So, it’s July. Lots of things happen in July so I am making my post
as early as I can. The 4th of July is tomorrow, my tribe has our
encampment later this month, I have lots of family members with birthdays this
month, and for those of you who do not know, my birthday is in July. That means
that my birthstone is the Ruby. Today I will be talking about Rubies. So, since
I have a lot of stuff to get done in a short amount of time, let’s get this
going!
The Ruby is a red stone and is one of four precious gems that are
considered birthstones. The other’s being Diamond, Sapphire, and Emerald. The
name for this stone comes from the Latin term ruber which means red. It, like
Sapphire, is a form of corundum. The red
colour that it has come from the chromium being found in the stone when it is
forming. Rubies are usually mined in Asia and the finest rubies have
historically been found in Burma, or Myanmar as it is known now. So, if you have heard of Burmese Rubies, that
is where they come from.
So, why are pink forms of corundum called Pink Sapphires and not
Pink Rubies? I have often wondered this myself. The truth is, in the a lot of
other countries throughout the world pink corundum is classified as a Ruby and
not a Sapphire. In the United States corundum must be a certain shade of red
before it can be called a Ruby. All other are considered Sapphires. Speaking of
colours in Rubies, the most desirable colour of this stone is called a pigeon’s
blood ruby. They are very expensive and usually only can be found in the area
around Burma. Most Rubies will have what is called a secondary hue. This means
that some Rubies will have a slight purpleish shade to them or an orange shade
to them. Most of the time it is not notice able, but it can have an effect on
the price of a stone. An interesting thing to note is that Rubies look better
when set in yellow gold. The reason for this is that the yellow of the gold
will neutralize the blue tones in the stone and make the Ruby look more red
than it would if you were to set it in another colour of gold.
Now we come to the part that is important to know. Why is it that
some people when they go to the Middle East can buy Rubies really cheap and
then come home to find out they are worth next to nothing? The answer is
simple. A great number of these Rubies are called Glass Filled Rubies or Lead
Filled Rubies. Whichever term is used it means the same thing. What happens is
that when a Ruby comes out of the ground it will, like all gemstones, have
inclusions and these inclusions are filled. The substance to fill these
inclusions and make them look more transparent and desirable is Lead Glass.
Many times people will not know that there is Lead Glass in the stone. Many
times the only way to tell if the Ruby has been filled is to take it to a jeweller
who will run a test on it. While they may look pretty, when it comes to setting
filled stones is that many times they will crack when they are being set because
if any heat is applied to the piece the Lead Glass will react to the heat and
cause the stone to break. Sad, but true. Most people do not know that what they
are getting is not so great stone. However, if you buy your stones at your
local jeweler they will be able to tell you if the Ruby you are buying from
them is filled or not. Most jewellers will NOT sell Lead Glass or treated
Rubies. They are not valuable and if they break it falls back to the jeweller
and they should pay to replace the stone.
If you come across a Ruby that you have your doubts about, ask the
person that you are buying it from if they are willing to have a jeweller take
a look at it before you purchase it. If they say they do not want a jeweller to
examine it, I would not purchase it. The reason being is that if they know
their stones are genuine and not Lead Glass filled they will have no reason to
be offended if you are simply wanting to double check. If they know their
stones are NOT genuine they will usually act defensive about it and will not
even want to do business with you. People that are proud of their products will
want you to be as happy with the product as they are and will do whatever it
takes to make you happy. So, if in doubt ask. It is always better to be safe than
sorry. Especially when it comes to expensive gemstones.
Well, I hope that you all found this informative and interesting!
If you have any questions for me about Rubies feel free to ask! Also, if you
are wondering what the alternate genuine birthstone is for July it is the
Carnelian stone. It comes in colours ranging from orange to dark reddish-brown.
It may also be called Sard, or Red Onyx.
Have a wonderful and safe Independence Day to all of my American
readers and a big Thank You to all of our troops that are stationed around the
world! My father was in the military, as well as numerous cousins and other
relations of mine, and I know how hard you all work to keep us back here at
home safe. We appreciate all that you have done and continue to do for us!
No comments:
Post a Comment