Tips on Buying Ruby Jewelery
Before you go out and buy a ruby here are some tips on buying ruby jewelery that may help you get the best ruby jewelery for your money.
Rubies are One of a variety of the mineral corundum, also known as aluminium oxide. It is fairly hard and does not scratch easily. However it can be damaged so some care should be taken with dealing with rubies, especially with ruby jewelery. The claws or prongs that hold a ruby in place on say a ring, for example, should not be too tight otherwise they can crack the ruby.
Very rarely will you find a perfect ruby. All rubies have some inclusions in them and also can have very fine lines or spots within the ruby itself. These, in fact, can help to indentify the ruby, especially for insurance purposes.
How much you pay for a ruby or ruby jewelery will depend on:
The color and size of the ruby. Of course the larger and deeper red the ruby is the more value it will have. Large rubies are more rare than the smaller one and so have an extra rarity value. Rubies come in all hues of red from deep red to a bright link. The blood red are usually the most prized and therefore considered with more.
The rubies origin can make a big difference to the price. Burmese rubies are usually worth more than rubies from Sri Lanka for example even though there tend to be blood rubies in more than one sense of the word.
The clarity of the ruby. How many inclusions and how much they interfere with the light travelling through the ruby can affect the price. The less inclusions they have the better of course as the more light can pass through and the brighter and more reflective they are. A lot of inclusions can give the impression of a cloudy area within the ruby and will affect the reflective properties of the ruby.
Of course the mounting and precious metal used can affect the price. A platinum ring, for example, is going to be more expensive than a gold one due to the higher value and price of platinum compared to gold.
It is ok to check out rubies online to see what takes your fancy. But when you buy ruby jewelery it is a good idea to see it first in natural light. The lights of a jewellers are designed to show off all jewelery in the best light and even glass looks great under such lights. So arrange to be able to see it outside in the sun before you buy it to ensure that it is going to be what you want in the way of a look.
Check the ruby with a jewelers loupe (A jewelers eyepiece) so that you can see the ruby closely. Check for any cracks that emerge on the surface of the ruby as these can eventually split the ruby over time. Check also for any coating on the ruby. This is sometimes put on to make the ruby look bright but will wear off eventually with you ending up with a dull and lifeless ruby.
Mostly it is common sense and using these tips on buying ruby jewelery can help to ensure you get the ruby you desire.