Why Choose Vintage / Antique Ruby Jewellery

George Tarratt, still situated on Leicester’s Market Street offers the best of the classics as well as the bold geometric designs of vintage days. Even if you’re not interested in collecting historic ruby stud earrings or period gemstone jewellery, buying antique pieces, especially when it comes to rubies, is one way of getting items that are not controversial, without risking buying unethically sourced gems. The gems in antique pieces, such as those sold by dealers like George Tarratt and his son Ivan, are not funding corrupt regimes or supporting arms deals or wars – at least not current ones.

Take at look at some of the sapphire clusters and ruby stud earrings from the George Tarratt collections, available online and through their exclusive shop in Leicester.

1. Faceted Oval Ruby Stud Earrings

There’s nothing ordinary about these ruby stud earrings that are set in 18ct yellow gold. The rubies are faceted ovals delicately held in place with four prongs. If you’d like to buy them, their reference number is 1210020 and they’re reasonably priced at just £735.

2. Multicolored Antique Sapphire Earrings

Rubies and sapphires are the same stone. What separates a ruby from a sapphire is the rich red color, although a pink, lavender or purplish-blue-red ruby stone may be labeled either as a sapphire or a ruby depending on how much red there is in the hue. That’s why rubies and sapphires are classed together and sold in the same collections. In the George Tarratt collection called Antique and Period Colored Stone Earrings, there’s a singular pair of cluster studs that feature multicolored sapphires. The colors range from translucent blue to lavender and pink. This pair of earrings in an investment or at least a collector’s dream. The reference number for buying is 126002, and the price is set at £12,850.

3. Antique Ruby Stud Earrings Accented with Diamond Clusters

These Victorian ruby stud earrings are a bargain even at £8,500 because the large central stones are natural gems surrounded by almost a dozen dazzling white diamonds. This exclusive pair is available using the reference number 1252183 and can be found in the Antique and Period Earring collection through the George Tarratt shop.

4. More Than A Pair of Ruby Studs

The ruby stud plus diamond design of this extraordinary pair of gemstone earrings is not just elegant but affordable at just £3,500. The two ruby gems that make up the heart of this pair are untreated natural rubies mined from Malawi (therefore not Burmese rubies) and they’re each accented with more than a dozen white diamonds mounted in 18ct white gold. The rubies are faceted in the classic rectangular shape to highlight the vibrant red color of the stone. To purchase this pair of cluster diamond and ruby stud earrings, please use the reference number 1202963.

For more shopping suggestions, such as where to buy ethically sourced ruby bracelet designs, ruby diamond ring styles and ruby jewellery from exceptional UK designers, please browse related posts.

We promote ethical gemstone rings, fair trade ruby stone creations, and ruby necklace designers who are conscientious about environmental impact, and use ethically sourced precious metals and conflict free gems.

One of the mining companies that works in Tanzania, who we suggest are a good source for ruby gems, is called RubyFair. Many UK and international designers / fine jewellery houses are choosing RubyFair stones over others that may be tainted with unethical practices or may be used to fund corrupt governments.

If you’re looking for ethical ruby wedding rings, please see unique suggestions we have to offer such as the white gold ruby ring designs that do not use Burmese rubies.

If you’d like to understand why Burmese rubies are not a good choice, please read the articles about ruby gemstone mining issues in Asia, as well as the newest issues arising with the Greenland ruby gemstones, through True North Mining, which may or may not provide the world with conflict free gems.

Affordable Ruby Jewelry –Enhanced Gems Versus Created Rubies

If you shop at places like Jewels For Me, you can expect to pay about $89 for ruby stud earrings and about $99 for a teeny drop design. You will also have the flexibility to choose the metal and the gem quality, or even select a created ruby instead of the real one, however, when it comes to such small rubies, there is no price difference between pairs with real gems and ones with “created” stones. You may wonder why anyone would choose a pair of created ruby earrings over the real ones if they sell for the same price. To answer that, you must know a little about ruby quality, about the enhancements and treatments that low quality natural rubies receive to look better than they are, and how it is that often a high quality created gem will be much more beautiful and valuable than a low quality stone of the same size and price.

