How much does a one carat ruby cost? [Video]

In the video tutorial I tried to explain the method I use to determine “How much does a one carat ruby cost?”

One carat ruby prices can range from US$10 to US$12,000

The method I used to determine the value is by first categorizing the stone based on the 4Cs + OT method.

The six criteria I have summarized in bullet form below:

HOW TO DETERMINE A VALUE OF A RUBY? 

WHAT ARE 4C’s + OT

Details for each criteria is provided below:

RUBY’S COLOR RANGE

Hue is the color range.  Examples of Ruby’s hue are

  • Red
  • Purplish Red
  • Orangish Red
  • Pinkish-Red

Saturation is the intensity of the hue presented in a ruby

  • 100% is pure color or 0% is gray color

Tone is how light or dark a gemstone is

  • Very light (closer to the white range) or Very Dark (closer to the black range)

The ideal color range for a ruby is red hue, high-intensity saturation & medium tone.  In the trade this is called ‘Pigeon Blood Rubies.’ These are the most expensive rubies.

RUBY’S ORIGIN & TREATMENT

Origin from Most Expensive to Less Expensive

  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Thailand, Cambodia
  • Mozambique, Madagascar
  • Kenya, Tanzania
  • Afghanistan & Pakistan

The price of origin is determined by the “origin’s brand,” amount of supply the mine is producing and the quality of gemstones coming out from that particular mine.

Treatment – More Treatment the Cheaper it is. Ranking in Pricing

  • Unheated & Untreated 100% Natural Ruby
  • Heated Ruby
  • Heated Flux-healed Rubies
  • Lead-Glass Filled Rubies

Please note, NOT all 100% untreated or unheated rubies are expensive.  We still have to take into account other criteria to determine the price.  

RUBY’S CLARITY RANGE

Inclusions – Eye Clean to Included

Ruby Clarity Range base on amount of inclusions

Fewer inclusions the more expensive the ruby is.  The more inclusions a ruby has the more it hurts gem look and therefore affects the price.

Transparency – Transparent to Opaque

Ruby Transparency Range

More transparent the ruby’s crystal is the more expensive it is.  Opaque rubies are considered very cheap as the crystal is not clear and therefore hurts the rubies’ fire & sparkle.

RUBY’S CARAT WEIGHT and CUT GRADE

Carat Weight (Bigger the more expensive)

The bigger the ruby the more pricer it gets.

Cut Shape & Grade

Octagon, round and square-cut rubies, in general, are more expensive than common oval or cushion cut rubies.  Marquise and pear shape cut rubies are usually cheaper.  The cheapest cut rubies are cabochons (assuming they are not a ‘star’ ruby).

In terms of cut grade, the ideal cut range is ‘proportional.’  However, cut grade is not considered as important as color range, carat weight, origin & treatment.

IN CONCLUSION

Once we know the above criteria we can then start comparing the five rubies in the video.

The summary of the five rubies which I compared in the video (from left to right) is provided below.  I also included one more ruby which I did not discuss in the video but is one most expensive one carat ruby we have sold recently.

1.07 carats Oval Burma Ruby (Flux-Residue Treatment) 

Total Price – US$2,150

1.00 carats Round Burma Ruby (Normal Heat Treatment) 

Total Price – US$2,300

  • Color
    • Hue: Vivid Red “Pigeon Blood”
    • Tone: Medium
    • Saturation: High Intensity
  • Carat weight – 1.00 carats
  • Clarity – 1100% eye-clean with no visible inclusion.  Crystal is also transparent.
  • Cut
    • Round
    • Excellent – Ideal Round cut Ruby
  • Treatment level – Normal Heat Treatment called H(a)
  • Origin – Burma (Myanmar)

1.00 carats Oval Mozambique Ruby (No Treatment) 

Total Price – US$2,500

  • Color
    • Hue: Vivid Red (very slightly pinkish)
    • Tone: Medium
    • Saturation: Intense
  • Carat weight – 1.00 carats
  • Clarity – 100% eye-clean with no visible inclusion.  Crystal is also transparent.
  • Cut
    • Oval Shape
    • Very Good to Excellent cut.  Stone is not perfectly proportional.
  • Treatment level – No evidence of treatment is found in the stone (100% unheated & untreated ruby)
  • Origin – Mozambique

1.01 carats Marquise Mozambique Ruby (No Treatment) 

Total Price – US$100

  • Color
    • Hue: Pinkish-Red
    • Tone: Medium
    • Saturation: Medium
  • Carat weight – 1.01 carats
  • Clarity – Highly included cloudy inclusions.  Crystal is also translucent due the inclusions.
  • Cut
    • Marquise Shape
    • Very Good.  The stone is proportional.
  • Treatment level – No evidence of treatment is found in the stone (100% unheated & untreated ruby)
  • Origin – Burma (Myanmar)

