Gorgeous Ruby Ring 14kt Gold Ancient Love Talisman 19th Century Gem #61147 $2999.99
Antique 19th Century Handcrafted Genuine Natural Faceted Three and One-Third Carat Red Ruby “Emerald”. Contemporary High Quality Solid 14kt Yellow Gold Ring (Size 7 – Resizing Available).
ORIGIN: x, 19th Century.
SIZE: Length: 10mm. Width: 7mm. Depth: 4mm. Measurements approximate.
WEIGHT: 3.31 carats.
NOTES: Resizing is available.
$2999.99
Details
In ancient Rome the ruby was associated with the principles of justice and its administrators (the judicial system). In ancient literature, the ruby was described both by the fourth century B.C. Greek Philosopher/Scientist Theophratus (student and successor of Plato and Socrates) as well as by Pliny, the first century A.D. Roman historian and naturalist. In the classical world, rubies from Afghanistan, Ceylon, India were traded in the ancient port cities of the Eastern Mediterranean (often by Phoenicians), and from there traveled throughout Europe. Ancient literature from China indicates that ruby was also traded along the northern silk route, moving westward into Europe. Here's a very nice quality 19th century antique hand faceted “emerald” cut ruby. The cut is also sometimes referred to as an “octagon” within the trade.
The gemstones was hand crafted by a 19th century Russian artisan, part of an heritage renown for the production of the elaborate gemstones and jewelry of the Czars of Medieval, Renaissance, and Victorian Russia. Originally used in indigenous jewelry, this sparkling precious gemstone is transparent, not translucent, with a highly desirable blood red color, and vibrant sparkles of fiery, brilliant red flashes. It is "eye clean" to the casual admirer, (or "near eye clean" to detailed scrutiny), and is absolutely transparent as opposed to lower value translucent rubies. Of course most ruby gemstones are anywhere from lightly to heavily blemished. Unfortunately most transparent "rubies" sold even by the largest and most reputable retailers in the United States are synthetic (read the fine print; and the same is true of emeralds and sapphires).
While this particular specimen might not be anywhere near flawless, to casual scrutiny it is at least "eye clean" or "near eye clean". There are some minute blemishes in the form of some scattered minute specks of colorless crystalline material. However they are not discerned by the cursory inspection of the casual admirer. To the casual admirer, the gemstone appears without blemish. If you hold the ruby right up to your nose and inspect it intently, then it is possible to discern the minute specks of colorless crystalline material within the gemstone. However the gemstone cannot really be classified as "eye clean", since these light blemishes can be detected from most angles of view if one looks closely, it must be classified as "near eye clean".
Even in the photo enlargements herein, the faint speckling of colorless crystalline blemishes this remarkable gemstone does possess are not starkly apparent or disfiguring. In hand to the eye of the casual admirer this beautiful sparkling gemstone simply appears to be clean and without blemish. We guarantee you will be mesmerized and dazzled by the rich color, and sparkling, fiery beauty of this natural ruby precious gemstone. The setting is of contemporary origin. It is a high quality setting manufactured by one of the USA’s leading semi-custom mount producers. It is constructed of solid 14kt yellow gold (NOT merely gold plate). The ring is also available in white gold, and there are many other ring styles available. Some are most costly, some less. If you would like to see the other ring styles available for this gemstone, just contact us, we would be happy to share them with you. We do have the ability to have the ring sent out for resizing if requested. Additionally, if preferred, the mounting is also available in sterling silver (at reduced cost).
While in these photo enlargements the minute specks of colorless crystalline material seem quite obvious, they really are not typically noticed by the casual admirer, and from some angles cannot be seen at all. Whatever sins the critic might find, to the eye it is simply a gorgeous blood red ruby of even color, the dispersed miniscule blemishes are not really discernible to the naked eye except upon very intent scrutiny, and the deep, blood red gemstone possesses very handsome luster and really exceptional sparkle as well! If you hold this gemstone in the light between thumb and forefinger you can appreciate the transparency of this gorgeous precious gemstone. And while this gorgeous precious gemstone is not absolutely flawless, it is most certainly toward the higher end of the quality spectrum.
