Are lead glass filled rubies real?
“These are not real rubies; period!” Matlins told NBC News, calling them impostors. He went on to explain that lead-glass rubies are not found naturally in the earth, but are instead made using a combination of low-quality corundum, the mineral found in ruby, which is then infused with high amounts of lead glass.
How can you tell if a Rubie is glass filled?
The identifying characteristics are similar to those for diamonds that have been clarity enhanced with a glass filling: very low-relief fractures, gas bubbles and voids (unfilled areas) in fractures, and a blue and orange flash effect.
Are heat treated rubies worthless?
According to GIA, “The effectiveness of the treatment is amazing, in that it transforms corundum that is opaque and nearly worthless into material that is transparent enough for use in jewelry.” Indeed, lead glass-filled rubies can seem very appealing to an untutored buyer.
Is glass filled ruby valuable?
A lead glass filled ruby is worth under $10 a carat compared to a natural ruby which currently goes for a few thousand dollars to several thousand dollars a carat. But the lead glass-filled stones are being sold at natural ruby prices!
Are heated gemstones bad?
Durability: Since most gem crystals were formed under high temperatures, when it comes to wearability and durability heating usually does not have a negative effect on a gemstone. Also, the color stability (resistance to fading or color changing) of heated gems is usually very good and they are super stable.
Are heated rubies valuable?
The most valuable rubies by far are natural, untreated ones, but this can be rare in today’s market. Heated rubies are generally worth more than rubies that have been diffused or filled.
What does glass filled ruby mean?
About 10 years ago, rubies with a new form of treatment known as “Lead Glass Filling” came on to the market. This treatment involves taking non-gem quality rubies and filling cavities and fractures in them with lead glass which alters the construction of the stone.
What is a filled ruby?
At face value, the process to create a lead glass filled ruby seems the same. They use heat and a substance to alter color and fill the fractures that exist in the stone. This creates a more transparent, eye clean, brighter gem that resembles a more expensive ruby.
Are heated rubies bad?
It is good to note that the Gemological Institute America and other certification authorities ACCEPT that heat treatment is perfectly normal for enhancing a natural ruby and indeed that the process is permanent and will not degrade over time.
What does Filled ruby mean?
What does glass filled sapphire mean?
All about glass filled sapphires – The process is simple, where a low-quality sapphire that has fissures and cracks that reach up to the surface of the sapphire is filled with a cobalt-rich form of glass. The cobalt is the element responsible for the blue colour in sapphires.