Ruby jewelry



These red stones that shimmer with an inner light have been sought after for centuries for their beauty and value. Red rubies can be stunningly beautiful and equally expensive! Here are some tips on how to buy ruby ​​jewelry.

Tips for buying a ruby



When it comes to buying a piece of ruby ​​jewelry there are a few key factors to consider before making your purchase. Not only are color and clarity important, but cut and provenance come into play. Rubies usually come in grades from AAA to B. However, an AA at one jeweler may be an A at another. So it can be important to have a good understanding of what to look for when buying rubies. Explore these 5 tips for buying rubies.

1. Check the clarity on your ruby



Natural gemstones such as rubies will have some type of inclusions. This means that the stone will show fine lines or spots in it when you look at it in the light. A good quality ruby ​​will be clear and inclusions, if any, will be minimal or at least not visible to the naked eye. The presence of inclusions means that the stone may crack or chip. They are imperfections in the stone.



When checking for inclusions, always ask the jeweler to look at your ruby ​​under a magnifying glass or microscope. Do not buy the ruby ​​if it has a cloudy appearance due to inclusions. Also, look for inclusions that reach the surface as these make the ruby ​​weaker and tend to split along the crack. Professionals use this scoring system for inclusions.



    VVS: Secondary inclusions. It does not affect the appearance

    SI1: Light inclusions. Little effect on shine

    SI2: Light inclusions. Slight effect on shine

    I1: Obvious inclusions

    I2: Prominent inclusions

    I3: Many prominent inclusions

2. Understand the size and color of rubies



The most valuable rubies have a red color. However, the stones can be almost any shade of red, including pink, according to the Gemological Institute of America, Inc. Typically, you want to look for a vibrant red ruby ​​color, not orange or purple. The saturation of the red is also rated on a scale of 1-6, with 6 being the optimal saturation of the stone.



The size, quality and color of the ruby ​​will determine the price you pay. Larger stones are more expensive. Likewise, clear rubies with little or no inclusions will cost more than those with visible inclusions. A ruby ​​with no inclusions can cost you twice as much as another that is much larger but has some inclusions in it.

Person holding ruby ​​with tweezers

3. Know your cuts



Rubies come in a variety of cuts. According to the GIA, you can find round, oval, triangular, square, pear cut rubies. Usually, the shape of the original stone dictates the type of cut that is best for the stone you have. For example, the wrong cut on a stone can change the appearance of the stone from red to orange. So you want to make sure you buy your rubies from an experienced jeweler and check the color and saturation to make sure the cut hasn't affected the quality of the stone.



Always view the potential purchase of a ruby ​​under proper lighting. Fluorescent lights work wonderfully in the office. However, they are "white-red" and thus make grading colored gemstones a nightmare. Ask to see the ruby ​​under a variety of lights, including incandescent light and daylight.

4. Check for improvements



Very often, rubies have some form of surface coating used to camouflage surface fractures. Such coatings will wear out over time. Always ask your jeweler if the ruby ​​has been processed or coated in any way to enhance its appearance. Different types of treatments include heat treatments, glass filling or flow healing.

5. Ask about the origin of rubies



Rubies are mined all over the world. However, some locations are famous for providing high quality gemstones. Therefore, knowing whether your ruby ​​was mined in Myanmar or Pakistan can tell a lot about the quality of the gemstone. For example, Burmese rubies are rare and more expensive and are found in Myanmar, while rubies mined in India are cheaper in quality.

Ruby value



According to  Gem Society, rubies come in different price ranges. Burmese rubies can sell for over a million dollars per carat. In addition, Paragon Gems Inc. features top-quality rubies for $700-$1,500 per carat. However, low-grade commercial rubies can be found for $50-$100 per carat.



Getting the perfect setup



Now that you have an idea of ​​how to find the perfect stone, it's also important to know a little about setting. Given their red color, rubies work best with yellow or white gold, as well as platinum. However, the beautiful ruby ​​color can work well with different metals. So the setting may depend on your personal preferences.

How to buy rubies



Knowing how to buy ruby ​​jewelry can help you in the long run. Not only will you get the best gemstone for your money, but you can rest assured that you won't be taken advantage of. Know how to look for ruby ​​jewelry. It's time to buy.