Rubies
Rubies, at one time, had a value over 7 times that of diamonds. That was because the ruby were considered so highly valuable in the past.
It is good idea, when dealing with rubies to know all about rubies or at least as much as possible.
Wikipedia says about rubies:
“Ruby is a red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminum oxide). The color is caused mainly by chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Natural rubies are exceptionally rare, but synthetic rubies (sometimes called created ruby) can be manufactured fairly cheaply. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. It is considered one of the four precious gems together with the sapphire, the emerald and the diamond.”
“Rubies are mined in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Greenland. They are most often found in Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Kenya, Madagascar, and Thailand, but they have also been found in the U.S. states of Montana, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Mogok Valley in Myanmar has produced some of the finest rubies but in recent years very few good rubies have been found there. In central Myanmar the area of Mong Hsu also produces rubies. The latest ruby deposit to be found in Myanmar is situated in Nam Ya. In 2002 rubies were found in the Waseges River area of Kenya. Rubies are being mined at Audilamena in northeastern Madagascar. Sometimes spinels are found along with rubies in the same rocks and are mistaken for rubies. However, fine red spinels may approach the average ruby in value.”
Rubies have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness just below that of diamonds.
All rubies are valued according to their size, color, clarity and cut. Also all natural rubies will have imperfections in them, including color impurities and inclusions of rutile needles known as “silk”. If there is no silk in the stone, it will show that the stone has been heated at 3000 degrees C to give the ruby a better color of red. Usually the rough stone is heated prior to being cut.
Rubies come in various shades of red, red purple and red orange. A medium toned red or red with slight purple is most desired. Clarity of the stone and inclusions are also taken into account to determined the stones value. A purple or orange stone is called a fancy sapphire.
Rubies are a much sort after gemstone and, in the right setting, can look absolutely wonderful!