Keris with replacement piece

A. G. Maisey · Yesterday, 10:19 PM

Yes Detlef, true, the plastic could be a replacement for an original ivory buntut, so let's just set the incongruity of plastic and rubies to one side, let's just focus on the idea that these red stones might be rubies.

The first thing to consider is that we are only basing our opinions on a photo of some red stones, so what red gemstones are there?

Considering only crystalline stones we have spinel, garnet, ruby, zircon, tourmaline, there might be other possibilities but these red stones are the ones that come readily to mind, and that based upon the colour of the stones used on this keris, might be possibilities.

The cut of the keris stones is marquise & round cut, the size is very difficult to gauge, but taking a more or less informed guess, I'd say that the larger marquise stones are +/- about 5.5mm X 3mm, the larger round stones +/- 3.5mm X 3.5mm, ruby is a relatively dense stone, it weighs pretty heavy when compared to other gemstones, & it is usually a comparatively small stone compared to say sapphire --- sapphires can get up to 80-100carat in gem quality, with rubies most gem quality stones are only around 1carat to 1.5carat.

A natural 1 carat pigeon blood ruby with good cut, & clean to the eye (this means no inclusions that can be seen without the aid of magnification & light) would have an approximate value on todays market of up to $US20,000.

Eye watering, isn't it?

Yep rubies cost, like bigtime.

I'd guess that none of the stones used in this keris would come anywhere near 1carat in weight, maybe the bigger ones might be around .5carat, or less, so let's say the biggest stones in this keris are about .4carat, let's also say --- just for the sake of discussion --- that they are pretty low gem quality stones. A ruby that would fit into this classification would have a value of around $US200.

Based upon what I believe I can see in the photos, the stones used on this keris have passable cut, pretty OK clarity & colour, so if they are rubies they are not low quality, more like middle quality, & thus would have a higher value than $US200 each for the larger ones.

Now let us look at the way in which these stones have been set. The settings are decidedly amateurish, definitely not the work of even a halfway competent jeweller, and the stones are bedded onto some sort of black material, probably gum, or maybe pitch. This is decorative work, not the work of a jeweller.

How many stones are involved here? I'd guess about 40 odd stones of varying sizes, all less than .5carat stones, but still, a pretty considerable total carat weight, & if they are indeed rubies, well, we're looking at a reasonably high value.

What is the pendok material? We know it is gold plated, not gold. Silver? Brass?

To my mind, the use of very expensive gemstones in a keris that is at best middle quality simply does not make any sense at all.

I do hope that if Thomas should decide to have these stones appraised by a qualified gemologist that my guess work will be proven wrong, but right now I do not see rubies here, I see one of the more affordable gemstones, & garnets would be a good fit, based upon the deep red of the garnet, & how easy they are to obtain.

Yesterday, 10:19 PM	#9
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,144	Yes Detlef, true, the plastic could be a replacement for an original ivory buntut, so let's just set the incongruity of plastic and rubies to one side, let's just focus on the idea that these red stones might be rubies. The first thing to consider is that we are only basing our opinions on a photo of some red stones, so what red gemstones are there? Considering only crystalline stones we have spinel, garnet, ruby, zircon, tourmaline, there might be other possibilities but these red stones are the ones that come readily to mind, and that based upon the colour of the stones used on this keris, might be possibilities. The cut of the keris stones is marquise & round cut, the size is very difficult to gauge, but taking a more or less informed guess, I'd say that the larger marquise stones are +/- about 5.5mm X 3mm, the larger round stones +/- 3.5mm X 3.5mm, ruby is a relatively dense stone, it weighs pretty heavy when compared to other gemstones, & it is usually a comparatively small stone compared to say sapphire --- sapphires can get up to 80-100carat in gem quality, with rubies most gem quality stones are only around 1carat to 1.5carat. A natural 1 carat pigeon blood ruby with good cut, & clean to the eye (this means no inclusions that can be seen without the aid of magnification & light) would have an approximate value on todays market of up to $US20,000. Eye watering, isn't it? Yep rubies cost, like bigtime. I'd guess that none of the stones used in this keris would come anywhere near 1carat in weight, maybe the bigger ones might be around .5carat, or less, so let's say the biggest stones in this keris are about .4carat, let's also say --- just for the sake of discussion --- that they are pretty low gem quality stones. A ruby that would fit into this classification would have a value of around $US200. Based upon what I believe I can see in the photos, the stones used on this keris have passable cut, pretty OK clarity & colour, so if they are rubies they are not low quality, more like middle quality, & thus would have a higher value than $US200 each for the larger ones. Now let us look at the way in which these stones have been set. The settings are decidedly amateurish, definitely not the work of even a halfway competent jeweller, and the stones are bedded onto some sort of black material, probably gum, or maybe pitch. This is decorative work, not the work of a jeweller. How many stones are involved here? I'd guess about 40 odd stones of varying sizes, all less than .5carat stones, but still, a pretty considerable total carat weight, & if they are indeed rubies, well, we're looking at a reasonably high value. What is the pendok material? We know it is gold plated, not gold. Silver? Brass? To my mind, the use of very expensive gemstones in a keris that is at best middle quality simply does not make any sense at all. I do hope that if Thomas should decide to have these stones appraised by a qualified gemologist that my guess work will be proven wrong, but right now I do not see rubies here, I see one of the more affordable gemstones, & garnets would be a good fit, based upon the deep red of the garnet, & how easy they are to obtain.