Peridot

The value of an aquamarine stone mainly depends on its color. Cut, clarity, carat weight, treatment, and origin are among the other deciding factors that determine the overall price of this March birthstone. In India, per carat price of aquamarine starts from ₹ 600 ($8 approx.) and can go up to the limit of ₹ 20,000 approx. ($266) per carat. This limit may even exceed, depending upon the overall quality of the stone.

• Origin: Aquamarines are found in various countries like India, U.S.A, Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zambia, Tanzania, Russia, Nigeria, Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. Among all the sources of aquamarine, Brazil is leading the market for more than 100 years. It is the largest provider of gem-quality aquamarines.
                    Brazilian aquamarine gemstones (especially the Santa Maria stones) command a high value due to their superior clarity and intense blue hue. Due to the beautiful brilliant color, these Santa Maria aquamarines are among the most sought-after and popular varieties of Beruj. Even though they possess a slightly greenish overtone, Sri Lankan aquamarines also fetch a good price because of their decent clarity.
  
• Color: Color plays a vital role in determining the price of any gemstone, the same is the case with aquamarine. The word ‘Aquamarine’ itself denotes the water of the sea. The Latin language beautifully depicts the relevance of its watery blue hue with a minor tint of green.
               A pure blue color distribution with a fair consistency is quite rare and therefore derives a handsome price in the global gemstone market. The value of aquamarine keeps on diminishing for paler stones with a hint of green, grey, or brown color in it.
  
• Clarity & Treatment: Aquamarines with high transparency and absolutely no inclusions are considered to be of the best quality. However, mica plates or milky clouds like eye-visible inclusions usually hampers the clarity level and luster that can make a significant fall in the price of this Beruj stone.
          The presence of excessive greenish shade in a blue-colored aquamarine can decrease its overall value in the market. Dark greenish aquamarine is treated to transform into a pure vivid blue Beruj. However such treatment affects the market value. A natural and untreated pure blue aquamarine is always more valuable than a treated one.
  
• Cut: Cut and shape also make a significant impact on the ultimate value of any gem. A highly faceted aquamarine is undoubtedly more expensive than an oval or round shape because of the lost weight during the cutting process. Round or oval-shaped aquamarines are comparatively cheaper as less transparent or opaque stones are usually polished and shaped as round or cabochons (polished but not faceted).
  
• Carat Weight: Unlike other gemstones, a fine quality aquamarine crystal is easily accessible in large size. On the other hand, it is equally tough to find a small size aquamarine in deep and evenly distributed blue color.
             Thus, a superior quality aquamarine in a small size commands a high value in the international gemstone market. Since it is difficult to use in jewelry, the per-carat price of an Aquamarine stone above 25 carats drops gradually with every increasing carat.
  

Beruj or Aquamarine stone is believed to be associated with the planet Saturn or Shani. Western astrology prescribes it as the birthstone for the month of March and gemstone for the sun sign Aries. While Indian Vedic science recommends the Beruj stone best for Capricorn and Aquarius Zodiac signs or Makar and Kumbha Rashi respectively. However, ascendants of Virgo, Gemini, and Taurus can also wear this crystal clear gem.

                 Astrologers recommend Aquamarine to strengthen weak Saturn in the horoscope of its wearer. A misplaced Saturn can disturb one’s financial stability, decision-making power, and psychological health. An aquamarine gemstone is known for bringing overall prosperity to an individual’s life.

Natural rubies have a passionate red that undoubtedly makes a bold statement. Once set in jewelry these resilient gemstones are an ideal fit with a lustrous appearance. Their strong nature at 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness keeps the gemstone free from daily wear and tear.

Natural rubies are priced based on their quality and to no surprise because these rare reds can go up to $100,000 a carat. Take for instance “The Graff Ruby”, weighing 8.62 carats, with an exceptionally clean appearance, this Burmese ruby has no evidence of treatment and sold at the auctions for $421,981(INR 32,200,000) a carat.

URL:  

https://www.christies.com/features/10-jewels-that-created-auction-history-and-changed-the-market-9549-3.aspx

When understanding the price of a ruby it is important to understand the correlation between the following factors.

Color: An intense even red, with a nice light tone and a vivid fluorescence instantly increases the value of the natural ruby. Color being first treasured when it comes to a gemstone, a bold, romantic, and fiery red makes a valuable, long-term investment.
Clarity: Visibly eye-clean gemstones demand the highest values because of their rarity. Clean natural rubies can reach values of around INR 50,000 a carat. Investing in evenly colored natural rubies with relatively few eye-visible inclusions is advisable.

Carat Weight: With rubies available from tiny pointers all the way up to 10-15 carats, commercial and unique gems differ greatly in terms of prices. A 1-carat unique natural ruby could be priced about five times higher than of a 5-carat commercial, mass-produced treated ruby.
Treatments: Treatments done on any gemstone tends to decrease its value as with these glorious red rubies. Heat treatments, although done to improve the color of the gem, are considered an external modification and lowering the gem’s value. Clarity improvements like glass filling further lower the value of the gems and must be disclosed at the time of purchase.

Mining Locations: Burmese/Myanmar origin rubies make up some of the most valuable gems, followed by African and Madagascar rubies and then Thai gems which make up most of the commercial pieces.

Caring for your natural Ruby is imperative. Gemstones over time tend to attract dirt and grime and need an occasional bath. 

A safe way to clean your Ruby jewelry is:

• Place gemstone studded jewelry in a bowl of warm soapy water, away from a basin

• In the bowl scrub the piece lightly with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush

• In the bowl, rinse with clean water 

• Wipe dry

Bowl is to catch gemstones that might come out of their setting but can be returned to the jeweler to be reset. 

Do not use any harsh chemicals, light hand soap will work.

Jewelry pieces set with enamel and Kundan work should never be washed or put into an ultrasonic machine.