QuestionQUESTION: in 1988 i found a ruby in n. carolina.today i took it to a jeweler and asked about it.they couldnt tell me much except the weight. 37.9 grams.i would like to know a rough value of this ruby per carat. it is uncut.please,any info would be very appreciated. thanks, mike
ANSWER: Mike, quite honestly it is not possible for me to evaluate a rough gemstone material without having the stone in hand. Even then with the more opaque materials we cannot see inside for what is there. In most cases, the opaque materials with fractures and such on the surface will show essentially the same thing when cut. Some of this material is solid enough to cut and if you are fortunate will yield a star cabochon or a nice looking but more opaque red stone without star. almost none of the larger rough from the area is suitable for faceting.
Do not expect a quite valuable gem from the material. To have a valuable gemstone, you need a much larger and clean rich red crystal like the little and nicely formed one found in the Cowee Creek area sluices.
I did find a relatively solid native crystal about 30 years ago and it cut into a semi-translucent cabochon of about 8 carats and nice dark red color. Even so, the lack of transparency rendered this a low grade ruby in the gem market. It was prettier than its value would suggest.
Many of the rough crystals are salted in the mines. A few mines use only native materials and what you find is from there. In other mines, you will find a few decent sized but quite low value corundum(ruby if red) crystals which come from the Mysore and other districts of India. If you find a peridot or nice amethyst chunk in the ruby mine gravels the material is added by the operators. Amethyst is found in North Carolina but not with the corundum materials.
Your rough needs one end ground and polished(if deemed useful when grinding is done)to get a look at how the material might cut and polish. This will open some doors to perhaps a better value or shut the door completely. I know of very, very few jewelers who have a clue as to value of such rough material. Even the cut material will give them problems since it is simply not a part of the normal table of gemstones with which they work..
Mike, you asked for "any info" and that is what I have tried to give you. With the great number of variations in rough material from fine to abrasive qualities which come from the earth, I would not attempt to guess a value.
Best Wishes with the stone. Happy Holidays and God Bless. Thomas.
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Ruby
QUESTION: Thank you Thomas! here are some pics of ruby and amethist. Pics aren't very good,but one end of the ruby has some nice sized deep red almost like glass crystals in it. I don't know if you can see them in the pictures,but maybe this will help you tell me a little more about these gems.also thanks for the quick response.your answer was very professional and helpful.
AnswerANSWER: Mike, quite honestly it is not possible for me to evaluate a rough gemstone material without having the stone in hand. Even then with the more opaque materials we cannot see inside for what is there. In most cases, the opaque materials with fractures and such on the surface will show essentially the same thing when cut. Some of this material is solid enough to cut and if you are fortunate will yield a star cabochon or a nice looking but more opaque red stone without star. almost none of the larger rough from the area is suitable for faceting.
Do not expect a quite valuable gem from the material. To have a valuable gemstone, you need a much larger and clean rich red crystal like the little and nicely formed one found in the Cowee Creek area sluices.
I did find a relatively solid native crystal about 30 years ago and it cut into a semi-translucent cabochon of about 8 carats and nice dark red color. Even so, the lack of transparency rendered this a low grade ruby in the gem market. It was prettier than its value would suggest.
Many of the rough crystals are salted in the mines. A few mines use only native materials and what you find is from there. In other mines, you will find a few decent sized but quite low value corundum(ruby if red) crystals which come from the Mysore and other districts of India. If you find a peridot or nice amethyst chunk in the ruby mine gravels the material is added by the operators. Amethyst is found in North Carolina but not with the corundum materials.
Your rough needs one end ground and polished(if deemed useful when grinding is done)to get a look at how the material might cut and polish. This will open some doors to perhaps a better value or shut the door completely. I know of very, very few jewelers who have a clue as to value of such rough material. Even the cut material will give them problems since it is simply not a part of the normal table of gemstones with which they work..
Mike, you asked for "any info" and that is what I have tried to give you. With the great number of variations in rough material from fine to abrasive qualities which come from the earth, I would not attempt to guess a value.
Best Wishes with the stone. Happy Holidays and God Bless. Thomas.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you Thomas! here are some pics of ruby and amethist. Pics aren't very good,but one end of the ruby has some nice sized deep red almost like glass crystals in it. I don't know if you can see them in the pictures,but maybe this will help you tell me a little more about these gems.also thanks for the quick response.your answer was very professional and helpful.
Mike, Thomas is back-------------------------------------------
Thanks for the nice photos. I believe your ruby crystal is of the Indian variety, not native NC. I could be wrong on that but it sure appears Indian. That is not to say the crystal will not cut a nice cabochon gemstone. The stone will not be highly valuable or particularly clear but may very well be quite lovely. You must expect a lot of waste it the cutter tries to get the best material made into a usable gemstone. I would look for a local rock and mineral shop and ask if they know anyone local who cuts stones. Also, ask for information on any local Gem and Mineral clubs. Those clubs always have stone cutters in the group. Many of those folks will have more real experience with such rough material than local jewelers. That would be my approach.
When a stone is cut, then a value can be assigned. As it is, valuation is only a rough guess with a lot of unknowns hiding within the crystal.
Again, I do hope this helps. God Bless. Thomas.
