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PRICE
The price of rubies continues to rise. The factors discussed below effect the price greatly.
FACETED RUBIES
CUT
Ruby's inner light can be accented by skillful faceting. A buyer should look for a symmetrical cut, one that enhances
return of light to the person looking at it. As well, the surface of a fine ruby must have an excellent polish. The cut
must be symmetrical. Always reject a ruby that has excess weight below its girdle.
TRANSPARENCY
Look for a ruby that is relatively free of inclusions. A ruby that is eye clean, that is to say that inclusions are so
small that they cannot be seen by the unaided eye. Rubies that are flawless under 10 times magnification are exceedingly
rare.
SIZE
The price of rubies vary tremedously with size. In fact, rubies over ten carats in weight are so scarce that usually
only about five can be found through regualr channels at any one time anywhere in the world.
COLOR
Look for a medium dark red that is even in presentation. While brownish red is acceptable in star rubies, the color
is not desirable in transparent, faceted rubies. Very dark or pale stones have little value. The most valued color is red
or very slightly purplish red of high intensity. The color is sometimes uneven, spotted or in streaks. Examine carefully
the ruby that catches your fancy before your you buy it.
The value of a ruby is further determined by the kind of red color it exhibits:
Burma or Burmese Ruby
The finest shade is a full-blooded red, the color at the very center of the red spectrum. Enhancing this red is a hint
of orange. The most valuable of these red rubies is called "pigeon blood", "finest-blood red", or "Burmese Red'. A blackish,
bluish red stone or one that has too strong a hint of pink is of lesser quality. The highest grade usually is termed "Burmese"
regardless of its origin or the fact that Burma as a country is no longer on some maps.
There as two subdivisions of color that are sometimes used, especially in Britain or in gemstones imported through British
trade channels:
1. "Beef-Blood Rubies" - Slightly darker tones of red used in England for a grade of Burmese Rubies that are a darker
tone of red than those of pigeon blood.
2. "French-Color Rubies" or "Cherry Rubies" - Slightly lighter than those called "blood red".
Rubies coming from Myna mar should not be represented as "Burmese" unless such rubies possesses those color qualities
just discussed.
Siam or Siamese Rubies
This term is given to a ruby that is dark red to brownish red, sometimes approaching the color of almandite
or pyrope garnet. A Siamese ruby often shows a slightly violet shade of red, and is sometimes exceedingly brilliant.
Some people refer to Siam Rubies and Burmese Rubies as "Oriental Rubies" to distinqush them from other rubies or from
Red Spinel.
Ceylon Rubies
These rubies are medium light pinkish or purplish red stone which are usually more brilliant than Burmese
or Siamese rubies. The lighter pink stones should be classified are pink sapphires which command a lower price. Many, but
not all, Ceylon Rubies are mined in Sri Lanka.
African Ruby
These rubies are usually a somewhat brownish shade of red. There have been a more vivid red found in Tanzania
and Madagascar recently.
Afghanistan Rubies
This is ruby formally mined near Kabul and also in Badakshan.
Star Rubies are cut en cabochon, a convex top with a flat
bottom, in order to show the star to the best advantage.
The most important consideration when pricing
a star ruby is the beauty of its star. Other factors are the star ruby's cut, color and tranparency.
STAR'S APPEARANCE
The star should be well defined and complete, exhibiting a symmmetrical appearance both from the side and from the top.
The star must also be centered and seen clearly under a single light source. Most importantly, the star must "roll" easily
across the surface of the ruby. That star must also have "depth".
CUT
With star rubies especially, excess weight adds no value to a particular gemstone. In fact, such excess weight distract
from that value. A star ruby that has been cut with one-fourth or less of the gemstone below its girdle is considered to be
well proportioned.
COLOR
Latitude is taken as regards to the color of
a star ruby. Give your first consideration to the star. However do look, of course, for a star ruby that is ruby in color.
Guidelines for ruby color are must still be followed. Also consider that cloudiness and grayness decrease the value of a
particular star ruby.
TRANSPARENCY
The nearer a star ruby approaches transparency while still exhibiting a well defined star, the greater its value.
SIZE
The value of a star ruby increases greatly with its size.
Return to "Ruby, July's Birthstone".
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