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All
about rubies:
Rubies
are more than talismans or good-luck charms, not only historic and exotic
but also valuable. Value is a human set of conditions: gems must have rarity,
durability and beauty. Great rubies display all three hallmarks.
Rubies
- especially fine rubies - are rarer than diamonds, emeralds or sapphires.
The beauty of their color is without peer.
On
the definitive Mohs hardness scale of 1 to 10, everyone knows that a diamond,
as the hardest natural substance on earth, rates a 10. Rubies, at Mohs
9, are harder than any other material except diamonds.
Fine
rubies are the most expensive of all gems (with the one exception - very
rare colored diamonds, such as red). It is safe to say that, outside of
museums, most people never see either large or fine rubies. Most of the
material sold today is commercial quality, usually small and heavily included.
When
buying, use a few simple guidelines. Size, quality, color and price are
absolutely related. You can get a ruby twice the size for the same price
if you are willing to have one with less than half the color and quality.
When one feature improves, others have to come down to hold the same price.
Common
cutting styles for ruby include mixed-cut ovals or antique cushions for
transparent material, and cabochons or beads for translucent to opaque
stones. Corundum has excellent toughness, and it's harder than any other
natural gem except diamond. This makes it ideal for rings as well as many
other types of jewelry.
The
name ruby comes from the Latin word ruber, which means "red."
The most expensive ruby color is a deep, pure, vivid red. Stones a little
pinkish, purplish, or orangey red are also considered rubies, but gem and
jewelry professionals make careful distinctions between ruby and pink,
purple, or orange sapphire. (Ruby and sapphire are both corundum varieties.)
Generally,
the difference depends on a combination of hue, tone, and saturation, but
market culture and geography also make a difference. Gems that would be
considered pink or purple sapphire in the US may be classified and sold
as rubies in some Asian countries.
Rubies
can be cleaned in warm, soapy water, but avoid strong detergents and vigorous
scrubbing on oiled stones. Ultrasonic cleaning and steam cleaning are usually
safe, but never for fracture- or cavity-filled stones.
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