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| Ruby:The King Of Gems. |
The red variety of corundum
, a sister of sapphire , and symbol of courage , bravery , passion
and romance , this birthstone of July is also the recommended gem
for couples celebrating their 15st wedding anniversary.
Rating a (9) on the Mohs scale , ruby is the second hardest after
diamond ,being mined through out South East Asia and also in Africa.
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Myanmar rubies top other varieties in value while those from South
East Asia sources are noted for their good quality .
Comparable in color with the East African stones which , full of transparency and
value , are but displayed to full advantage in cabochon cuts.
Ruby comes in a variety of shades ranging from purplish and bluish
red to orange red.
There is also a translucent variety of it , displaying
a six point star when in a smooth domed cabochon cut.
Upon buying a ruby, its color is the most important factor to be considered
in the light of the fact that finest rubies are intensely saturated
pure red with no overtones of brown or blue.
Other factors that influence value of ruby are clarity , cut and size
; the more the visible inclusions or internal flaws are present ,
the lower the clarity of the stone is .
Rarely found perfect in nature , many are heat treated to intensify
or lighten their color , and to improve their cleaning method of it
is the use either of soapy water or a mild commercial solvent , and
a brush. |
