How to identify a glass filled ruby?
Rubies are one of the worlds most popular & highly priced. They have been favoured for hundreds of years. Due to their high demand & considerable prices, it is now common to find on the international market rubies that have been lead glass filled.
These rubies are so highly included, they may not have been labelled rubies to begin with. This treatment is used to enhance the colour and clarity of the ruby. After the treatment, the inclusions are less obvious and the colour is enhanced thus making it a more sellable gemstone.
It is vital that consumers check for any treatments particularly with expensive jewellery, as it may affect the value dramatically.
How do you identify a glass filled ruby?
When looking for ruby enhancements, you should look out for the flash effect. This appears along the cracks and inclusions inside the ruby itself, when slightly rotated you will witness a series of purple & blue zones that run along the cracks & fractures.
Also looking at the surface of the ruby, look out for any surface fractures, this is the immediate area where the filler would be have disbursed.
Is a glass filled ruby durable?
Definetly not, the filler is not as durable as natural ruby, and may be damaged by common house hold chemicals, even lemons.
bench Jewellers should be advised about the ruby treatment as it limits their ability to use heat and tools in the same manner as they would if it were natural and unenhanced.
All our valuation reports will make note of the enhancement.
