Im trying to find info on getting a ruby cut and selling it. My mother in law has a raw ruby still partially encased in stone that was given to her by her brother in law. Can’t go to him to ask for information. I have only found one stone cutter in the US who would take in a stone and evaluate it for a small fee, but hes literally as far away on the opposite side of the country as he could be without a boat or crossing into Canada. I don’t really trust the postal system and I have no record of how much this thing is really worth. Could be $20, could be $200,000. I’m not even sure that I dont have to go at it with a pick and break free the rubies from the stone myself. I haven’t been able to really dig up too much info, so I figured I would try here. We have a nice collection of all different types of people from all walks of life.
I’m no gemologist, but that may be more valuable as a raw crystal in matrix specimen to a rockhound/collector than a cut stone. That’s a super cool piece, gem quality or not; you’re lucky to have it.
Try seeing what it’s worth to a mineral collector, a lot of coin/gem/fossil shops might be able to evaluate it for you. Geology department at your nearest university might be of some help, too. Depending on where you live, a rock and mineral show might come to your area frequently. Good luck, hopefully a mineral expert is on the board somewhere.
Thanks ya’ll! Didnt even think of taking it to the university! I have to run down there next week to talk to some people about re-enrolling so that will be the perfect opportunity… provided they have a geology department. Back to google I go! I’ve already been a ton of time on google trying to figure something out.
Around here they have gem and mineral shows several times a year. You might see if there’s one in your area this summer or something. People there might be able to appraise it or tell you what you can do with it.
Thanks @Mongobongo! It’s hard to see in the pictures I posted, but those are actually 2 rubies separated by probably a 1/4-1/2 mm of rock. My wife is hoping we can get both cut, keep the smaller one for a future ring she wants made (family ring with everyone’s birthstones, 5 stones total), and sell the larger one to help us get out of the hole we have been struggling out of the last couple years.
The local university doesn’t have a geology department, but they do have a general sciences department and offer geology courses, so I’ll start there. There are a couple universities within a 6 hour drive from here that have geology departments too. I’m going to start looking into trade shows and conventions too.
