P.J.Joseph writes:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=11&id=74462&usrsess=
A gem expert explains that color, clarity and transparency are aspects to consider when evaluating the giant stone
Like the newspaper headline "The Mystery of Chaiyo Ruby", the price of this uncut ruby will always be a mystery. Anyone who is bidding on this ruby should be asking a lot of questions.
1. Does the ruby have good body color? The color of the ruby should be as pure and intense as possible and ideally evenly distributed throughout the stone. No distracting patches of color or any other types of zoning should be apparent.
2. Does the stone have good clarity? Is the ruby free from distracting inclusions?
3. Does the ruby have good transparency?
The ruby should be free of cracks and fissures. Any of these which reach the surface are especially undesirable, forming traps for dirt, in addition to weakening the stone. On cutting proportions, the stones offered in the market may not match customer expectations.
In respect of rubies, this is generally the case because the high price of rough stones causes cutters to conserve as much material as possible. The size and shape of the rough will determine the final shape of the stone. Since I haven't seen the "Chaiyo Ruby" rough it will be inappropriate for me to give any opinion. Anyone speculating on this rough ruby must have a good reason.
Cutting rough specimens like "Chaiyo Ruby" is risky. The yield will be unpredictable because of the size and shape of the rough. Only a good cutter with experience will be able to judge the yield. The definition of price is as much as we can get you to pay. This is strikingly true with rubies and sapphires and other colored stones if they have a good story behind them.
The price of gemstones is so subjective that one should really know the supply-demand scenario, the quality of the stone, the taste of the clients, affordability, rarity and, finally, a good story. That's how rubies and sapphires are priced in the market today.
The Color Of Money
The appearance of a gem is the most important factor in determining its value. The three factors of color, clarity and cut determine the appearance of a gemstone and a guide to evaluate its quality. As a matter of fact, color is the most difficult to convey even though the human eye can distinguish several million colors of varying hue, saturation and tone. Some thousands have been given names but having words to distinguish one color from another has always been difficult.
The basic color vocabulary of the richest languages has been a pitiful few dozen words. Color is a spontaneous experience combined directly or indirectly with the emotions, and sometimes it is difficult to understand. In the gemstone industry beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there are choice preferences for different gemstone species. The ones who have been in the business know from experience that there are selective color preferences when it comes to specific gemstones due to their geological, gemological and cultural significance.
The objective of a color name is to convey the appearance of a given color. It should have a signature trait that others easily understand. One way is to look at our environment and find objects of typical color shades and names, which can be used to convey a characteristic appearance. This has been the case with colored stones, especially rubies and sapphires.
Early gem dealers designated strength with depth of color. Deep saturated rubies with dark tones from Burma and Thailand were classified as masculine; while rubies from Sri Lanka with light tones were classified as feminine.
In ruby-producing countries many descriptive terms have become popular among the gem traders. In Thailand, Tabtim is a generic term for ruby but can be used interchangeably with Ploidaeng, which literally means red stone. Daengchompoo: pinkish red, usually light in tone. Daengsom: red with orange tones. Daengdum: dark, blackish red, with weak fluorescence resembling red garnet. Laithai (Thai motif or pattern): ruby with lots of wispy-like inclusions, which resemble the patterns on Thai textiles.
In Burma, Padamya is the generic term for ruby. Kotwye (pigeon's blood): the top color of the Burmese ruby resembling the color of the first few drops of blood from a freshly killed pigeon. Yeongtwe (rabbit's blood): the second best color of Burmese ruby, slightly darker and more bluish red than Kotwe.
In Sri Lanka, Rutheka is the Sinhalese term for ruby. Padmaraga (or padmarage or pathmarage): pinkish ruby (pink sapphire). Nilakantia: ruby with a blue tinge. Many colloquial names have also risen for the different colors of sapphires.
In Thailand, Pailin is the generic term for blue sapphire. Bhusarakham (luang chantaburi): both these terms are for yellow sapphire. Bhusnamtaeng (namthaeng, the yellow green Thai fruit): yellow tinted with green. Khiewsong (shining green): green sapphire.
In Sri Lanka, Nila is the general term for blue sapphire. Indranila: best quality of blue sapphire, which is blue with a tinge of violet, sometimes compared to the color of the tip of a peacock's feather. Rabuka: a medium but intense blue sapphire. Pusparaga (literally flower king): yellow sapphire from the Sinhalese word for pollen. Ratnapusparaga: gold, yellow or orange sapphire. Padparadscha: orange pink sapphire from the Sinhalese word for lotus flower.
The Chaiyo Ruby is found ...
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