The ruby is the red variety of the family of corundum
It also exists ruby studed. It is the result of inclusion of needles of shine which arranged in a way, reveal a wave-like star on the surface of the stone once cut in cabochon.
Rubis étoilé - Star rubyThe color is the dominant criterion of the quality of a ruby. The most sought color is the one said " blood of pigeon ", a red with a point of bluish very subtle and magnificent
The clarity is also an important criterion, in certain ruby, we can find needles of shines grouped in heap which give a silky effect. This "silk" is very appreciated just as much as a ruby of a total clarity.
As for the inclusions, as long as they are not dangerous for the stone or harming for the physical aspect, they are appreciated, because it is the certificate of guarantee that the stone is very natural and not synthetic.
It is very difficult to find large-sized ruby; furthermore, on production sites ruby are not well cut to keep a weighty maximum. It is thus necessary to re-cut them if we want to take advantage of its beauty, what reduces a little more the size.
Deposits
The deposit the most known for ruby is Burma (Myanmar).
These deposits of ruby are since Antiquity known to it. These last years, the trade of the ruby of Burma suffered and still suffers restrictive commercial measures, decreed by the European Union and by the USA.
Thailand produced of beautiful ruby, often with a darkened enough tint. The production of ruby of Thailand became very low.
The mines of the region of Mogok, in Burma, produce ruby which often have a little bit pinkish tint. The second Burmese producing region ruby is the one of Mong Hsu.
Thailand is the moving plate for a very big proportion of world production of ruby.
Vietnam produces quality ruby close to those of Burma, which is understandable by their same geological formation. First ruby were discovered to Luc Yen, in the Northeast of Hanoi, in 1986. Ruby Vietnamese go of the light pink ruby to the most intense red ruby.
Madagascar also supplies ruby. The main appearance producing at present is the one of Andilamena. We also find ruby in the region of Tuléar and that of Fionarangsoa.
Kenya and Tanzania produced ruby with a very beautiful color.
Rubis- RubyLet us pay tribute to John Saul, geologist of the same name. He(it) discovered in Tanzania the first ruby mine of western Africa. To know more about it read the article on the site of the brothers Saül, son of John Saul, click here ->
Other deposits of ruby can be quoted: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Nepal.
In 2008, ruby of Mozambique appeared on the market of gemstones, in Thailand. The discovery resulted from a new deposit of ruby in the province of Niassa of the North of Mozambique, in September, 2008.
In spring, 2009, a second important deposit of ruby was also discovered near the city of Montepuez in the nearby province of Cabo Delgado..
In autumn, 2009, a mission of the GIA (the American laboratory the most known in gemology) brought back samples taken on the spot, to be able to obtain useful references for all the gemmological community.
Several articles and reports on these ruby of Mozambique were published.
To know more about it, you can download following articles (in English)
Treated Ruby from Mozambique, a preliminary report By V. Pardieu, N. Sturman, S. Saesaew, G. Du Toit and K. Thirangoon. "(Released May 11, 2010) After the discovery of the Montepuez ruby mining area in Mozambique, during spring 2009, within few months, gemologists at the GIA Laboratory Bangkok started.."
Expedition report to ruby mining sites in Northern Mozambique (Niassa and Cabo Delgado provinces) by V. Pardieu, S. Jacquat, J.B. Senoble, L.P. Bryl, R.W. Hughes and M. Smith. "(Released December 16th, last edited December 23rd, 2009) This extensive and illustrated expedition report presents the first description of the new ruby mining areas in Mozambique..."
Rubies reportedly from Niassa Province, Mozambique By V. Pardieu, J. Thanachakaphad. "(First released : March 22nd, 2009, last update :April 16th,2009) During the past few months, new rubies reported as “Mozambique” appeared in the market in Bangkok and Chanthaburi..."
Traitements
It is a very sought stone, and thus very handled. The majority of the ruby are handled by heating even before being cut within the limits of the respect for the crystalline structure of the stone, what is going to enhance the color. It is an accepted process, however a not warmed ruby (what is extremely rare) has a clearly superior value and must be accompanied with a certificate of recognized laboratory confirming it.
Of very numerous ruby are handled by emplissage of the cracks by synthetic materials. These treatments must be legally indicated. This stony type invaded the markets of gemstones and finds himself in numerous jewelries(jeweler's stores). These stones do not have the right in the naming "ruby" but have to carry the mention " composite stone ".
Without certificate or information, there is a simple rule: a beautiful cheap ruby, it does not exist. The ruby is dearer than the diamond, in equal quality.
Rubis - RubyA "composite" ruby furthermore of 5ct, handled by filling in the lead glass should not exceed 50 euros a carat. And even at this price there ... it is dear for what that is. Remember a simple principle: a beautiful natural ruby cannot exist at the price of a stone common gemstone. A simple reference: on February 15th, 2006, a 8.62 carat ruby, of shape pillow, reached in auction the record $425,000 amount the carat, is a $3,663,500 total. (Click to read more ->)
It is completely understandable that customers, who cannot reach these very) precious stones that are ruby natures, are tempted by the acquisition of these handled stones looking like in ruby. In reality, the strong proportion of material of filling weakens strongly these stones and makes that the qualities of hardness and durability of the ruby natures are not present. There is obligation for the seller to inform the customer about it.
It is common that the customers look for ruby about which the color is said "blood of pigeon". This naming has no scientific rigor or gemmologique. It is only a commercial term, even if the latter appears on certain certificates of laboratories.
Ruby synthetic materials are common on the market and harder and harder to recognize, the process Verneuil of synthesis having improved since 1950. Doublets (a table of garnet and a red glass breech) meet as imitations of the ruby.
However thanks to its hardness of 9 on the scale of Mohs, the ruby is the hardest second stone after the diamond. It is thus a stone easy to rise on any sorts of jewels and very easy of maintenance.
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Story and legends
From time immemorial, he is used to decorate crowns, or offered itself in purely political purposes. As this history brought back by Marco Polo, telling that a whole village was offered in exchange for a ruby.
Some arrived until us and we can again admire them in certain museums, as the famous ruby Edwardes of 167ct displayed to British Museum of London, or still studed ruby Reeves of 138.7ct in Smithsonian in Washington.
In India, it is thought that if we offer a ruby to Krishna, we would return in emperor or, to the worst, in king, according to the size of the stone. The warriors thought that the ruby made them invincible, certain even going them be inlayed under the skin.
In Sri Lanka, the former texts explain that the ruby results from drops of blood. In Burma, we tell that the mythical valley of Mogok was infested with snakes, making the searches impossible. We catapulted then pieces of meat where stones stuck and we sent birds of prey to eat them. There was more than to get back ruby in their excrement.
He is associated with love and with blood for centuries because of his exceptional color which goes some pinkish red, or orange to the brown or purplish red. In India, cradle of the ruby, one the appellait "ratnaraj" king of precious stones. The princes made it overlay their sword or recovered their throne and their crown of ruby. More recently, he occupies a place in the science (used for the first lasers) and in the watchmaker's shop (in the mechanism).
The ruby is the born stone of July and is also the stone of the 35th wedding anniversary.
To know more about the mineralogy of the Ruby, see Mindat.org->
