Ruby, a medium to dark red jewel, is the most
valuable member of the mineral species corundum (aluminum oxide), which
has been prized for centuries. All other colors of corundum are, by definition,
called "sapphire." A bright "fire engine red" color,
designated by the term "Burmese" (since the color is more prevalent,
and was first found in that area) is considered to be the world's finest.
Rubies are normally heat treated at the mine to enhance their appearance
by improving clarity and driving out brown and purple overtones. With a
hardness of 9, and an absence of cleavage, ruby is considered to be one
of the most durable gemstones next to diamond.
Historical leading sources are Burma, Thailand, India, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka (Ceylon). Recent finds in Viet-Nam and China are being developed,
and some excellent stones from these areas are finding their way to the
world markets.
email: jhurd@valleyjewelers.com We have an eBay store (mainly items other than jewelry, but sometimes estate jewelry pieces), that Jim maintains as a hobby, where you can find lower priced items (lingerie, kitchen items, books of all kinds, vintage cameras & lenses, collectibles, etc.) that we find at estate sales and auctions. Most of these items are new, or used in near new condition (all lingerie is new), unless the item is rare--If you'd like to check it out, PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR OUR EBAY STORE
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