The price of wisdom is above rubies, says Job in the Bible, implying
that rubies were highly prized in his time. Indeed, the respect and
appreciation for rubies has always transcended all geographical
boundaries and social class. The gold coronation ring of the English
kings contains a large, tablet-cut ruby on which the figure of St.
George's cross is engraved. Around the ruby are set 26 diamonds.
Rubies are generously represented in crowns and scepters in the royal
jewels of many nations.
Ruby has acquired special attributes from its admirers over the
centuries. It has been regarded as a symbol of freedom, charity,
dignity and divine power. The Burmese believed that gemstones ripened
like fruit. The redder the color, the riper the ruby. A flawed ruby
was considered over mature.
Large, gem quality rubies have always been very rare. The huge gems
described in medieval romances and oriental literature were most
likely exaggerated by the imaginations of ruby admirers and creative
authors or were actually garnets or spinels.
RUBY COLOR: Ruby and sapphire are the two varieties of the
mineral corundum. Their exceptional hardness is surpassed only by
diamonds. Red corundum is called ruby, and all other colors are
called sapphire. The cut-off between ruby and pink sapphire on one
end and plum sapphire on the other has long been a subject of
controversy. Of course, gem dealers want the gem they're selling to
be classified as a ruby because the name alone increases its value.
FAMOUS RUBIES:
A few rubies have distinguished themselves because of their size or
extraordinary beauty and are being guarded for posterity The Louvre
in Paris houses the Anne of Brittany Ruby, a 105-carat polished but
irregular gem. The 167-carat Edwardes Ruby was donated to the British
Museum of Natural History in 1887 by John Ruskin. This 167-carat gem
was named in honor of Major-General Sir Herbert Benjamin Edwardes
(1819-68) who saved British rule in India during the years of the
Indian Mutiny. Two star rubies are displayed in American museums. The
Smithsonian displays the 137-carat Rosser Reeves Ruby, and The
American Museum of Natural History has the 100-carat Edith Haggin de
Long Ruby.
RUBY SOURCES:
The different geographical sources of ruby are known for
characteristic colors and qualities, although they all produce a
variety of gem material. Burma is famous for producing the greatest
amount of top quality ruby-a fine, clear, deep red. Thailand is known
for dark red to brownish-red stones. Typical Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
rubies are medium light in tone. And Africa is known for small,
sheet-like, purplish-red material.
SIZE DOES MATTER:
Ruby is corundum with trace elements of chromium. Chromium is high on
the elemental table and a transitional element. This means Ruby
crystal do not grow very large. So a one carat Ruby costing X dollars
would not just double when you go to two carats - it might triple or
quadruple to 4X. Additionally the crystals grow hexagonal pencils so
it is very difficult to cut large Rounds or big Emerald cuts from the
rough. You can expect to pay 50% more for round or emerald cut over
the normal price for oval Rubies.
TONALITY:
Along with the primary hue, tonality helps define the color of Ruby.
Almost all gemstones have a tonality of at least 50%. Perhaps it is
easiest to explain tonality to suppose you had 2 gallons of white
paint. And you begin to pour black white into one. It would take some
time for your eye to perceive a color difference.
The best place to see tonality is to examine the edge of the
gemstone. This is the area that light has the least amount of
distance to travel through the gem. Do no look at the table area for
tone. Notice the blackish ring around the girdle or just under the
crown facets. That is tone. If the tone reached 100% then you would
have a black gem. Therefore a good red Ruby with 98% tone may look
like a Garnet when mounted.
PRIMITIVE MINING:
Mining for rubies is done by primitive methods, much as it was
centuries ago. Miners stake out an area and dig down about 15 feet to
unearth the gem-bearing gravel. They sift the gravel through wire
screens, then continue with a panning method similar to that used for gold.
SYNTHETIC RUBY:
A synthetic ruby is nearly identical to the natural gem in physical
appearance, chemical composition and optical properties and can
easily be confused with genuine ruby by unknowledgeable buyers. Only
a trained geologist can tell the difference by locating telltale
inclusions in the stone.
STAR RUBIES:
Some rubies display a luminous star when viewed in the right light.
This is caused by the orientation of intersecting needles within the
stone. The light reflecting off them forms a star. Stars may be seen
on certain translucent stones that have been cut in a dome shape.
A CLASSIC GEM:
Ruby's dramatic color and regal heritage make it the choice of the
most discriminating jewelry lovers. Fine, large rubies may be worth
more than diamonds of comparable size. They make elegant rings and
pendants. Smaller stones are also set in these pieces as well as
brooches, bracelets, and earrings. Small rubies are popular for use
in anniversary rings to wear alone or in the company, of diamonds.
Rubies are stunning against a backdrop of white, black, royal blue or
emerald green.
How to care for Rubies:
Since rubies are so hard and durable, they are easy to care for,
however it is not recommended to wear a ruby if you are doing any
sort of rough work or are using harsh chemicals. Rubies should be
stored in a fabric-lined box, away from other pieces of jewelry, as
they may scratch other, softer gemstones. When it is time to clean
them, you can use soapy water and a brush, or a commercial jewelry
cleanser. It is important to rinse the stone thoroughly and dry it,
after cleaning it. If you take care of your ruby, it will stay with
you, and retain its beauty for many years to come.
