Burmese Ruby's
Considered the top classification in the world the Burmese ruby is the most sought after ruby classification and is considered the ideal color shade. The term Burmese doesn't mean that the ruby comes from a particular region. The stone that is found in this condition can be found all over the world. What is the most important aspect of the buy is the color. Everything else is secondary including flaws as long as the flaws don't take away or cloud the red shade of the gemstone.
Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the second hardest natural mineral know to mankind. The non-red variety of corundum is the Sapphire. Sapphires are well known among the general public as being blue but can be almost any color. Ruby's come from all over the world including Thailand, India, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and North Carolina in the United States.
Ruby Jewelry and Mystery Healings
The stone is the birthstone for the month of July and the gemstone representing the 15th and 40th wedding anniversary. It is known as the stone of love and is capable of reconciling lover's quarrels. It was once believed that if worn in a ring on the left hand or in a brooch on the left side, it would give the magical ability to live in peace among enemies. This stone was once thought to ward off misfortune and ill-health. Ruby jewelry and gemstones are given as a symbol of success, devotion, integrity, health and passion. Be sure to visit all of our red rubies we have for sale.
Some rubies display a wonderful silky shine, the so-called 'silk' of the ruby. This phenomenon is caused by very fine needles of rutile. And now and then one of the rare star rubies is found. Here too, the mineral rutile is involved: having formed a star-shaped deposit within the ruby, it causes a captivating light effect known by the experts as asterism. If rubies of this kind are cut as half-dome shaped cabochons, the result is a six-spoked star which seems to glide magically across the surface of the stone when the latter is moved. Star rubies are precious rarities. Their value depends on the beauty and attractiveness of the colour and, though only to a lesser extent, on their transparency. Fine star rubies, however, should always display rays which are fully formed all the way to the imaginary horizontal line which runs through the middle of the stone, and the star itself should be situated right in the centre.
Rubies are the most valuable members of the corundum family. Large gem quality rubies can be more valuable than comparably sized diamonds and are certainly rarer. There is a relative abundance of smaller, (1-3 carat,) blue sapphires compared to the scarcity of even small gem quality rubies, making even these smaller stones relatively high in value.
Stones of Burmese origin generally command the highest prices. The vast majority of rubies are "native cut" in the country of origin. High value ruby rough is tightly controlled and rarely makes its way to custom cutters. Occasionally, such native stones are recut to custom proportions, albeit at a loss of weight and diameter. Custom cut and recut stones are usually more per carat, and my own bias is that they are worth it.
Sinkankas and Miller in the Standard Catalog of Gem Values, 2nd. Ed. list a wide range of wholesale prices for faceted gem rubies. Prices are dependent on origin, color, size, and clarity: from a low of $100 to $15,000/ ct maximum.
Burmese stones in 1/2 to 1 ct sizes with slightly purplish red color and light inclusions range from $300 to $3000/ ct, for example. The price survey done by the International Gem Society reports that clean, top color gems in the 1/2 to 1 ct size range are being sold, retail, on the Internet with a range of $1000 - $3000/ct. |