Why You May Choose a Pair of Lab Created Ruby Earrings

It is considered a normal practice to heat treat or color enhance very low grade rubies and still call them “real”, even if they are of no investment value. So it’s possible to have a genuine ruby earring set that’s worth very little or have a pair that is much more brilliant and crafted from flux grown gems. Some man made rubies, that have the right amount of aluminum oxide and chromium can look very similar to the best natural gems known as the pigeon blood ruby, mined in Burma (Myanmar). However it is important to note that not all “created”, man made or simulated rubies are equal.

Flame Fusion Versus Flux

The cheapest lab created ruby are the ones made using the flame fusion process. The best would be the ones grown through the flux growth process, a technical and slow procedure, where crystals actually develop in a controlled, high temperature, pressure environment that is similar to how natural ones are formed. These flux rubies can take many months, or up to a year, to form into crystal gem-quality stones for jewelry, and therefore are not cheap. Some of these lab created, or grown rubies, will retail for hundreds of dollars per carat.

The Best Gold Ruby Earrings Under $200

The biggest problem with shopping for gemstone jewelry online is that high quality lab created rubies and medium to low quality simulated stones and genuine rubies that have been treated or enhanced are all sold under the same general heading of “ruby jewelry”. It is therefore a real task for a shopper who wants quality to find the best value. Here are some recommendations:

Heat Treated Ruby Diamond Earrings

1. For about $120 you can get a pair of ruby dangle earrings that have 6 ruby gems that have been heat treated and four .06 medium clarity diamonds, prong set into 10k white gold. These are by no means investment quality, but they are real gems that are affordable and will last for a long time if properly cared for. They are a good alternative to spending almost as much for similar styles in costume jewelry. This particular item is available online through a company called Angara.

2. For about $130 there are some beautiful ruby stud earrings, also through Angara, that have a genuine heat treated ruby that’s .80 carats and is set in fine 10k gold. These are prong set and large enough to be noticed, with medium color that may satisfy your penchant for a little red.

3. For $199 there are some ruby hoop earrings that are embellished with 8 heat treated rubies alternated by genuine diamonds. They are set in solid 14k gold and have a push back secure closure. These are small hoops that are very tasteful accessories to any classic ensemble, eveningwear or even office attire. They have just enough color and sparkle to get noticed without being eccentric or bodacious.

4. For larger rubies of similar quality, and settings in solid 14k gold, yellow or white, the delicate ruby ribbon earrings sold through Jewels For Me are a good buy. They retail for about $190 and include a little diamond accent. For a brighter red colored gem, you could select the created ruby and pay just $160 for the same pair.

5. A romantic pair of heart ruby earrings is available from Jewels For Me for just $159 and is set in your choice of white or yellow 14k gold and has a teeny diamond accent above the ruby. Pair the earrings with a matching 3 heart pendant, and choose rubies or create your own design with a mix of other gemstone options.

Comparison Shopping Made Easy

To compare, have a look at a gold ruby earring design that costs about $1,000 and does not have a totally natural ruby, but also a heat treated one. It’s a stud in white gold and includes a few teeny diamond accents, but as you can see, even amongst the cheaper options there is a vast difference in quality and color and most of all in price. The same design is available for $400 and $600 depending on the stone chosen. By the way, that is one good thing about shopping either Angara or Jewels For Me when buying ruby jewelry. You can compare gem qualities and choose cheaper or more expensive versions of the design you love.

You can get 2 carat ruby stud earrings with treated gems and pay about $1,600 or you can opt to spend the same amount and get a gemstone that is totally natural. But…..

How can you know if the gem is treated or enhanced?

Where can you buy untreated ruby jewelry that’s good value yet affordable?

