How Should I Choose A Ruby Engagement Ring To Propose?

Are All Rubies Red?

Ruby is always red. In fact, it’s part of the definition of ruby. Ruby is a red variety of mineral corundum, while other colors of corundum are sapphire. Ruby is formed in abnormal geological conditions. In addition to aluminum and oxygen (main components), we need hints of chromium, a rare element that makes rubies red. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well, what doesn’t happen with Ruby is just as important as what it has. Problems arise when silicone or iron enters the mixture. Corundum cannot be formed in the presence of silicon, one of the most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust. Too much iron, another common factor, spoils the color of the ruby. Together, these elements make Ruby one of the rarest gems on the planet. The precious “dove blood” color is found in just a few natural gems and is rarely seen in even a carat.

The Meaning Behind a Ruby Engagement Ring

Red has long symbolized love and life. In addition, rubies act as July birthstones and alternative birthstones for Capricorn. The fluorescence of ruby under ultraviolet rays including natural light makes the stone shine. In the past, some believed that this faint glow made the stone alive. In other traditions, they fluoresce because they contain fire. Glittering rubies seem to represent passion. Ruby was also popular among celebrities and royalty. Her Jessica Simpson engagement ring had a ruby eyeball, and her sister Ashlee Simpson cut the ruby into an art deco ring. In 1985, Prince Andrew suggested to Sarah Ferguson with a ruby ring to fit her red lock. But this is not the only real engagement ring. Photographer Antony Armstrong Jones introduced Princess Margaret in 1960 with a ruby ring made like a flower. The design of the ring was inspired by the princess’ middle name, Rose.

Ruby Rings Purchase Guide: Mens Ruby Rings, Ruby Rings For Women

Tips for Your Ruby Engagement Ring

Before going into the details, keep these four tips in mind when buying rubies.

See Before You Buy. What is the most important thing when choosing a ruby engagement ring? Of course you like it! When shopping, make sure you can select the ruby centerpiece and see its color, brightness and cut before you buy. These factors can vary from stone to stone and there is no industry standard. Note that the “AAA” quality of one provider is the “AA” of another provider. It can be difficult to judge the quality of a ruby from a photo. Therefore, we recommend using a highly qualified custom jeweler such as CustomMade. Their experts can help you choose the stone that fits your budget and make the perfect ring for you and your partner.
There is No Perfect Ruby. If you are looking for the perfect ruby, you probably won’t reach your goal. Ruby expert Richard Hughes has dealt with many rubies in his career, but has discovered that all stones over 1 carat lack color, cut, or brightness. .. Something like that should give. You can find perfect but small gems, or large gems with some flaws. When it comes to rubies, be prepared to compromise a bit.
Go for the Best Color. Finally, when you buy a ruby, you are looking for a nice red color. This is the most important factor in finding your favorite ruby. Other properties such as brightness are secondary and are only important if they have a significant impact on the beauty of the stone.
Ask About Enhancements. Upgrades other than regular heat treatment will dramatically reduce the price of rubies. However, it can also affect durability. Before choosing a ruby stone, be sure to ask about a cure or refer to your test report.

What Difference Does Ruby’s Source Make?

Ruby mines occur in only a few places, and the ruby’s source can make a big difference in price. You might also be concerned about ethical and sustainable mining. Furthermore, while any ruby source can produce gemstones of every level of quality, some are better-known for high-quality rubies.

Burma Rubies. The traditional source of rubies is Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Burmese rubies, rarer than diamonds, come from the Mogok Valley, where gems come from hard rocks near the eastern Himalayan. This fountain produced most of the world’s most famous rubies, for good reason. The deposits here are low in iron, and without this element, rubies literally turn very bright red. Iron suppresses ruby fluorescence and reduces color vividness. This fountain produces more rubies with the coveted pigeon blood color than any other fountain, making it the best choice for ruby lovers. Due to their intense color and known origin, these rubies are more expensive than those from other sources. However, Myanmar is also famous for human rights violations. In fact, the United States seized rubies and jade from Burma in an attempt to put pressure on the government. The embargo was lifted in 2016, but some countries still reserve human rights in this country. But in the end, the question gets complicated. Some of the money from the ruby trade goes to the government, while another enriches local miners and gems. When it comes to ethical procurement, there is no easy answer.
Thai Rubies. Thailand is another significant source of ruby. Due to a higher amount of iron, these tend to have a slight brownish tint to their red and exhibit less fluorescence than Burma rubies. These rubies were economically important for decades due to the scarcity of Burma rubies. Since the Myanmar mining tract has re-opened, however, Thai rubies have become less common on the market.
Mozambique Rubies. In recent years, rubies from Mozambique have caught the gem world’s attention. These gems contain more iron than the traditional Mogok deposits but less than the brownish Thai rubies. Often exhibiting fine color, these stones now account for a large portion of rubies on the market. While some have extolled them as ethical alternatives to Burma rubies, others have noted increased violence and local human rights issues since the mines have opened.
More Options. Of course, there are more ruby sources that may provide a fine stone for an engagement ring. Kenya, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and Tanzania all produce rubies. A few rubies even come from Australia, Greenland, and the United States. In addition, lab-created rubies and recycled antique rings offer ethical and sustainable alternatives to purchasing a newly mined ruby.

