How to Pick a Ruby
Are you thinking of buying ruby jewelry or loose gems? Here are some practical ways to select the best ruby for your money.
Step
1
Figure out what you can afford to spend on a ruby. Next, decide whether you want a clear stone, or if you can live with a gem with obvious inclusions and flaws. If you need a clear gem, but have a limited budget, consider getting a man-made ruby. Transparent rubies are very rare, and more costly than diamonds.
Step
2
Decide what size ruby you want. A larger stone will have more inclusions and lower transparency than a smaller stone in the same price range. Next, decide what shape ruby you want--there are 7 basic shapes, and cabochon cut for star-rubies.
Step
3
Begin looking for rubies on Internet gem dealer sites (see Resources below). This is the easiest way to become familiar with the range of rubies available. You can narrow your search by using the price range, clarity, shape and size you have chosen. Color is another determining factor in the price, and will be higher for deeper red shades. Most rubies are heat-treated to intensify their color and reduce the appearance of inclusions, which is an accepted practice.
Step
4
Use the quality of the cut as your final variable. Eliminate rubies with irregularly facets, poor polish and low symmetry. Your final group will have slight variations in color and size, and somewhat more variation in clarity. Now choose the ruby from your final group that appeals to you most.
Tips & Warnings
Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum, with a hardness of 9.0 and a specific gravity of 4.0.
Rubies are not graded systematically for clarity, as diamonds are, because there is such a wide range of possible inclusions. Gem-grade rubies can vary from cloudy or milky-appearing, to nearly clear with a few needle-like inclusions.
Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July.
Almost all natural rubies have tiny needle-like inclusions of the mineral rutile (termed 'silk'). Avoid inclusion-free natural rubies, which may have been excessively treated or could be man-made.
Most rubies are cut in southeast Asia, and the quality of the cut may be less than optimum. Make sure that the ruby you choose has an acceptable level of symmetry, polish and overall cut quality. Avoid rubies with unusual-looking cuts or irregularly-shaped facets.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2173083_pick-a-ruby.html
Are you thinking of buying ruby jewelry or loose gems? Here are some practical ways to select the best ruby for your money.
Step
1
Figure out what you can afford to spend on a ruby. Next, decide whether you want a clear stone, or if you can live with a gem with obvious inclusions and flaws. If you need a clear gem, but have a limited budget, consider getting a man-made ruby. Transparent rubies are very rare, and more costly than diamonds.
Step
2
Decide what size ruby you want. A larger stone will have more inclusions and lower transparency than a smaller stone in the same price range. Next, decide what shape ruby you want--there are 7 basic shapes, and cabochon cut for star-rubies.
Step
3
Begin looking for rubies on Internet gem dealer sites (see Resources below). This is the easiest way to become familiar with the range of rubies available. You can narrow your search by using the price range, clarity, shape and size you have chosen. Color is another determining factor in the price, and will be higher for deeper red shades. Most rubies are heat-treated to intensify their color and reduce the appearance of inclusions, which is an accepted practice.
Step
4
Use the quality of the cut as your final variable. Eliminate rubies with irregularly facets, poor polish and low symmetry. Your final group will have slight variations in color and size, and somewhat more variation in clarity. Now choose the ruby from your final group that appeals to you most.
Tips & Warnings
Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum, with a hardness of 9.0 and a specific gravity of 4.0.
Rubies are not graded systematically for clarity, as diamonds are, because there is such a wide range of possible inclusions. Gem-grade rubies can vary from cloudy or milky-appearing, to nearly clear with a few needle-like inclusions.
Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July.
Almost all natural rubies have tiny needle-like inclusions of the mineral rutile (termed 'silk'). Avoid inclusion-free natural rubies, which may have been excessively treated or could be man-made.
Most rubies are cut in southeast Asia, and the quality of the cut may be less than optimum. Make sure that the ruby you choose has an acceptable level of symmetry, polish and overall cut quality. Avoid rubies with unusual-looking cuts or irregularly-shaped facets.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2173083_pick-a-ruby.html
