Ruby (large faceted stone)

Item Description

In the world of precious gems (which includes Diamonds, Sapphire and Emeralds), perhaps the most famous and storied of them all is Ruby. Rubies are not only the birthstone for July, but it has been called the "King of Gems" by authors, dealers and collectors. Fine Rubies have been prized by many cultures around the world, and have been synonymous with protection, strength, passion and prosperity for millennia. Believe it or not, Ruby was not recognized as a variety of Corundum until the early 1800s, and gems like red Spinel and red Tourmaline were often called "Ruby" back in the day. Due to the fact that there are some significant Ruby deposits in Asia, you'll find that there is a strong connection to the gem throughout the continent, and I've read that Rubies have been traded along China’s North Silk Road dating back to 200 BCE and were worn on the armor of Chinese noblemen because they believed the gem would grant protection. India for many years has been a source of some large Ruby crystals, among the biggest found in the world, but they are not often transparent. Not too long ago, we were able to get our hands on this large faceted stone of this beautiful material, which has an alluring deep purplish-red hue with very slight translucence around the edges when backlit. The stone has a fairly basic "Emerald Step" cut, but it's the size and color that really make it shine. Not too many people can say they've seen a 700+ carat faceted Ruby from many localities, and if you're a fan of interesting gemstones, worldwide Rubies, or if you know somebody with a birthday in July who would love to receive this as a gift, don't miss out on this interesting and attractive gem from this locality in southwestern India.