Ideal color of rubies
These same remarks apply to rubies, although here the general values are greater. Any stone over five carats of fine quality can reach $5600 (£2000) a carat, but it would have to be exceptional in all respects. A deep brilliant red is the ideal color, and it must be remembered that brilliancy and “life” must be combined with the rich, deep red shade. Paler colors reduce the stone in value
immediately and considerably. Pink stones, the most common, are far less valuable than the deep reds. This is important to remember. The color must be bright, and internal cracks and flaws must be absent to make a fine stone. Such conditions are very rare. If the facets are not proportionate, this may be improved by recut-ting. Rubies are generally more faulty than sapphires; they are far rarer, and a fine ruby is a much more expensive stone than a fine sapphire. In general, the Burma stones are the most valuable. Then come the Siam stones, and those whose color is yellow fancy pendants is rather like that of some garnets are the least expensive.
Star rubies must possess the same features as a star sapphire to be good, except that the body color should be red. Again, pink or pale pink are not considered good. The essential quality of a good star stone is the perfection of the star, and the deeply colored background. Star rubies can reach $280 (£100) a carat.