Ruby

Admired for Millennia

Proverbs 31:10 compares the value of a good wife with rubies: “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies”. This biblical text is a testament to the high value rubies have held for millennia in human culture. Rubies have also had a glittering collection of noble admirers from the 14th century French king, John II to Elizabeth Taylor, whose collection included several spectacular ruby pieces that were sold by Christie’s auction house for record prices in 2011.

The Sunrise Ruby

The most expensive ruby, known as the ‘Sunrise Ruby’, sold at Sotheby’s auction in 2015. The 25.59 carat Mogok Burmese ruby was set by Cartier in a diamond ring, and fetched a considerable $30 million. The ruby was certified by the SSEF (Swiss Foundation for the Research of Gemstones) as a ‘pigeon blood’ colour.

Pigeon Blood

‘Pigeon blood rubies’ are considered the best-pigmented stones as they contain higher levels of chromium which creates a more vibrant colour, however SSEF and Gubelin will only designate a ruby as ‘pigeon blood’ if it also possesses an excellent crystal and clarity.

The Most Valuable Gemstone

The colour of a ruby has provided the stone’s name, which is derived from the Latin, ‘ruber’, meaning red. However, rubies can be found in various shades, from deep red-purple to a lighter red-pink. The ruby’s broad colour scheme makes them one of the most valuable group of coloured gemstones.

Christian Connection and Louis IX

Perhaps, rubies long lasting appeal lies in the blood-red depth that hits a nerve in the human mind as a physical reminder of our own human life-blood. For this reason, the ruby has featured prominently in the decoration of Christian objects of devotion, particularly those used for the Eucharist. A significant example of this is the 14th century reliquary for the crown of thorns. John, Duc du Berry, commissioned a lavish, bejewelled reliquary to house the treasured 2000-year-old holy thorn. The thorn was believed to have survived from Christ’s crown of thorns and was the prized possession of the French royal family who had acquired it in 1239 during the reign of the later sainted Louis IX. Large cabochon rubies are studded around the central panel of the gold reliquary in which the thorn is placed. More rubies surround the radiating gold halo around the enamelled figure of God the Father enthroned at the top of the reliquary.

Royal Power and Love Tokens

Their connection to Christ has also lead rubies to have been historically associated with royal power. They frequently have been used as the centre piece for crowns. Ruby’s visual connection to blood have also lead to them being associated with the heart and used as symbols of lust and love. Rubies have long been included in love tokens.

Characteristics and Composition

Rubies are classified 9 on Mohs scale of hardness, and are the second hardest stone after diamonds. They are made from the sample mineral Corundum. The crystal composition of a ruby is very similar to that of a sapphire, both gems are composed of aluminium oxide (Al2O3). The presence of chromophore chromium (III) oxide traces within a ruby creates the deep red colour.

Sources of Ruby: Burma

Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has long been a lucrative source of the finest rubies in the world. As a result Burmese gem mines have a rich history. The earliest Burmese historiography was written in the 11th century and features a ruby the size of a hen’s egg, which was anonymously returned to one vanquished king by the very one who had defeated him. Rubies were thus used as symbols of power and luck, frequently present in royal insignia in India to England.

Rubies from Burma react well to natural sunlight; the rays will illuminate the stone and cause it to ‘sing’, but should not wash out the colour itself. When Burma was colonised the mines, which had by then earned an almost legendary status, were managed by the colonisers. Mogok, which is sometimes still known as the ‘Valley of the Rubies’, was coveted by British forces because of its rich supply in gemstones. In the 19th century the mine was annexed by British, and the Burma Ruby Mines Ltd. was establishment. This company expanded the mines and incorporated modern technology to exploit it to its full potential. The mine remained in Burma until 1931, when the introduction of the synthetic ruby and the post-war climate brought its value down quickly. The mines were then abandoned for several years. They were then reopened on a far smaller and more sustainable scale. Today relatively few stones are mined in Burma, so most good-quality Burmese rubies are likely to be antiques.

Sources of Ruby: Thailand

Thailand is now a more common source of rubies than Burma. Thai rubies tend to contain iron as well as chromium, and therefore have an element of brown to their colour, often resembling garnets. Although, this tends to prevent the fiery fluorescence of a Burmese ruby as iron inhibits such a clean reflection of light, Thai rubies are still rich in colour. The best examples of Thai rubies often resemble a high-quality Burmese ruby.

Recent Discoveries

Recently, some newer deposits have come into production. Mozambique was discovered to be a ruby source in 2009, and half of the world’s supply comes from there. Alongside Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Pakistan have lately been realised as untapped locations for ruby mines.