The earliest record for the mining of
rubies goes back more than 2,500 years ago to Sri Lanka. Historically,
many have believed that mystical powers lie within this intensely
colored red gemstone. When inserted beneath the skin, the ancient
Burmese believed that the stone generated a mystical force, which
protected the wearer from accidents and attack. In the ancient
world, many believed rubies to contain prophetic powers, enabling
wearers to predict their future based on the color changes of
their gemstones.
The ancient Hindus enchanted by the color of rubies
considered them to be "Ratnaraj" or the "King of
Precious Stones."
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Ruby and diamonds set in a flower design |
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The modern word ruby is derived from the ancient
Latin term "Rubeus." Today, Burma is the world's largest
provider of high quality rubies. Many consider Burmese rubies from
the Mogok Valley to be the world’s finest. Vietnam, Kenya,
Tanzania and Sri Lanka are some of the other providers of this truly
enchanting gemstone. Thailand, with large deposits near the Cambodian
border, was previously the world's largest provider of rubies, but
due to environmental regulations, the mining of gemstones has been
greatly reduced. Rubies and sapphires are closely related, having
corundum as their base mineral. The difference in color occurs because
of the different trace minerals contained within each gemstone.
Thai rubies tend to have a darker color and less intensity than
Burmese rubies, which are renowned for their high quality and high
price range; however, very fine rubies can be found in Thailand
at very affordable prices. African rubies tend to have heavy inclusions,
but beautiful stones with fine clarity can be found, usually in
the higher price range.
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Fine Thai Ruby very rare 6.50c oval with shield cut
side diamonds in Platinum and 18k yellow gold |
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Rubies come in many different shapes and sizes,
providing great variety to gemstone lovers. With hardness of 9 just
below that of diamonds (10), rubies are one of the toughest gemstones,
and with no cleavage, breakage rarely occurs. This makes ruby perfect
for all kinds of jewelry including ruby rings, ruby necklaces and
ruby earrings. Another popular form of ruby jewelry is with the
rarer yet equally magnificent star rubies.
Microscopic inclusions, sometimes called "silk,"
are a normal characteristic of rubies. However, heating tends to
dissolve these inclusions. The existence of inclusions provides
traces to the rubies' origin and can be used to separate natural
from synthetic stones. The inclusions within these gemstones may
also be evidence that a ruby has not been heat-treated. Inclusions
do not greatly affect the value of the stone as long as the brilliance
of the gemstone is maintained and they are not visible to the naked
eye. Intensity and uniformity of the red color are the factors used
to determine the price of rubies. Highly valued rubies are those
with intense medium red and uniformed color. Intense pink rubies
can be highly appraised as well, if they are clear and beautifully
cut.
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Ruby tennis bracelet |
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The evaluation of rubies should be done under different
light settings with the following order of criteria generally considered
optimal: Color, Life or brilliance; Clarity or transparency; cut
or proportions; and size or carat to fit one’s budget. When
viewed under very strong light, rubies may show very intense color;
however, when viewed under normal lighting, the gemstone may appear
less intense. Light is therefore a very important factor in determining
the true color of rubies. To help assess their symmetry, rubies
must be judged from their face up position and their overall beauty
should always be taken into consideration. Personal color preference
should always be considered when choosing a stone for yourself—again,
any qualified jeweler will also offer guidance as to value and rarity.
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