Under magnification the gemstone shows the unmistakable characteristics of having been hand crafted. The coarseness of the 19th century finish is considered appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered a detriment, or detract from the value of a gemstone. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, most serious collectors consider such gemstones more desirable, possessed of greater character and uniqueness when compared to today's cookie-cutter mass-produced machine-faceted gemstones. Unlike today's computer controlled machine produced gemstones, the cut and finish of a gemstone such as this is the legacy of an artisan who lived two centuries ago.
This gemstone has great luster and color, great sparkle, and to the eye is absolutely transparent. But of course that does not mean it is entirely flawless. True, the blemishes it possesses are not easily discerned by the naked eye - at least to casual scrutiny. As stated, to casual scrutiny it is simply a stunning blood red ruby gemstone of even color. However in these photo enlargements you can see some dispersed wispy colorless crystalline blemishes, including some minute speckles of similar material. The photo enlargements as well reveal occasional irregularities in the cut and finish. Naturally these characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, you must also consider that two centuries ago the mining techniques even possible then, let alone in practice, did not allow the ultra deep mining operations which are so commonplace today.
Keep in mind that two centuries ago mankind was more or less limited to surface deposits or near surface deposits of gemstones. Higher quality gemstones which today are routinely mined from beneath hundreds of meters, even kilometers beneath the earth's surface, were simply inaccessible then. It is for this reason that antique gemstones must be appreciated as antiques first, gemstones second. The relatively superlative quality of contemporary gemstones routinely mined from deep beneath the earth's surface today were simply not accessible two centuries ago, or at least, only rarely so. However for most, the unique nature and character of antique gemstones such as this more than makes up for minute blemishes which by and large, are only visible under magnification.
HISTORY: The name ruby comes from the Latin "rubeus" (red). In the ancient world ruby was believed to possess magical powers, and was worn as a talisman for protection from plagues, poison, sorrow, and evil spirits. The ruby symbolized freedom, charity, dignity and divine power, and was associated with fire and blood, implying warmth and life for mankind. Some ancient cultures believed that rubies, as well as other gemstones, grew on trees, just like fruit. The rubies would begin budding as small white gems, and would slowly grow and ripen, turning red in the light of the sun. When the ruby was saturated with red color, it was ready to be plucked. In the classical world, rubies from Afghanistan, Ceylon, India were traded in the ancient port cities of the Eastern Mediterranean (often by Phoenicians), and from there traveled throughout Europe. However it is believed that most of the ancient world’s ruby came from Ceylon, where evidence suggests ruby may have been mined for the past 20,000 years. Archaeologists have uncovered ancient Etruscan jewelry with Celanese ruby which dates back to the seventh century B.C. However scientists believe that ruby has also been mined in Bur*ma since Paleolithic and Neolithic times as well, as tools have been excavated by archaeologists dating both to the Bronze Age as well as backwards into the Stone Age.
In ancient literature, the ruby was described both by the fourth century B.C. Greek Philosopher/Scientist Theophratus (student and successor of Plato and Socrates) as well as by Pliny, the first century A.D. Roman historian and naturalist. In ancient Rome the ruby was associated with the principles of justice and its administrators (the judicial system). Ancient literature from China indicates that ruby was traded along the northern silk route, moving westward into Europe. The Bible as well makes numerous mentions of ruby, first as one of the twelve precious stones created by God when he created mankind. Ruby is then described as “the lord of gems” when one was given to Aaron on the command of God. And ruby adorned Aaron's breastplate and was symbol of Judah. The Bible also frequently states that the high value of ruby was only exceeded by wisdom and by virtuous women, implying that ruby indeed was exceptionally valuable. The Greeks believed that the "fire" evidenced by a ruby's red coloration could melt wax. Greeks legends speak about huge rubies which were given to Heraclea by the female stork to lighten her room as a token of her kindness. The ancient populations of the Mediterranean also believed that the color of a ruby would change mirroring changes in the health of its owner, and that the color would drain from a ruby at the moment its owner died. In Antiquity and through the Middle Ages it was believed that the cosmos was reflected in gemstones. Ruby was associated with the planet Mars.
