Ruby (LARGE faceted stone!)

Item Description

Of the precious gemstones, perhaps the most famous and storied of them all is Ruby. These amazing stones have been known for centuries, and adorned by royalty around the world. Ruby is the birthstone for July, and is 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. Even today red Tourmalines are still referred to as "Rubellite". 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. For many years India has been a source of some large Ruby crystals, among the biggest found in the world, but they are rarely completely transparent. Recently, we were able to get our hands on this large faceted stone of this lesser-known which has an alluring and vibrant intense purplish-red hue with slight translucence around the edges when backlit, but it's not gem quality. The stone has a fairly basic "Oval Step" cut, but it's the size and color that really make it shine. Not too many people can say they've seen a nearly 1,000 (!!) 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 obscure locality in southwestern India.