I think there is more of an appreciation for top quality gems there too. Im generalizing but that’s my impression. Most people in the US want BIG!
*Sigh* I dream of going on a buying trip one of these days…PS ladies trip?
Stones in that class are just fantasy for me.
Me too lol. Anyway at the kind of prices you folks are quoting, can someone pls get this absolute bargain of 4 ct PB from my jeweler:
Asiatique fine jewellery Sg on Instagram: "4cts Pigeon No Heat Lovely pc, see see, take photo and return Cheaper then current Oct 2022 Cat A COE price International friends whom have no idea what’s COE is- in Singapore it’s like a tariff needed t
17 likes, 0 comments - asiatiquefinejewellerysg on October 22, 2022: "4cts Pigeon No Heat Lovely pc, see see, take photo and return Cheaper then current Oct 2022 Cat A COE price International friends whom have no idea what’s COE is- in Singapore it’s like a tariff needed to put the Vehicle...www.instagram.com
Way way way less than $80k. Like way way less. And 4 carats. And pigeon blood.
I'm a star stone amateur (= lover), not a connoisseur - I don't have the money for that.
The stone certainly looks good (as it should at the price!!), but the one photo is not nearly enough to tell. The broadening of the arms and the striations running across them are artifacts (caused by the stone being lit and photographed from close up). In reality the star is almost certainly sharper and brighter than in the photo. But how much sharper and brighter is hard to tell. Also, to properly judge translucency you would need an off-centre picture, to see how far the star seems to penetrate into the stone - in the best star stones, the arms seem to trail 'silver curtains' when viewed off-centre.
Short answer, stones like that are beyond my experience. But I would want more photos, taken by someone who understands star stones, to be convinced that it's as good as it's implicitly claimed to be.
(And don't sell yourself short... you have some incredible pieces!)
Ruby is one of those stones where, if you're lucky, you find your HG and cling to it like grim death. At least, that's how it's been for me. Now I sort of sit back and watch the prices explode, like "thank goodness I got that one out of the way!" Plus, selfishly, it adds value to my stone (everyone's stones). You have the great pleasure of owning more than one, as do some other PSers... I'm quite sure I'll never own another.
For instance, look at this 3.01ct. Mozambique from JTV. Now I'm not saying they are a barometer for ruby pricing, but they're the world's largest gem retailer, so I'm using them as an example here. My stone is 3.11ct. and, IMO, exponentially finer, judging solely based upon their photo (I think you'll agree it appears to be Muglotto and likely lacking in fluor - that's a major ding in my book). While my ruby is the most I've ever spent on a single gem, I did not pay $80k. So when I see this type of pricing, the investor in me (not that I consider gems an investment) welcomes it. The buyer in me, naturally, resents it. Am I the only one who feels this way? It's a complicated emotion. lol
And here is their entire catalogue...
Sorry for the rambling. Rubies are a passion of mine, clearly, and I know some of you can relate.
my take, as a novice collector, is that gemstone pricing is not a scientific matter. Origin premium is very real, and I would say absolutely unjustified in 99% of cases. Then there’s the hype, which is also very real. A 3ct Mozambican ruby of that quality (most like from Muglotto, I agree) priced at 80k is simply ridiculous. There are better stones (color, crystal, cut) in the same shape and size, for less money. But even at 10% of the price, I could never justify such a purchase with my own money. It surely lacks fluo, and looks dull.
I can totally relate
Fine Burmese rubies, on the other hand, are another thing altogether. And when I say fine, I don’t mean good. Fine is 1 in 10’000, good is 1 in 100-200. The difference, for the keen eye, is enormous, but for many people it will not justify the price difference. And that’s OK, there is a market for almost everyone.
My whole point, and apologies for repeating it one more time, is that fine rubies are both rare and expensive. Fine Burmese rubies tend to be finer than fine rubies from anywhere else. Countering my argument by showing nice (not fine) rubies at lower price points is like comparing Porsche with Volkswagen. Volkswagen are great daily drivers, generally affordable. Porsche are engineering marvels that will satisfy the most demanding car purist (which I am not, but know a few and nothing will change their mind, lol).
Do fine rubies exist below the 10k/ct mark? Most likely, but good luck finding one that doesn’t have 1-2 additional flaws…
LOL, have a nice day everyone!
VR
Lucky for you, @mellowyellowgirl, you've got those dreamy rubellites to satisfy your red lust!!
@icy_jade but that’s not Burmese and not top color. It has a very noticeable orange secondary and the crystal is hazy. It’s just not my taste. And Pigeon’s Blood doesn’t mean much. Everyone has a different definition. I would only consider the PB trade name of SSEF or Gübelin. Or a 2.5/75 from AGL. all other labs are a bit too generous in my opinion, especially AIGS and GRS.
For the record, all my rubies are labelled PB by Lotus or GRS. And all are AGL certified with either 3.5/80 or 3/80, and I don’t consider them PB.
Also, who said I buy rubies for my wife lol? I might make them into jewerly one day, for her or my daughters, but for now they are mine, I am a collector
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