Colour above (almost) Everything
As stated above: colour is Ruby’s most important feature, and transparency is secondary only. Therefore, then, inclusions do not effect the quality of a Ruby, unless they decrease the transparency of the stone or are located right in the centre of its table. Quite the contrary applies: inclusions within a ruby are something like the gemstones fingerprints, stating its individuality while at the same time proving its genuineness like a certificate provided by Nature.
The cut is essential: only a perfect cut will underline the beauty of this valuable and precious stone appropriately to make it really the "King of Gemstones”. But just as true love is rare indeed, so are really perfect Rubies. And if you find one, it is bound to cost a small fortune. Nevertheless: once you found "your” Ruby, do not hesitate: go for it and keep it!
Ruby and sapphire are the two varieties of the mineral corundum. Their exceptional hardness is surpassed only by diamonds. Red corundum is called ruby, and all other colors are called sapphire. The cut-off between ruby and pink sapphire on one end and plum sapphire on the other has long been a subject of controversy. Of course, gem dealers want the gem they're selling to be classified as a ruby because the name alone increases its value.
The top qualities are as red as you can imagine: a saturated pure spectral hue without any overtones of brown or blue. After color, the other factors which influence the value of a ruby are clarity, cut, and size. There are many variables in colored gem pricing because it's not a controlled market like the diamond market is. One dealer may sell an Ruby of the same quality at one price and another dealer may sell that same Ruby for another price. There is no price guide as in diamond purchasing. Whatever a dealer can get for that rarer colored gem is what it's worth and if he wants to hold out for a certain amount of money he just has to hope he's making the right move. So you need to be educated enough to know what you're doing! Since we cut out these middleman dealers, you can expect to get a great quality stone for considerably less.
Of course, color is everything with rubies. How much red can you afford? The richer, deeper, better the red, the more expensive and rarer the ruby. Factor color into your personal mix to decide what you want. Imagine a red without undertones.. .a pure red. Your dream red may well be the vivacious color of Burmese rubies.
Now imagine a can of red paint to which you add a little black. That darker undertone would produce a color normally associated with rubies from Thailand. Then suppose instead of black you add purple, another marketable ruby color. Finally, suppose you have, instead of red, a paler color between light and dark pink. As the buyer you will want to see these described and priced as pink sapphires, but the seller may want to sell them as pale rubies.
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