Loose Natural Rubies
Loose natural rubies are available online as well as from gem dealers.
Some points to watch for when buying rubies of any kind include:
Pick a bona fide dealer. You want a dealer that is honest, up front and open about the rubies they have. They need to have a fixed address and contactable phone number. When buying online they also need to have a returns policy so that, in the event you find they product is not as stated in the advertising, you can return for a full refund.
It always pays to read the terms and conditions under which a dealer will operate. Very few people will read this boring material but it could save one many hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
This would include getting a independent appraisal of the gemstone to ensure the value and quality of the ruby is as described.
Specify what type of ruby you would like. The origin, this can make a big difference to the price. Rubies from Burma are considered excellent quality usually and command a better price for example than those from Sri Lanka which tend to be paler. A good quality ruby can be just as expensive as a diamond.
Check the color. The deeper the color the more the ruby is worth. The brightest and the best rubies are called “pigeon’s blood”. Also known in the trade as “Mogok” rubies.
It is better to buy loose rubies and have them set the way you want them set. Apart from then having a ruby piece of jewelry that is more personalize for you can also get them properly valued and appraised for color and clarity etc before they are set. You will know then just what they are worth and what they should be insured for.
Buying loose natural rubies is the way to go to get the best deal on rubies!