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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.



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True North Gems’ ‘big Red’ Greenland Ruby Occurrence Keeps on Getting Bigger

For many people, the words ‘Big Red’ conjure up fresh breath, but to True North Gems’ (TSX.V:TGX) investors, the phrase itself is a breath of fresh air. The company’s bold flavour is finding favour among investors with its focus on ruby and sapphire exploration and development in Greenland. As per its December 4 news release, the company has wrapped up its 2007 drilling program with the completion of the final four drill holes on the Sarfaq and Ridgetop ruby prospects at its Fiskenaesset Ruby Project. Sarfaq and Ridgetop are on trend from the Aappaluttoq (‘Big Red’) occurrence.

The Fiskenaesset Ruby Project consists of 110km2 of land on the southwest coast of Greenland, about 160km south of the capital Nuuk. True North has an option to own a 100% interest on the claims. The company has actively explored the property since acquiring it in 2004. A mini-bulk sample at the Siggartartulik occurrence taken in 2004 returned 9.73 kg/t total corundum (rubies and sapphires are varieties of corundum), with 1.5% gem and 33.5% near-gem. The gem-grade is 143.76 g/t (718.8 rough ct/t). The company’s final hand and machine sorting of the material from the sample have recently increased the overall grade. A 30-tonne sample contained concentrations of gem-grade ruby and pink sapphire averaging 1,937 g/t (9,685 ct/t).

The objective of the 2007 drilling program, comprising 50 holes on three ruby prospects with a total length of more than 5,000 m, was to deliver a preliminary assessment on the Aappaluttoq ruby and pink sapphire occurrence. One of the positive outcomes of the program was that the company was able to confirm both extensions to the favourable Aappaluttoq Host Zone geology, as well as additional ruby mineralization on surface. Three drill holes at Sarfaq have confirmed distinctive sapphirine-gedrite-phlogopite-pargasite alteration, similar to the Host Zone of the Aappaluttoq occurrence– which is known to contain rubies and pink sapphires.

Independent valuations have priced a 0.69 ct ruby from Aappaluttoq at $3,220/ct, and a 0.96 ct pink sapphire at $460/ct. The best sample contained a large ruby crystal weighing 88g (440 ct), which was carved into the Kitaa Ruby, weighing 302 ct and displaying intricate scenes of Norse oceanic legends.

The company’s 43-101 report suggests that this is just a taste of things to come. It states, “Given the fact that 18 ruby and pink sapphire occurrences are known in the district after only two seasons of reinvigorated exploration, and that the Company has obtained excellent sampling results from three of the six occurrences tested by mini-bulk sample thus far, it is incumbent upon True North to continue the exploration of the Fiskenaesset district”.

This report was released last year and, since then, nine more ruby occurrences have been found at Fiskenaesset, for a total of 29. Over the past three years, 78 tonnes of material have been removed for processing, with 48 tonnes processed to date. Over 65,000 grams of gem and over 129,700 grams of near-gem ruby and pink sapphire have been recovered from the property.

In the wake of tough new sanctions on Burma– the supplier of 90% of the world’s rubies– along with boycotts of Burmese rubies by gemstone manufacturers and prominent jewellery retailers such as Tiffany’s– demand for ethical sources of coloured gemstones has skyrocketed. Nowadays, consumers are willing to pay top-dollar for high-quality, ethically sourced gemstones– as has been proven with the marketing success enjoyed by Canadian ‘Polar Diamonds’. True North plans to apply that same logic to the coloured gem business.

The company has a major advantage in that demand for rubies has been steadily rising while demand for diamonds has been decreasing. According to the company’s Ruby-Diamond fact sheet, in 1988 a top quality ruby weighing 15.97 ct fetched $3.65 million ($228,252 per ct) at auction, while a similarly classed diamond weighing 52.59 ct sold for $7,479,981 ($142,232 per ct). In 2006, however, a ruby weighing 8.62 ct went for $3.6 million ($425,000 per ct)– while a 33.04 ct diamond sold for $1.8 million ($ 54,000 per ct). Keep in mind that the diamonds were on average 3-4 times larger than the rubies in this comparison. As gem-quality stones get larger, their price per carat rises exponentially– even more so in the case of top-quality rubies.

In early November, the company reached an important milestone when it opened its facility in Bangkok where rough gems from the Fiskenaesset will be sort and graded. Bangkok is one of the coloured gemstone industry’s major centres. “With its proximity to the established markets of Europe and the Arab countries, and the new growth areas of China and India, Bangkok is the international marketplace for purchasers of rough as well as polished gems,” noted Nick Houghton, Director and VP Product Development and Marketing in the company’s November 6 news release. “An office in Bangkok allows True North to access the knowledge and opportunities that exist there.”

