Glittering Stones >> Price And Prejudice

Price and Prejudice

For Jane Austen, matrimony was as much a economic transaction as an emotional one, with everyone annoying to get the best possible bargain. Buying a gem is also the beginning of a life-long association and the price you pay is part of the deal. Understandably, you don't want to pay too much.

So how can you tell if you are paying the right price?

First of all, don't ever ask how much you should pay for a one-carat ruby. A one carat ruby could be worth ten dollars or it can be worth $10,000 also. Quality makes the difference. Fortunately you could see differences in quality if you look at the lot of rubies side-by-side. Better color costs more, a lot more. Better clearness costs more. Better cut may cost a little more but it is worth it! The bigger the stone, the more it is per carat. Within each variety, prices are depends up on these four Cs, with color as the most important factor. There is a more thorough explanation in the judging quality section.

But different varieties have different price ranges. This is where the prejudice comes in. Some varieties are lower in value because they are readily obtainable, some because the color isn't very accepted (brown and yellow stones, for example), some because the material is relatively soft, and some because ...they have all the right material but no one knows it. There are plenty of examples of good-looking rare gemstones that cost less than gems that are less rare because they have a humorous name, or people get them confused with an inexpensive variety or no one has ever heard of them.

The traditional gemstones are ruby, emerald and also blue sapphire. Because of their lasting appeal and distinguished history, ruby, emerald and then sapphire are more valuable than other colored gemstones. Generally, ruby and emerald are also valued higher than a comparable quality sapphire due to rarity. For a one-carat stone of average to good quality in the varieties in this category, you can expect to pay between $250 and $10,000 per carat. Of course truly fine gems will cost more.