From GEM GUIDE “Gem Market Pulse May 2015”
“Of major concern in the ruby market is the continual
attempts to pass off glass composite rubies as some form
of simply another “treated” ruby. This is not a treatment
process. This is a combination of non-ruby material, i.e.,
lead glass, and ruby bonded together in the rough and
then cut. In a recent local Chicago CBS expose’ the
reporter purchased two pairs of rubies from Macy’s
department store and were told by the salespeople that
these were real rubies. One pair that I examined was
clearly considerably more glass than ruby. How can the
industry continue to allow these to be sold as a treated
product? Consumer confidence is at stake and we fear
for the future if products such as this are sold without
proper disclosure for what they are.”
