How to Remove Scratches and Chips from Ruby Jewelry

Question
I have a ruby with a few light and surface scratches in it.
Where can I go to get the scratches out ?  And, how much do you think that would cost?  Also, I have one with a very small chip on the side, where the prong would go to hold the stone in the setting.  Can this be buffed out?  And, how much would something like this cost?

Answer
HI KIMBERLY,

RUBY IS A VERY HARD MINERAL BUT DOES SHOW WEAR OVER THE YEARS. IT'S A VERY SIMPLE THING TO POLISH OUT SCRATCHES ON THE SURFACE OF STONES. YOU JUST NEED TO FIND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW. YOUR LOCAL JEWELER MAY KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN DO IT LOCALY. USUALLY A LAPIDARY CAN POLISH IT FOR YOU.
THE STONE WITH THE CHIP REQUIRES A LITTLE MORE EXPERTISE. THE WHOLE STONE NEEDS TO BE RECUT TO GET BACK TO THE CORRECT ANGLES OF THE ORIGINAL OR TO CORRECT THE ANGLES.YOU WOULD NEED TO CUT THE STONES DIAMETER DOWN IF IT IS ON THE GIRDLE. THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE WEIGHT OF A STONE IS AND WOULD CUT THE WEIGHT AND SIZE, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE A NEW STONE! THE COSTS CAN BE ALL OVER THE BOARD. THE LEAST EXPENSIVE IS OVERSEAS, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET THERE. IN THE STATES THE PRICES RUN FROM $15 A CARAT TO $100 PER CARAT FOR RECUTTING AND REPOLISHING. IN ASIA IT IS LESS THAN A DOLLAR. SHOP AROUND AND GOOD LUCK.

THANKS
PETER