recently learned about window/extinction and this Ken doesn’t look like that would be an issue.

That looks like a really nice stone, whatever the lab calls it.

I love it!

...and if @VividRed loves it too, that's a really good sign!

I strongly suspect that, if you submit it for certification, it will be certified as ruby.

Personally, I would not think twice about calling it ruby if the color and saturation are as they are in the photos.

It looks like a screamer