Buying antique jewelry is a totally different process than buying commercial pieces for several reasons. First the rings are not only unique and often custom made, but they will be sized to fit the original owner. They will likely need to be resized to fit your finger and if it is to make the ring larger this will require matching the gold or metal used in the setting.

It is better to buy a larger ring than one that is too small for obvious reasons. There is also the option of finding an antique setting you like, buying the antique ruby with its history and then having a ring custom made using the gemstone and the antique design. This may be your best option if you have very large or very small fingers.

The things to keep in mind when buying a ruby ring or an emerald ring, or even an antique sapphire or diamond ring, is the quality of the precious gem. Often the setting may be so unique and the design so different from what you see in shops that you will forget about the gem, but the price of rings is mostly based on the ruby or precious stone quality and not on the setting.

Remember that when it comes to buying a ruby ring the best is the reddest, and what is known as "pigeon's blood", which is as red-blue almost purple, is the best. These stones most often will have come from Myanmar (Burma) or Thailand. It’s fun to know where your ruby has been born, so ask your jeweler. It should also come with a certificate of authenticity.

This may be more difficult when buying an antique ring because the dealer may not know. However, most high quality rings will come with a history of how the ring was found and whatever documentation the previous owner had. Again, it is up to you to ask. If you plan to ensure your ruby rings you will need something that authenticates its value.

Keep in mind that you may want to ask your antique jeweler if he/she knows if the ruby has been heat treated or if it is naturally the color it appears to be. If it is a deep red and is very old you may have stumbled upon one of the few antique rubies that have not been heat treated to enhance their color. This would be quite a find! And likely it will be expensive. Most rubies, even those that are relatively old, will have been treated in some way.

If you are buying a commercial ruby ring or ruby wedding ring, or even a pair of ruby earrings, be careful that the ruby is not of substandard quality made to appear better than it is. There is a glut of rubies from about 10 to 15 years ago that were heat treated and sold as high quality when in fact they were poor quality to begin with.

However, I am not saying that heat treating is not done to quality rubies. It is, and what’s more, it is almost standard practice to heat rubies to bring out their best color. The problem only arises when a ruby with little natural red is sold deceptively. And you will want to avoid any treatments that use glass filling techniques. Although it may make for an inexpensive ruby, if you are searching for a once in a lifetime purchase of a ruby engagement ring or a ruby wedding ring or mens ruby rings for your wedding, or antique ruby rings that will be unique, it is obvious you will want the best stone possible.

Also be aware that there are ruby imitations. Some of the older versions may be unique if you can get one from the early 1900’s, which in fact are white sapphires transformed into rubies. In an antique ruby ring this could be quite a talking piece. However the majority of modern imitations are synthetic. You can immediately know a fake ruby because it will be perfect.

All natural rubies have flaws and that is what makes them special and distinctive and gives them the star that may be visible in direct light. If you are seeking a genuine antique ruby ring then avoid red spinels, red garnets, and colored glass unless you have stumbled upon a roman antiquity.

Yes, the romans were famous for all sorts of imitation ruby rings. But unless it is a roman antiquity, watch out for such words as “balas ruby”, which is a red spinel , or “rubellite”, which means it is really a red tourmaline and not a ruby at all.