How to Pick a Ruby Engagement Ring Stone?

When you’re picking a ruby for an engagement ring, what should you look for? You’ve probably heard of the Four Cs of diamond quality: color, clarity, cut, and carat. These same Cs are important when choosing a ruby, too.

Color. The most important “C” for ruby is color. If you’re getting a ruby it’s because you want red. But, there are a lot of different shades of red. Some tend toward pink, some toward brown or purple, and others shine bright like a red traffic light. Color is the most important aspect in ruby quality and price, but it’s not so important that you choose a top-color ruby. What’s important is that you find a ruby you love, and that you understand why it might be more or less expensive than others.
Secondary Hues. In order for the gem to be a ruby, the primary hue in the stone must be red. Top-quality rubies have a pure, medium-dark red hue often called Pigeon’s Blood. Slight secondary purple hues are also acceptable in top-quality gems, but stronger purple hues bring down the price. Fewer people prefer an orange hue to their ruby, so these come at a discount. Meanwhile, brown hues give the color a more muted look, rather than the brightly saturated pure red. Some prefer the slightly muted color of these gems. They are also less expensive than the more pure hues.

How Dark Should a Ruby be?

Again, this is a matter of personal preference. Some prefer darker tones, while others go for a medium-tone pink-red ruby.

While a medium-dark tone gives the red hue its best saturation, these gems also come with a bigger price tag. Brown hues often accompany darker gems, while lighter gems border on pink.

In fact, the distinction between red and pink is a matter of debate among gem dealers. That’s because pink is simply a lighter tone of red, not a different hue. Some argue that pink sapphires are actually rubies, even if they’re light-colored rubies. Hot pink rubies often lie on the border between ruby and sapphire and offer a bright pop of color at a discount compared to a pure red.

Color Zoning. Rubies often exhibit color zoning, lighter and darker areas in the stone. Don’t worry so much if you see this from the side of the stone. It’s actually common for these gems to have one area of color. Gem cutters will orient the stone to bring out its best color, and that sometimes means that a small patch of color will make the entire gem bright red. If the stone exhibits color zoning from the top, though, you might want to pass on it. Small color bands that aren’t noticeable from a foot away should be fine. But, it you can see it from where you’d normally view a ring, you might want to keep looking.
Windowing. Don’t confuse color zoning with windowing. In color zoned stones, the color itself is poorly distributed. In windowed gems, the cut is too shallow, which creates additional issues. Windowing occurs in any gemstone with a shallow cut. Often, commercial-quality rubies will exhibit large windows. That means that the color is more intense along the outside of the stone than in the center. While windowing is also common in unusually large gems, which were cut to retain weight, it’s not an ideal look for an engagement ring. The ruby will appear washed-out and won’t be as lively as a properly cut gem. To check for a window, try placing paper with text behind your ruby. If the text shows through, there’s a window.
Extinction. It is also important to observe the pattern of the bright and dark areas of the gem. Even the best cut gems show extinct or dark areas, but it shouldn’t cover much of your ruby. These dark spots do not shine like well-cut rubies and can take a bit of life from your gem. If extinction covers about 25% or more of the stone, another stone should be considered. Indeed, hold the jewels on a pure white background, like a piece of paper. Next, notice which part of the stone shows a dark spot with no return of light.
Clarity. After painting, it is important to consider the brightness of the ruby. It does not refer to transparency, but to crystals and crevices within the ruby. Ruby usually contains visible scratches and inclusions, but its location, size, and color can make a big difference in the appearance of the finished gem. Large, dark defects such as crystalline inclusions are most prominent. It is very noticeable if this type of inclusion is a large facet just below the ruby table and above the gem. Rather, look for gems that have some minor flaws or are placed under the crown near the outside of the ruby. It will be less noticeable. The jewelery setting can also hide certain imperfections near the edges of the stone, so consult your jeweler to see if this is the case. Also ask about internal features that can cause durability issues. Fingerprints, feathers, veils, twin faces, and fractures that reach the surface can be fragile if you hit the ruby. This is not the ideal situation for an engagement ring.
Transparency. Although transparency isn’t a part of the Four Cs, it can have a big impact on price. Opaque stones sell for much less than transparent rubies. Even a transparent gem can appear somewhat cloudy. If you find that your budget is better suited to opaque rubies, you might want to consider lab-created gems
Cut. The quality of the cut is the “C” to consider next. Most rubies have windows and bumps and are poorly cut. Gemstone cutters need to be carefully considered to get the most out of coarse gemstones and often try to maintain weight and create a more uniform color. Because of this, some ruby cuts look a bit strange. Due to the coarse stone shape, most rubies are oval or cushioned. Rounds, pears, marquees and emerald cuts cost extra, so you can expect to pay a little more for these shapes. Keep in mind that mined rubies rarely have excellent cuts. Instead, the quality of the cut is largely determined by the result: does it look beautiful? Fortunately, most consumers can determine this, but there are some specific things to look for here.
Symmetry. First and foremost, make sure that your ruby has good symmetry. It’s the most obvious indicator of cut quality, and an important factor in how your ring will look in the end. Round-cut rubies shouldn’t have any flat areas or bulges. For pear and heart-shaped stones, make sure their outline is the same along their axis of symmetry. Oval, marquise, square, and rectangular shapes have two axes of symmetry. If you draw invisible lines through the center of the stone, it should be the same on each side.
Shape Appeal. In addition, take a look at the shape and make sure it’s appealing to you. If a shape looks a bit off, even if you can’t pinpoint why, it’s not the right ruby for your engagement ring. The rounded parts of ovals, pears, and hearts should be well-shaped, without bulges or flat areas. The points on pears, hearts, and marquise gems should be sharp and well-defined.
Proportions. Take a look at the side of the stone and make sure it doesn’t look too deep or shallow. This would likely result in extinction and windowing, respectively, and rubies with poor proportions don’t make for great center stones. For elongated shapes, consider the length-to-width ratio. For example, while some like shorter, fatter ovals, others prefer them to be more elongated. In general, we recommend that you avoid ambiguous shapes, such as shapes that aren’t quite round but not elongated enough to be an oval, or just a little off-square.
Consider Standard Measurements. If you’re buying a standard size ruby to match a pre-made ring, make sure it’s the right size. Getting a ruby too big or too small for the setting will result in an expensive headache. On the other hand, designing a custom ring will allow you to choose a ruby based first and foremost on the above quality factors rather than a predetermined size. CustomMade is one choice for designing a unique ruby engagement ring.
Carat. Carat, or weight, doesn’t impact quality, but it makes a huge difference in price. Fine rubies are rare at any size, and with per-carat prices, larger rubies can have enormous price tags. Ruby pricing jumps at one, two, three, and five carats. Fine rubies above five carats are extremely rare, and prices will be negotiable. Consult a ruby expert if you’re considering a large ruby engagement ring.