Ruby was deemed to be the most precious of gemstones not only in the Bible, but also in ancient Sanskrit writings. In Sanskrit, an ancient language of India, ruby was called "ratnaraj", which means "King of Gems". To them, this fiery stone burned with an inextinguishable fire, capable of boiling the water in which it was placed. Ancient Indian legends said that God first created ruby and later created man to possess it, and that he who offered rubies to the gods would be reincarnated as a powerful king or emperor. In ancient India rubies were also sorted into upper class, middle class, and lower class stones in relation to their color, flawlessness and beauty. Much like Indian society today, no inferior ruby was allowed contact with an upper class ruby because it was believed the low-caste ruby would contaminate the better one, thereby diminishing its magical powers. In nearby ancient Bur it was felt a ruby must not just be worn, but embedded in the skin to become part of the body, thus making the wearer invulnerable. Up in time through Medieval Europe, rubies were worn as a talisman for protection against unhappiness, lightening and upsetting dreams. The ruby was also believed to encourage bliss, and was used to treat fever and heart disorders relating to blood flow through the ventricles. It was also believed that when worn on the left hand or in a brooch on the left side, ruby enabled the wearer to live in peace among enemies.
Ruby was greatly valued in the Medieval Arab world. There are many references to ruby in ancient Arabic literature, including many references to “yakut”, a term used for red corundum (ruby) during the sixth through tenth centuries, culminating in a noteworthy treatise by the 11th century Arab scholar Al-Biruni, who conducted specific gravity determinations on a whole series of gemstones. Throughout Medieval Central Asia, the Near East, and China ruby was used to ornament armor, scabbards, and harnesses of noblemen. Rubies were laid beneath the foundation of buildings to secure good fortune to the structure. Much of the ruby reaching early Medieval Europe came from Badakshan, on the border between present-day Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Marco Polo described visiting these mines in his accounts of his travels. Later Medieval Europe’s rubies came principally from the border region Siam (present-day Thailand).
In Medieval Europe, rubies were considered even more valuable than diamonds. In 16th century ruby was priced 8 times higher than diamond. Rubies were viewed as a stone of prophecy, used by medieval shamans and sorcerers to divine the future. Ruby was also worn as a talisman, as it was believed that the stone darkened when danger was near and then return to its original color when the danger was past. It was believed that wearing ruby would attract good health, wisdom, fortune, and true love. Ruby was also thought to be an antidote to poisoning as well. In England, ruby was used for royal coronation rings. Medieval Europe also believed that ruby had important medical applications. A thirteenth century prescription to cure liver problems called for powdered ruby, and it was also believed that when rubbed on the skin, ruby would restore youth and vitality. Ivan the Terrible of Russia stated that rubies were good for the heart, brain and memory.
Rubies are mined all over the world, but the highest quality gemstones come from Ceylon, and Siam, then India, Madagascar, Russia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Mexico, and North Carolina in the USA. Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the second hardest natural mineral known to mankind. The non-red variety of corundum is Sapphire. Sapphires are well known among the general public as being blue, but can be nearly any color. A ruby's color is due to a trace of chromic oxide; the amount of this trace mineral determines the depth of color.
The famous "Hill of Precious Stones", near Bangkok, Thailand, yields rubies of a deeper shade with purple undertones. Rubies from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) tend toward violet, and are lighter in color. Oriented rutile crystal inclusions cause a six-rayed-star light effect (called asterism) to form the popular "Star Ruby". The "Star Ruby" is also known as a "Mysore Ruby", as the majority are mined in Mysore, India. However the largest star ruby known is a 138.7 carat specimen which was mined from Ceylon, and is presently at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The color of ruby is accompanied by a marked fluorescence, which is stimulated by natural and artificial light making rubies turn brighter red under such light. The King of Ceylon was said to possess a ruby that shone so brightly that when he brought it out at night, it would light up the entire palace. Experts consider that the color is ruby’s most important attribute, while its transparency is secondary. It is almost impossible to find a ruby of finer quality over 3 carats in size, therefore, minor blemishes are deemed acceptable and most ruby jewelry is made with stones under 3 carats. In fact the blemishes within a ruby are like fingerprints, proving its authenticity and revealing the beauty and the individuality of each stone.
