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Rubies - The King of Gemstones
The ruby is a gem of the multi-coloured corundum family - the
second hardest natural mineral known to man.
All through the ages, the ruby with its magnificent color,
outstanding brilliance, hardness and extreme rarity has made it
one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth.
Corundum, whose name comes from the Hindi kurund and the Sanskrit kurunwinda,
is formed of crystallized aluminum and oxygen. In its pure form it is white or
colourless - only
the red corundum is called a ruby. All other colors
are named sapphires,
with hues of orange, pink, blue and green. Tiny amounts of chromium oxide is
the element, which gives the ruby its intense and magnificent color.
Color
The red of a ruby may have various nuances depending on its origin. When reference
is made to the very top category it is often "a
Burmese ruby" - an
indication that it is a rich, passionate, hot, full red
color with a slightly bluish hue. Sometimes it is referred to as "pigeon blood red" a ruby
color only associated with the Mogok valley mines.
The color of a ruby is the most important feature of the stone. The
color of a Burmese ruby is regarded as exceptional, with a display of unique luster in
any light.
Clarity
It is typical of rubies to display inclusions of other crystal habits. Frequently
these are hexagonal prisms and blades. If they are rutile needles, they may form
a delicate shimmer of light known as "silk". The
same inclusions prove conclusively that a ruby is natural and not man-made.
Inclusions within a ruby are actually nature's own "fingerprint" in each
stone - a
statement of its individuality and its proof of natural origin. So unless they
are of a character, which badly decreases the transparency of the stone, the
overall quality of the ruby is not impaired.
Cut
The make or the cut is man's contribution to the beauty of the ruby and indeed
to the value of the ruby.
Only the professional and expert stone cutter is able to determine the best way
to display the inherent beauty of the stone without losing too much valuable
weight in the process. The expertise of the Burmese cutters is legendary in this
respect.
Very seldom do rubies grow into large crystals. Stones of more than 3 carats in size are very rare.
Symmetry, good proportions, precise faceting and angles
are all features which
the expert stone cutter aims to adhere to, embracing the final intensity, beauty
and value of the ruby.
..and a little Ruby Metaphysic.
A ruby is often associated with strong leadership, self-confidence, skills of
negotiation and self-esteem. And a ruby brings wealth, good health and wisdom
to its owner.
Ruby is birth stone for July.
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