3.00 carats Oval Mozambique Ruby (Glass-Filled Ruby) 

Total Price – US$20

  • Color
    • Hue: Vivid Red
    • Tone: Medium
    • Saturation: High
  • Carat weight – 3.00 carats
  • Clarity – Moderate Inclusions.  Crystal is also transparent.
  • Cut
    • Oval Shape
    • Very Good to Excellent cut.  Stone is proportional.
  • Treatment level – Composite glass-filled ruby (very aggressively treated)
  • Origin – Unknown (presume Mozambique)

[NOT IN VIDEO] –


https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmu4PrcDcUT/

1.03 carats Round Burma Ruby (No Treatment) 

Total Price – US$12,000

  • Color
    • Hue: Vivid Red “Pigeon Blood”
    • Tone: Medium
    • Saturation: High-Intense
  • Carat weight – 1.03 carats
  • Clarity – 100% eye-clean with no visible inclusion.  Crystal is also transparent.
  • Cut
    • Round Cut
    • Excellent cut.  The stone is perfectly proportional.
  • Treatment level – No evidence of treatment is found in the stone (100% unheated & untreated ruby)
  • Origin – Burma (Myanmar)

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22 thoughts on “How much does a one carat ruby cost? [Video]”

  1. Nasri Ahmed

    I have ruby and I want to identify the
    Quality and price pls help me

    1. William Chabalala

      I have ruby and I want to identify the Quality and price PLs help me, my contact number is 0729972726 please Text me so that I can send you a photos of ruby I have

  2. Enrique Bencosme

    I found a rough bloody Ruby I believe is a ruby I would like If you can actually tell me if it is a natural Ruby it’s like a red dark stone you can shine the light in it and is bright red in the inside my number is 203-819-9470 please call me or text meYour email so I can send you a photograph of it

  3. Melissa Louise Starwick

    I have known that if you shine a black light on the ruby it will glow flourecent . is this true with all rubies? Will it glow with manmade rubies?

  4. Sue waters

    Hi I’ve been trying to find a person I could talk about a very old necklace pass down 3 generations that I got from my grandmother who passed away at the ripe old age of 100yrs and it was my great great grate grand mother when I was given it I new its was something special I’ve been told it is indan pick ruby’s there ate 50 half caret stones not much information except the it go’s back A long way a daughter wore it it for her wedding and someone decided to clean it with tooth brush and soap I could of dropped dead it is set in silver no markings or anishal on it done up like a party hook and eye I still have, part of the chain there are no marking on the end of part of origanl and change I have but before it was broken 1 end had enishals Don t remember each stone is been set into a perfect setting one stone at The end time can you let me know how is best place to take it I would never let it leave my hand I’d love to take photo of it and u other 14ct gold necklace I call it the shanderler j
    it has 3tears oh I think very light blue stones maybe topaz clear when not up against your skin or dark cloth it very pretty so much what is my next step
    my next

    1. Crystal

      You want to speak with a gemologist. Paying for an appraisal can be far more valuable than expensive.

      1. Darren Gatling

        I need my gemstone’s appraised, do you know someone that would help? My name is Darren. Thank you!

  5. I have 15 carat Mozambique ruby please help me identify its worth this is my mom’s ring given to her by my grandmother more or less 50 years ago or more ±85290175343 please call me

  6. Jeffrey Vargas

    I need help identifying this stone that I belive to be a ruby. I have done diy home “tests” to see if it’s real and it appears to be. I would like to confirm this. Please email me at jvargas344@yahoo.com Thank you.

  7. Romel gadian

    I have ruby i want to know the quality and the price, please help me.

  8. Rehan Tasaddiq

    I have ruby i want to know the quality and the price, please help me.

  9. Mahdi

    Hi I have a ruby beads and I wanna know the price is there any one to help

  10. Lizza

    I have a ring with a dark red stone. I need help indentifying what type of stone it is. The gold ring broke and i want to know if it worth fixing. Please help.

    1. Michael ZOLOTKO

      I have a ruby that is 55.5 ct I don’t know the value of the stone it was given to me in Cambodia by the General wife As a present so I am just wondering if you can let me know if I send photos and weight of the stone and you’re being helpful then I know how much I can probably sell it for

  11. Edith jabar

    I have a ruby stone i want to know the price of it and it came from yemen

  12. Niazi Azizullah

    Hi I am Niazi Azizullah from Afghanistan one of the gems dealer from mine to market Afghanistan has one of the fine quality Ruby almost same as Burma but I saw in the list Burma is at the top and Afghanistan is the last one.
    You need to some info about Afghanistan gemstones. Ruby emerald tourmaline…….

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