post

Beauty and Evaluation of the Birthstone of July: Ruby and Ruby Jewelry

Ruby the blood red colored gemstone is a rare beauty. Ruby is believed to be from the family of corundum. There are basically two types of corundum. One is ruby and the other is popularly known as sapphire. There are subcategories of sapphire too. Ruby is the red corundum which may be transparent or translucent and it is very hard. It is chemically aluminum oxide and the red color is contributed by the presence of chromium oxide. The depth of the color may vary from medium to deep and the tone of the color may vary from red to deep red purple.

There are a few famous varieties available in the market. Of all of them Burmese ruby is considered to the most expensive and rare. It is deep red in color with a touch of blue commonly referred to as pigeon's blood and is a very fine variety of ruby. There are Sri-Lanka rubies too. These semiprecious stones are mined on the Ceylon islands. They are bright red in color and very pure. The other category is of Thai rubies which are characterized by deep red color with brownish tones reflected in it and at times resemble the garnet. The last variety is of African rubies which are of purplish red color and are very small in size.

Ruby is a very precious buy and there are few factors to be considered before investing in them.

1. The foremost thing to be considered is the color of the stone. The deep red showing purplish overtones are considered to be more expensive than the one with brown overtones. Moreover the rubies reflecting orange overtones should not be considered much.

2. The cut of the stone is another decisive factor and it should be as close to the original shape of the stone as possible. Cutting also decides the appraisal of the stone and therefore cutting flaws like striations and pitting should be as minimal as possible.

3. The weight, brightness, shape are the other few factors to be considered while judging the stones.

Jewellery like choker, tiara, pendent, ear rings, necklace made in ruby are very exclusive. Rubies studded in silver and gold, look equally good and when ruby is used in combination with other gemstones then the sight is enthralling. The value of the jewellery made out of ruby depends a lot on the size of the gemstone and the material in which it is embedded. Consequently the ruby with gold is costlier than ruby in silver. Similarly if ruby is used in combination with other gemstones then here too the price varies. Rubies are generally used in combination with diamond and this item of jewellery is quiet expensive.

Ruby is rarely available since it is not mined much across the world. There are synthetic rubies too available in the markets, which are cheep but one has to decide the purpose of buy. If one is only interested in costume jewellery then a fake ruby is a wise investment. But for collectors and wearers of precious gemstones, a pure ruby is like a breath of fresh air.



By: Gen Wright

About the Author:

Livapo is a discount gemstone jewelry and pearl jewelry shop. Visit us for over 5000 pearl necklaces, gemstone rings, and more at low prices.



Golf Chipping Net

post

The Ruby, Emerald and Saphire

Rubies and sapphires are composed of almost pure aluminum and oxygen and are members of the corundum family. The mineral is often called a ruby when it is red and a sapphire when it is blue. The ruby and sapphire needs to be transparent or nearly so to be considered gem quality. Few are found this way in the natural state. Rubys and sapphires that are unfit for gem use, like diamonds, are also used for mechanical purposes because of their hardness. Both gems have a hardness of 9, and a specific gravity of 3.9 to 4.1, only diamonds being harder. The best non gem quality stones are used for bearings in fine machinery. They are also used as jewels for watches and certain electrical supplies.

The color of rubies comes from a small quantity of oxide of chromium. The color in rubies as well as sapphires are rarely even throughout. Often this defect can be remedied with the proper application of heat. One of the greatest characteristics of rubies is that they are just as brilliant in natural light as they are in artificial light. Large flaw less, and transparent rubies are extremely rare and often times in large sizes they are more valuable than diamonds. The largest ruby in the world is the Raviratna, and it weighs 3,600 carats. Both gems were considered protection against poisoning in earlier times.

Rubies and Sapphires are found in Burmah, Siam, Ceylon, Afghanistan, Thibet, Australia, North Carolina, and the United States. The finest rubies are found in Burmah. The Rubies mined in Upper Burmah have been mined since the fifteenth century. Rubies are usually found in mines, hill sides, clay, valleys, and rivers. Rubies color depends often upon which part of the world that they came from. Rubies come in all shades of red, black, blue, and purple. Too much heat can destroy a rubies color entirely but just enough can enhance color. It is very difficult to tell if these gems have been heat treated.

The emerald is a green beryl. A perfect emerald is rarer than any other stone. Some believe that the emerald gets its color from small quantities of organic matter in them. Most scientists believe that the color is due to an oxide of chromium. The emerald is subject to many structural defects, flaws, muddiness, and variations of color. Usually, the better the color, the more faulty it is. A flawless mineral of very fine color is almost unknown. The emerald is made up of silica, an oxide of silica. The rest of the mineral is made up of equal shares of alumina and glucina.

Emeralds have been discovered in a few places scattered around the world. Emeralds were first discovered in great quantity in Peru. Many of Perus emeralds, along with a lot of its precious metals were stolen by Spanish marauders. It is believed that one ship of marauders returned to Spain in 1587, with two chests, each of which had one hundred weight of emeralds. Emeralds have also been discovered in Africa, Egypt, Columbia, Austria, and some have even been found in North Carolina and Connecticut.

The Emerald is considered to bring good luck and well being. One of the largest in the world is the Mogul Emerald which dates back to 1695 and weighs 217.80 carats.

Description

Rubies and sapphires are composed of almost pure aluminum and oxygen and are members of the corundum family. The mineral is often called a ruby when it is red and a sapphire when it is blue.



By: Mitch Endick

About the Author:

Mitch Endick is a short article writer for the popular jewelry site JewelerWeb.com. He provides informative advice on buying rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and watches. The site also has information on diamonds,birthstones, gemstones, pearls, gold, sterling silver, and platinum.



Golf Advice