The Complete Guide to Ruby Prices: Guide, History, and Current Market Trends

If you are into modeling and faceting gems or are just a collector, you may be interested in trying your hand at ruby prices. It can be pretty tricky but not impossible. Ruby prices depend on many factors such as color, clarity, size, quality- it’s hard to generalize about without getting into specifics. Many people are out there trying to cheat ruby buyers by adding some value of their own (such as “Stone Value”) to the price they choose to list it at. It is best if you buy your stones directly from the cutters, as well. Much more information can be found on this subject on the internet.

Many different facets in gemstones separate them from diamonds, such as color and hardness. It is almost impossible to find a gemstone that resembles a diamond in all aspects, such as color and clarity. So if you are looking for a good ruby (these days, it seems to be very popular), you need to research it thoroughly (on forums, gemological websites, etc.) before starting your buying process.

Guide to Ruby Prices

Buy Wisely

Buying a ruby is not an easy thing to do. Many people tend to overpay because they make the mistake of choosing someone else’s opinion on what they think the ruby should be worth. You can get a good idea of your ruby’s value if you know some basic specifications of the ruby that you want to buy. Unless you are a diamond expert, make sure that you get your information on both sides of the market. For example, if someone is selling a stone they think is worth $50, make sure they are not selling it for way below its actual worth. If they are selling it far above, they have not done their research and probably will not be able to sell it for the price you are looking for.

Specifics Of Ruby Color

Ruby is often described as having a red color, hence “ruby.” They can also be found in many other colors. The most commonly found in the deep red color, followed by orangey tones (rutilant) purplish-red tones (palladium). The least common tone is a greenish or brownish color (conglomerates).

It is impossible to generalize about ruby color. It would help if you looked at the gemstone under a microscope to know the exact characteristics of its color. If you are not a gemologist, you can always estimate it by using different dye colors as an approximation.

A prevalent pricing method is to estimate the value of the ruby by comparing it with other rubies of the same color tone and size range. There are many different examples and scenarios, but here’s an essential way to price a ruby using another ruby as an example.

Let’s say you want to buy a 5 carat, rutilant (deep red) colored ruby with no visible cracks or flaws. You don’t have a microscope, so you need to ask for help from someone who does. You can get various answers, but the most you should go over is 10%—usually, the lower the number, which indicates that the ruby has a purer color tone.

The price of a 5-carat rutilant red-colored ruby will be higher than a 5 carat orange-red colored ruby of similar quality. An orange-red-colored stone exists in a far more common tone. The deep red color is very uncommon and therefore rarer, and therefore more valuable. The deep red color is valued more highly in the market and sells for a higher price. 

Ruby Gemstone Quality

The quality of a ruby can be determined by its clarity rating, cut, and transparency. You will want to look for a ruby with no visible flaws or cracks so that you don’t have to worry about any future issues (such as cracks) later on down the line. The best way to determine the quality of your ruby is by asking a professional around you (preferably someone who knows what they are doing). They should be able to tell you what you need to know. 

Standard Transparency Grades Of Rubies

Type I: Opaque (no light passes through the gemstone). Type II: Slightly translucent. Transparent gems include Type II, IIIa, and IIIb. Type III: Transparent and translucent. Type IV: Sub-transparent (partially see-through). Type V: Opaque. These are the best kind of rubies.

The most common cut grades for rubies:

The cut grades have to do with the gemstone’s edge quality, not its flat face quality. The edge quality is graded on a scale from Type I (no visible edge) at the top down to Type IV (very poorly worked and obscured by a lot of chipping on the flat face). There are two main cut types: full and broken- both superior cuts but of different qualities.

“Full” Rubies

These rubies have the highest quality. A lot is going on with a full cut. A full-cut ruby is a vast and transparent stone with smooth edges and looks like an ideal cut for jewelry. They can also be bought in a “broken” form, which means they’ve already been faceted – meaning that you only need to add the pavilion to your ring or bracelet. These two gemstones are often interchanged, depending on the buyer’s preference.

Broken Rubies

Broken rubies are also excellent cuts. They have great polish and clarity, but usually, there are visible imperfections. The imperfections resulted from the rough way the cutter worked on the gemstone and no cracks or flaws that could be detected during the cutting process. Broken rubies are also excellent value for money, so if you’re looking for a cheaper deal, this is the best option for you.

Most people prefer a type II cut, which is less polished. They have great value, but the visible imperfections eventually go away, and it becomes hard to see them on a clean ring or bracelet. It’s also relatively rare to find a broken-cut gemstone with any visible flaws or cracks (although not impossible).

How You Can Get A Better Price

The best way to get the most quality for your money is by going through a reputable gemologist. They will need to know about all of the flaws and cracks in your stone and will be able to tell you an estimate of how much it is worth. It is essential if you want something that shows none of those imperfections. But be sure to get this information from someone from a reputable company to avoid getting ripped off.