The online shops we’ve recommended above are places where you can get good value for low to medium quality gemstone jewelry, enhanced or heat treated rubies, and other precious stone items. However, if you want to be sure of getting a 100% natural, untreated ruby in your jewelry, then you will have to shop at places that specialize in Asian rubies and clearly state on each piece that the gem is untreated. If you want to buy online, and will not have the luxury of being able to inspect the piece beforehand or have a jeweler authenticate it, so you have to insist on shopping where the jewelry comes with a certificate of authenticity and clearly states the gem’s origins, the clarity, the color and the inclusions if such are present. You may want to select the ruby separately and have it set in a custom piece. For that, you may find that the Natural Sapphire Company offers exactly what you need.

For example, if you want a pair of genuine ruby earrings, a pair of studs….here is the kind of information you will get from the Natural Sapphire Company on one of their items:

1. The stud earrings are set in 14k white gold and have a .75 carat ruby gem.
2. The origin of the gem is Ceylon.
3. The color is red, the intensity is vivid, the cut is brilliant, the shape is round, the clarity is VVS2 which means it has inclusions that are not significant. The price of the these two natural Ceylon rubies set in a gold stud earring design is just over $700. The description of the item also clearly states that the gems have received no enhancements and you can view in advance the gemologist report to this effect by clicking the certificate icon. You will also receive such a certificate when you order. This is the best way to be assured that the quality you are paying for is in fact worth it.

DIY Jewelry With a Little Help From NSC

Another great way to get exactly what you want is to create it yourself. No, it’s really not much work at all, in fact it’s rather fun. If you select the heading about gold ruby earring mountings or settings from the Natural Sapphire Company, you will get a variety of basic and intricate setting choices that have, as yet, no central gemstones.

You can choose the basic skeleton then carry on to selecting a specific gem, be it a pink, blue, white or yellow sapphire or a rich red Asian ruby. Choose the size and price range and put it all together. It takes very little time and you know exactly what you’re getting and the quality. By the way, all the gems, be they sapphires or rubies, sold through NSC are untreated, so you can choose whatever you like best without worry.

Exclusive Designer Ruby Jewelry

For dangle earrings, unique ruby chandelier earrings, unusual cluster designs and the ltest in designer gemstone jewelry with rubies, keep these top designer names in mind when shopping for something unique and of high quality: Lucie Campbell, Annette Ferdinandsen, Anaconda Gwenyth, Roberto Coin and Iradj Moini. Each of these designers have a distinctive style, but all create earrings with ruby gems and have some of the most innovative, high quality pieces available. Some are sold through the online Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman outlets, as well as dealers who specialize in fine jewelry.

Silver Ruby Earrings

Genuine pigeon blood ruby jewelry is almost never crafted into silver settings. High quality rubies are so seldom set into silver that it’s scarcely worth mentioning and even more difficult to recommend where you might purchase such items online. The reason is that silver is a cheap metal used for mounting only enhanced or treated rubies and for created or man made simulated rubies that are then considered high-end costume jewelry. Silver ruby earrings with simulated or created gems are easy to find and cost very little. You can get gorgeous and fun pieces between $20 and $100, many that come from jewelry distributors in Thailand. Places like Overstock and Amazon and Ice and Max and Chloe….and even Ross Simons and Jewelbasket and a million other shops carry silver ruby earrings that cost between $30 and $50, and many more between $60 and $100.

There are also some faux antique ruby earrings sold through Ruby Lane that are silver with ruby zirconia and cost about $35. Sculpted in silver with a gorgeous ruby colored gem in the center, the illusion of the 30’s is complete and very affordable. For some really gorgeous antique style chandelier ruby earrings crafted in the ancient Indian style, Ruby Lane is also the place to shop…and with about $65 you can walk away looking like a princess. Remember that many ruby designs are best in gold, so often silver is plated or sterling vermeil is used to craft a gold-tone to better accents the red gem, although in fact the setting is silver.

For more information on genuine and created Ruby Heart Ring designs, ideas on where to buy An Antique Ruby Ring, a unique Ruby Engagement Ring, and Ruby Eternity Ring suggestions, please see related articles.