What are the Best Money Saving Options for Ruby Engagement Ring Stones?

So, how can you get a ruby engagement ring without breaking the bank? Rubies are some of the most expensive gems around, with fine, untreated rubies reaching prices higher than diamonds. Fortunately, there are ways to save on a ruby engagement ring.

Heat Treatment

Nearly all rubies on the market undergo heat treatment. This treatment is common, widely accepted, and mimics natural processes. It improves the ruby’s color and clarity permanently, making lower-quality rubies more attractive. If you’re looking at untreated rubies, you’ll be paying anywhere from 30% more to four times as much compared to a heat-treated ruby. That’s a lot of dough! Heat treatment brings fine ruby prices down from sky-high to slightly less than a diamond of similar size, making it affordable for most engagement ring budgets.

Lab-Made Rubies

Of course, if your heart’s not set on an mined ruby, opting for a lab-made ruby gives you a lot of leeway. Laboratory-made rubies are real rubies. They’re chemically and optically identical to an Earth-made ruby. But, laboratory conditions allow the ruby to grow in optimal conditions. There should be bright, even color and good clarity in all lab-made rubies. Better yet, with lower prices you can opt for a larger size.

What Treatments to Avoid?

Still, not every cost-saving measure is a good idea. There are some ruby treatments or enhancements that drastically lower the value of the gem and also introduce durability issues.

Diffusion treatments or beryllium treatments alter the color in the outer layers of the gem. These are often marketed as “red sapphires.” With this treatment, if the stone is scratched or chipped and needs a re-polish, polishing will take the color away, too.

Avoid leaded glass rubies. In these stones, dealers fill the stone’s cracks with glass, giving it a better clarity. They sell for about 30% the price of a heat treated ruby, but the stone is likely to break.

Ruby Alternatives

If you are just looking for a red jewel, there are many options. Two in particular stand out as excellent, long-lasting and inexpensive alternatives to rubies. The first is red spinel. These natural red gems can achieve the same pure, vibrant red color as rubies, but at a fraction of the price. In fact, the Black Prince’s Ruby in the British Crown is actually a spinel because they are so good imitations. It’s also durable and rare, making it an excellent alternative to ruby for engagement rings. See the Spinel Purchasing Guide for more information. If your spinel is over budget, try red or pink tourmaline. These stones are also durable, but the cheaper they are, the more common they are. Tourmaline is also one of the birthstones for October, so it’s easy to find in any store. Our Luberite Purchasing Guide has more information on choosing red and pink tourmalines.

Ring Settings for Rubies

As a hard and durable gemstone, rubies will hold up well in any type of setting. You won’t need to take any special precautions. While some like the cool look of platinum or white gold with their ruby, many like to set rubies in yellow gold to bring out the stone’s warmth. Remember, you could always pair a yellow gold setting with a white gold band for the best of both worlds.