Corundum var. Ruby transitioning to Sapphire

Item Description

This highly unusual doubly-terminated corundum crystal is mostly red ruby - though it grades into royal blue sapphire at one termination! The gradual change and sharpness of the color contrast makes this striking, as does the aesthetic perch of the large crystal atop matrix. This crystal measures 5.7 cm in length, emplaced on a white marble matrix for superb display as a specimen. We have not seen such an impressive Nepalese sapphire/ruby specimen in some time. These came out mainly in the 1980s, I was told (and as related by Charlie Key, who funded some of the work): In 1984 Charlie Key, along with John Barlow, sponsored a collecting trip to Nepal for these. The piece is large, colorful, aesthetic in matrix, and of enough size to be quite significant for the locale.