Ruby Engagement Rings

Value of Rubies

A beautiful ruby can be considered more valuable than a good quality diamond. Rubies are known as the ring of kings, a precious and alluring stone that has been revered through the ages. In order to judge the quality or value of a ruby, gemologists mainly focus on the color and size of the stone. A good quality ruby has an intense red coloring that is neither too dark, like a garnet, or too light, with a pink color.

If you are in the market for a ruby, keep in mind that you may be able to find an exquisite ruby engagement ring that is either a light or dark red and save some money.

Carat Size

Large, high-quality rubies are considered the rarest stones of all gems, including diamonds. Because large rubies are so hard to obtain, their value is significantly higher. Carat weight plays a huge part in appointing a value to a particular ruby.

Inclusions

While obtaining a ruby that is virtually free from inclusions would of course indicate a valuable stone, rubies generally do not have the same degree of clarity as many other stones do. Serious collectors are always on the lookout for that perfectly clear stone, but small inclusions don't necessarily detract from a ruby's beauty. When you are in the market for a ruby, be sure that the stone has consistent color and is free from cracks or hairline fractures that could create larger problems over time.

Cut or Shape of Rubies

While of course the cut of the stone you choose is important to the appearance of that ruby, it isn't as important an indicator of value as the carat size or number of inclusions. Cushion cuts and oval shapes are probably the most popular ruby cut. However, other cuts are also used, such as emerald and even heart shapes.

Star Rubies

Buyers who favor star rubies are actually looking for a stone that has a large inclusion. A perfect star, however, enhances a ruby if it is perfectly centered, has six rays which shoot out to the edges of the ruby, and is easy to distinguish from the rest of the stone.

Treatments

Rubies which have not been treated with heat are quite rare, and although their beauty may not be as intense as a heat-treated ruby, their rarity makes them valuable. The high-heat improves the appearance of a ruby's color.

Imitation or Synthetic Rubies

Sometimes, jewelers use specific terms to indicate that a ruby is synthetic without really saying so. If the stone you are inquiring about is referred to as a cultured or created stone, it is actually synthetic, and the amount you pay should be significantly less than for a natural stone with similar properties.

While synthetic stones are created in a lab that has replicated the same conditions that a natural ruby has undergone, an imitation or fake ruby is really just glass. Fake rubies may be esconced in a closed-back setting, and they may too red in color and or unnaturally large.

Ruby Engagement Ring Jeweler

Finally, be sure you visit a reliable and trustworthy jeweler if you are really in the market for a good quality ruby engagement ring. Ask your jeweler what treatments the ruby has undergone and have those treatments identified on a certificate or bill of sale.