A marquise lab-grown ruby held north–south in a milgrain frame, with ruby marquise rays radiating out into an eight-point starburst. Solid 925 sterling silver with a black ruthenium finish throughout, on an 18-inch box chain, so the dark metal reads as a frame around the red.
Lab-Grown Ruby
Marquise Cut
9 on the Mohs Scale
Black Ruthenium Finish
18" Black Box Chain
Solid 925 Sterling Silver
How the Pendant Is Built
Tapered Bail
A plain polished bail carries the pendant and slides freely on the chain, so it always rights itself.
Marquise Center
The center stone runs north–south inside a milgrain frame, ringed by a halo of small round accents.
Ray Points
Marquise rays radiate from the frame into an eight-point starburst, closing on one more marquise at the base.
The pendant is the necklace half of the Nightbriar family and repeats the ring's vocabulary at a smaller scale — the milgrain frame, the marquise rays, the starburst. Our necklace length guide covers how an 18-inch chain sits, and how to layer necklaces is worth reading if you wear more than one. For the wider style, see our guide to gothic necklaces.
The Lab-Grown Ruby
Ruby is corundum — the red variety — and corundum is a 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond. Our guide to what ruby means covers the history behind it, and garnet versus ruby is worth reading if you are deciding between the two.
These stones are lab-grown, with the same chemistry, hardness and optical behavior as mined corundum, in a saturated pigeon-blood red that would be scarce and expensive in nature at matched sizes across a pair.
Each center stone is marquise cut and set north–south, the most elongating orientation — the same reasoning our guide to marquise cuts sets out for rings applies here.
Metal and Stones
Pendant, bail and box chain are all solid 925 sterling silver with a black ruthenium finish — a platinum-group metal that settles to a deep gunmetal rather than a flat black. Running the finish through the chain as well is what keeps the piece reading as one dark line rather than a dark pendant hung on a bright chain, and the slight reflectivity keeps the milgrain readable instead of flattening it.
Smaller lab-grown ruby marquises form the rays and the point at the base, so the red runs through the whole pendant rather than sitting in one spot. The white accents — the halo of rounds around the frame and the pavé along the upper edge — are cubic zirconia. Moissanite or lab-grown diamond accents are available as a custom order.
Part of our necklaces collection and the rest of our black ruthenium jewelry. Ruby is the July birthstone — see our July birthstone guide and the July birthstone collection, or work out which stone is yours.
Specifications
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Style: Pendant necklace on a box chain
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Center stone: Lab-grown ruby, marquise cut, set north–south
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Accent stones: Lab-grown ruby marquises; cubic zirconia throughout
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Metal: Solid 925 sterling silver, black ruthenium finish throughout
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Chain: Box chain, black ruthenium finish, 18 inches, lobster clasp
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Setting: Milgrain frame with marquise rays
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Hardness: 9 on the Mohs scale
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Presentation: Free luxury velvet jewelry box
Care
Ruby is 9 on the Mohs scale and among the most durable stones for daily wear. Clean with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and household chemicals, which dull the ruthenium finish, and lay the chain flat in its velvet box rather than coiling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ruby real?
Yes. It is a genuine ruby — corundum — lab-grown rather than mined. Identical chemistry, hardness and color behavior. The difference is origin, not authenticity.
Why lab-grown rather than natural?
A saturated red at matched sizes would be rare and very costly in mined corundum. Lab-grown gives the same material and the same 9 Mohs hardness at a fraction of the price, with a known origin.
Are the smaller stones also ruby?
Yes — the marquise rays are lab-grown ruby as well, so the red carries through the whole piece.
Is ruby a birthstone?
Yes — ruby is the July birthstone.
Are the white accent stones diamonds?
No. They are cubic zirconia. Moissanite or lab-grown diamond accents are available as a custom order.
How dark is the black ruthenium finish?
Ruthenium finishes to a deep gunmetal rather than a flat jet black. The slight reflectivity is what keeps the milgrain and the marquise rays visible instead of flattening them.
What is it made of?
Solid 925 sterling silver throughout, with a black ruthenium finish. No brass or base metal.
How long is the chain?
18 inches — princess length. It sits just below the collarbone on most necks, which is where this pendant is sized to hang.
Is the chain included?
Yes. The pendant comes on a solid 925 sterling silver box chain with a lobster clasp, finished to match the pendant; nothing is sold separately.
Can the pendant be worn on another chain?
Yes. The bail is open enough to take most standard chains and cords, so you can move it onto a longer chain if you prefer.
Does it match the Nightbriar ring set?
Yes. The pendant shares the milgrain frame and marquise rays of the Nightbriar rings in the same colorway, so the pieces read as one family.
Are the stones ethically sourced?
Yes. All Aquamarise stones are conflict-free and responsibly sourced, and every order arrives in a free luxury velvet jewelry box.
