Ruby History

For much of history, ruby ​​has been the most valuable gemstones in the world. Even diamond is considered common in connection with the supreme beauty and value of this gem of a bright red.Name from the Latin word for its color, rubber, Ruby is the epitome of the boldest of colors: the jewel of desire, passion, courage and excitement.
In ancient Sanskrit, ruby ​​is called ratnaraj, or “king of gemstones.” In the Bible, wisdom, and that women are just “more than rubies.”
In the early eleventh century Persian scholar al-Biruni was only transmit the wisdom of the time he wrote that Ruby was “first in color, the beauty and the range” among all gems.
Nine centuries later, the British author Max Bauer, in his masterpiece Gems 1894, writes: “A uniform ruby-colored, transparent, and faultless is now the most valuable gemstone known.”
Certainly, the value of fine jewelry in comparison to other popular jewelry was not as extreme as Bauer’s day had been. Around 1550, Italian goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini reported that the most beautiful one-carat ruby ​​cost eight times more than comparable quality of a diamond carats. At the time of Bauer, Ruby was even two times more than its equivalent on the diamond.

However, a 2:1 ratio between the value of rubies and diamonds fine is impressive. Certainly, the state as the jewel of the most precious jewels of age helps to explain why England took the most drastic measure to invade and annex upper Burma in 1885 when he learned of a French company to begin mining of this gem the famous Mogok ruby ​​source Ruby forms the most famous and remains the largest known at present.

While some colors are associated with different mining countries: Burma, now known as Myanmar, with pure red ruby ​​Vietnam with Vivid pink with exceptional clarity, Sri Lanka, with more red soft pastel pink, dark red with Thailand Burgundy, Kenya, with juicy red and clear stones pure, pure Madagascar with transparent red color alone can not tell where the rock was born: a lab report as necessary. After confirmation, the stones of the famous Mogok mine in Burma command a premium, especially if the color is natural.

Most rubies are heated to about 2000 degrees in order to maximize the red and eliminate the secondary colors of blue and brown. Some rubies are heated to improve clarity. Sometimes, the waste can be trapped in glassy fracture, when the ruby ​​is cooled. Heat recovery is stable, does not require special care, and reduces the value of the stone, but significant residues are present.

If Ruby does not show signs of warming is very rare. Natural color of the stone must be confirmed by a lab report if it is a bonus.Ruby must also have a nice color and appearance.

Ruby is more common in the ovals and cushion. Other forms may be difficult to find in sizes over one carat. Five carat ruby ​​is extremely rare and valuable.

Ruby, like sapphire, is the mineral corundum, one of the most resistant minerals, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide.Corundum has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and is also very difficult. In its most common form, even used as an abrasive.As a result, rubies are the most durable of gems. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can accumulate.