True North also has the technological advantage– given recent developments in exploration methods and in optic sorting technology. It used to be that the economics of processing favoured hand-sorting of coloured gems in low-wage countries, but these new developments make it possible for the company’s operation to be both ethical and profitable.

These latest developments at Fiskenaesset should give the company’s investors something to chew on in the coming months. To take a line from the ‘Big Red’ jingle– this is definitely one stock to “hold tight a little longer”.

This article is intended for information purposes only, and is not a recommendation to buy or sell the equities of any company mentioned herein. It is based on sources believed to be reliable, but no warranty as to accuracy is expressed or implied. The opinions expressed in the article are those of the author except where statements are attributed to individuals other than the author, in which case the opinions are those of the individual to whom they are attributed.



By: Christina De Wit

About the Author:

Resourcex Investor is an internationally distributed newsletter about emerging junior resource companies. Sign up for a free 1-month trial to our newsletter and get instant access to news and investing tips that have helped many of our readers make more money. http://www.resourcex.com



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Ruby – July’s Gemstone of Hot & Spicy Fun

Ruby is a semi-precious gemstone frequently incorporated into some of the most modern, beautiful handmade jewelry in the world. It is most often found in shades of opaque or translucent red, and is widely recognized as the July Birthstone as well as the gemstone for the 15th and 40th anniversaries. But beyond its modern-day uses and associations, ruby holds a decadent mythological, spiritual and etymological history that adds nostalgic value to its already strong aesthetic worth. Read on for more information that will help you fall in love with your ruby jewelry – or inspire you to buy some today!

Ruby is a variety of the species Corundum, and is one of the most sought-after precious colored gems in the world. The word ruby is said to come from the Latin word "rubber" or "rubens," which means red.

In ancient Sanskrit, ruby is called "ratnaraj," or "king of precious stones." Centuries ago, people believed that if a ruby were placed in a pot of water, it would cause the water to boil. People also believed that if rubies were placed beneath the skin, they would generate a mystical force field that would protect the wearer from mishaps. Red is also the color of blood--the life force of all mankind.

Ruby gemstones look best as parts of formal evening jewelry when paired with diamonds, black onyx or dark blue sapphire. More casual combinations include softer contrasts of brilliant ruby reds with clear quartz, emerald or pearls. To see a selection of handmade artisan jewelry featuring ruby, click here. Ruby is typically considered a sophisticated gemstone that works well with any outfit. In earrings, it works especially well to enhance the luster of green or hazel eyes.

Rubies became a popular colored stone among European royalty and other nobility because of their intense red color. Whenever a ruby was found, the emperor/royalty sent out people to see and welcome the precious stone. The ancient Hindus believed that those who offered fine rubies to the God Krishna could be granted the life of an emperor in their next lives.

The ruby is often associated with the emotions of love, passion, majesty, power and anger. Rubies are also believed to open the heart, attract others, and overcome fear. They were also said to help predict the future if they change color or intensity. Rubies were first mined 2500 years ago. While they originated in Sri Lanka, today rubies are found in Thailand, Mynamar, and Kenya.

Mohs' Hardness score is based on a 10 point scale where 10 is the most resistant, like a diamond, and 1 is easily scratched, such as Talc. Ruby gets a score of 9, meaning that it is very scratch resistant and therefore suitable as a component of jewelry. Ruby gemstones should be regularly cleaned by a professional or with a soft rag and mild soap and water. Other methods, including ultra-sonic cleaners, are also okay as long as they are not oiled. Avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning your handcrafted jewelry as exposure to these elements can damage semi-precious and precious gemstones and pearls.

Learn more about all semi-precious gemstones, including amethyst, apatite, black onyx, blue topaz, carnelian, chalcedony, citrine, coral, garnet, white topaz, crystal, diamond, emerald, iolite, jade, Labradorite, moonstone, pearl, peridot, prehnite, rose quarz, ruby, sapphire, smokey topaz, tanzanite, tourmaline and tourquoise when you check out this gemstone chart.



By: Sarah Stephens

About the Author:

Sarah Stephens is the Fashion Director for Dasha Boutique. Visit our online shop today, featuring hundreds of handmade jewelry designs. Customize orders ship in 3 business days. Dasha Boutique is featured in Lucky, InStyle, People, Bridal Guide and Brides.



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