Paradoxically the same element chromium which imparts the beautiful red color to ruby also causes cracks, fractures, and fissures inside the gemstone. Much the same is the case with emerald and alexandrite, which also contain chromium. In the case of emerald, the gemstones are almost always treated under high pressure with oil, the extreme pressure forcing the oil into the fissures and crevices. The resulting emerald is more stable, durable, less prone to breakage, and more colorful. Just as emerald is treated under high pressure with oil, ruby is oftentimes similarly treated under high pressure with a fluxing agent such as lead glass, resin, wax, or borax. The tiny crevasses and fractures are then filled with this material under high pressure, and the treatment is generally very difficult to detect outside of the laboratory. In the case of ruby, the refractive index of ruby and lead glass are very similar, allowing light to travel through the stone unimpeded, improving the color and clarity. However the treatment afforded ruby is actually superior to the treatment afforded emerald, as it is permanent and irreversible, unlike the oil in an emerald which can dry or drain out. The ruby treatment does not really involve a fracture filling so much as it does an actual healing of the fractures and fissures, so treatment also improves a stone's durability, since the fractures are healed shut.
The GIA (Gemstone Institute of America) also estimates that up to 95% of rubies are heat treated and/or treated with a flux agent. Though in some cases heat treatments can be detected, it is oftentimes undetectable. Anyone who assures you that a particular ruby is absolutely, positively unheated is either misinformed themselves, or doing their best to misinform you. Heat treating rubies is assumed, commonplace, acceptable, oftentimes undetectable, and is generally not detrimental. Even gemological laboratories will not go beyond stating that there is no sign of heat-treating, but will not state a gemstone is absolutely unheated, as heat treatment oftentimes leave no trace.
Throughout the history of the ancient world, gemstones were believed capable of curing illness and providing protection. Found in Egypt dated 1500 B. C., the "Papyrus Ebers" offered one of most complete therapeutic manuscripts containing prescriptions using gemstones and minerals. Gemstones were not only valued for their medicinal and protective properties, but also for educational and spiritual enhancement. In these as well as other ancient cultures, it was believed that rubies brought health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love to those who wore them. The ruby was associated with the sun, and was thought to preserve both mental and physical health. The medicinal uses of ruby included its use to overcome exhaustion and calm hyperactivity. Ruby was also used to detoxify the body and blood, treat fevers, diseases, and restricted blood flow. Wearing ruby was believed to benefit the heart and circulatory system and stimulate the adrenals, kidneys, reproductive organs and spleen. According to one ancient text, ground to a fine powder and placed on the tongue, ruby was used to cure blood diseases, stop bleeding, ensure good health, bring peace, and treat indigestion. Ruby was also believed to be an effective treatment for backaches.
On the metaphysical plane, for thousands of years, ruby was considered the stone of love, passion, and power. It was believed to represent masculinity, nobility, and valor in men; pride, seductiveness, and passion in women. Ruby was believed to restore vital life forces and increase energy, vigor, and zest for life. Ruby was also regarded as the stone of courage, ancient sources citing that the wearer of ruby could pass through life without fear of evil or misfortune, and that ruby would make the wearer invulnerable to wounds, an especially useful attribute for ancient warriors. Wearing ruby was believed to strengthen the wearer during times of controversy or dispute, to shield against physical attack, to enhance creativity and spirituality, and to inspire confidence and self-esteem. Ruby was also believed to be capable of arousing passion and enthusiasm and attracting sexual activity. Even today in Asia ruby is worn by businessmen who believe that ruby improves motivation and the setting of goals, and promotes dynamic leadership. They are believed to heighten one’s state of mind, sharp, hyper-aware and focused.