| For Jane Austen, matrimony was as much a | | | | Generally, ruby and emerald are also priced higher |
| financial transaction as an emotional one, with | | | | than a comparable quality sapphire due to rarity. |
| everyone trying to get the best possible bargain. | | | | For a one-carat stone of average to good quality |
| Buying a gem is also the beginning of a life-long | | | | in the varieties in this category, you can expect |
| relationship and the price you pay is part of the | | | | to pay between $250 and $10,000 per carat. Of |
| deal. Understandably, you don't want to pay too | | | | course truly fine gems will cost more. |
| much. | | | | The new classics are gemstones that are the |
| So how can you tell if you are paying the right | | | | rising stars of gemstone jewelry: tanzanite, |
| price? | | | | tourmaline, aquamarine, imperial topaz, and |
| First of all, don't ask how much you should pay | | | | tsavorite garnet. These gemstones are |
| for a one-carat ruby. A one carat ruby can be | | | | sometimes available in standardized sizes but you |
| worth ten dollars or it can be worth $10,000. | | | | really should look at some fine larger single stones |
| Quality makes the difference. Fortunately you can | | | | to see why they have so many fans. Gems in |
| see differences in quality if you look at a lot of | | | | this category range between $50 to $1,000 per |
| rubies side-by-side. Better color costs more, a lot | | | | carat for an average to good quality one carat |
| more. Better clarity costs more. Better cut may | | | | stone, with a good example of tsavorite easily |
| cost a little more but it is worth it! The bigger the | | | | reaching $3,000 per carat. |
| stone, the more it is per carat. Within each | | | | Connoisseur gems are gemstones that have a |
| variety, prices are based on these four Cs, with | | | | more specialized market because they are more |
| color as the most important factor. | | | | rare. These gemstones include black opal, jadeite, |
| But different varieties have different price ranges. | | | | pink topaz, chrysoberyl cat's-eye, fancy colored |
| This is where the prejudice comes in. Some | | | | sapphires, and rare stones like demantoid garnet |
| varieties are lower in price because they are | | | | and alexandrite. These gemstones are highly |
| readily available, some because the color isn't very | | | | prized and prices range from $250 to $5,000 per |
| popular (brown and yellow stones, for example), | | | | carat, although alexandrite with a good color |
| some because the material is relatively soft, and | | | | change will command at least $10,000 even in a |
| some because ...they have all the right stuff but | | | | one-carat size. |
| no one knows it. There are plenty of examples of | | | | Collector's gems are not available in quantity to be |
| beautiful rare gemstones that cost less than | | | | marketed effectively so you get a lot of beauty |
| gems that are less rare because they have a | | | | for the money. This category includes spinel, |
| funny name, or people get them confused with | | | | zircon, moonstone, morganite and other beryls, |
| an inexpensive variety or no one has ever heard | | | | and many rare gemstones. Red and hot pink |
| of them. But enough about the injustice of the | | | | spinels can command a few thousand per carat |
| gem market. | | | | but most of the gems in this category will sell for |
| We can break the price ranges of the different | | | | hundreds not thousands. |
| gem varieties down into five basic categories: | | | | Then there are the affordable gemstones, which |
| traditional gemstones, new classics, connoisseur | | | | combine great color with a surprisingly reasonable |
| gems, collector gemstones, and affordable gems. | | | | price and good availability. These gems include |
| These categories have basic price ranges, but, | | | | some old favorites and some new gems: |
| again lower quality stones or stones with less | | | | amethyst, white opal, citrine, ametrine, peridot, |
| popular colors may cost less and stones with | | | | rhodolite garnet, blue topaz, iolite, chrome diopside, |
| particularly fine quality or color may cost more. | | | | kunzite, andalusite, and many ornamental |
| These price ranges are meant to give you a | | | | gemstones such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, onyx, |
| general idea of the relationship of prices between | | | | chrysoprase, nephrite jade, and amber. Prices for |
| different kinds of gemstones and not to serve as | | | | these gemstone range between $5 and $100 per |
| a price list, since color and quality can make such | | | | carat for a one carat stone. |
| a difference. | | | | In every variety, especially the more expensive |
| The traditional gemstones are ruby, emerald and | | | | ones, you should expect to pay more for |
| blue sapphire. Because of their lasting appeal and | | | | matched pairs, sets, and special shapes and cuts. |
| distinguished history, ruby, emerald and sapphire | | | | Courtesy of International Colored Gemstone |
| are more valuable than other colored gemstones. | | | | Association (ICA). |