Once you have determined the value of your stone, you can decide whether or not to buy it. You can expect to pay a higher or lower price, but be careful – if you pay too little, you might end up getting a low-quality product that is not worth anything. It’s best to do your research before buying a ruby of any type.

Ruby Buying Tips

1. Basic:

Buy a cut ruby (probably full-cut), and make sure it is not too polished. It would help if you had it cleaned up before using it in any piece of jewelry. Get a professional to help you with this. Rubies are graded on their clarity, cut, and transparency, so your best bet is to choose one that meets the highest quality standards available.

2. Advanced

A 4-carat full-cut ruby is a burdensome stone to find and is usually never seen in jewelry stores. If you do find one for sale, go for it if you are looking for the most quality you can get. Bigger rubies are more valuable, so make sure that if you’re looking to buy a 4 carat stone or, more significant, it is of the highest quality available. The best way to get this information is by asking around with various jewelers and gemologists. 

3. Fancy

A fancy cut (Fancy V Cut) is a rare and precious cut of ruby. If you buy one of these stones, it will only be sold to someone who has the money and the knowledge to go with it. If you want a fancy-cut ruby, ask your jeweler upfront how much they’re going to charge you.

4. Yellow:

Purchasing a low-quality yellow gemstone is not recommended to anyone who wants value for their money. You will end up getting ripped off if you don’t do your research. Avoid yellow-colored rubies, as they are too familiar and easy to find.

5. Colored

If you want a colored ruby, look for an orange-red colored one (although pink or purple are also great options) – these are the most valuable in the market. If you’re looking for a lower-quality ruby, look for a deep red-orange one (Type II or I cut). Avoid all other colors (such as pink or purple) if you’re looking for a cheaper deal. However, the best color of ruby to get is a red-orange – if you’re looking for a wide color range, this is a better option. The only difference between most other colors and red-orange is that they are more difficult to find.

6. Fancy Crescent

A fancy crescent cut ruby is another infrequent cut of ruby. This stone looks similar to a fancy cut (Fancy V Cut). It is also costly and will cost you at least $15000. However, this stone has a slightly different shape than a fancy-cut stone. Instead of looking like it is cut in half, a fancy crescent is perfectly round and faceted. If you have enough money, this is the best way to get value for your money.

7. Ruby with Gold

A ruby with gold is rare in the market and highly valued if you find one for sale. This combination of rubies and gold is not often found in the same place or by the same gemologist. If you would like to find a gold-plated ruby, start looking for one in a jewelry store and ask around to see if anyone has anything like it. Even if you don’t find one, you should at least get some valuable information regarding your stone. It is the best option of getting something that you are looking for.

8. A Rare Combination

A combination of rubies and sapphires together is scarce in the market as well. These stones are usually costly and are often only seen in large jewelry stores. Although this is a risky option, most people who have already bought one of these stones would say they were worth it. However, make sure that you get what you paid for.

A combination of rubies and diamonds together is also scarce in the market. These stones have the highest value when selling and are usually only sold to rich or famous people.

9. Value

When buying a ruby, you can expect to pay around $100 per carat. If you are looking for a cheaper deal, you should buy an oval-shaped stone (type II or I cuts). However, if you want the best possible deal, go for a fancy-cut (Fancy V Cut) stone – this is the most expensive of all of the rubies and will cost you more.

10. Fake

Never buy a stone that is too perfect – this means that you’re getting ripped off. Important note: if you’re looking to buy a ruby, don’t assume it’s an imitation. Rubies are not very common at all, which means that the chances of being fake are not very high, but still nowhere near impossible.

11. Cut & Shape

Choosing the cut of the ruby is critical when deciding whether or not to buy it. The cut is the first thing that you should look at when selecting a stone and is an essential factor in determining the value. However, make sure that you choose an excellent cut to suit your style – not all cuts are meant for everyone.

12. Size

The size of the ruby will determine how much it costs and how much it is worth. Larger rubies are always more expensive and more valuable than smaller ones. Buy a smaller stone with a high cut grade to get a good deal.

13. Quality

Acceptable quality of rubies is tough to find, and it is the first thing you should look for when deciding whether or not to buy a gemstone. If you are looking for higher quality, make sure that you check the 4 Cs (such as carat size and cut grade) – these factors will have the most significant effect on how much your ruby is worth.

14. Color

The color of the ruby will also determine how much it is worth. The best color to buy is a red-orange stone with the best cut, size, and quality possible. Avoid any other colors if you are looking for value for your money.

15. Setting

The setting of a ruby will not affect its value. However, it can affect its beauty and endurance. The setting of a ruby is one of the most critical factors to look at when buying a stone. The setting will also determine whether or not the stone is fake – if you are looking to buy a ruby, you must check the setting to make sure that it is real.

Conclusion

Rubies are one of the most valuable and essential stones on the market. They are lovely and make excellent gifts. If you’re looking to buy a ruby, make sure to do your research first. Buy a stone that is cut well, has good size, has a good quality (such as color), and is appropriately set – this will ensure that you get your money’s worth.