Ruby (rough and cut set) (ex Jim Houran Collection)

Item Description

Here we have arguably the finest quality "rough and cut" set known featuring a fine quality, 0.95-carat, "Oval Brilliant" cut Ruby gem with a vibrant saturated reddish-pink color from Cowee Valley, North Carolina which is paired with a classic hexagonal prismatic crystal (rough) of a pinkish-purple hue from the famous Propst Farm locale. The gem is translucent for all intents and purposes, but it's better quality in terms of clarity than many others I've seen from the Cowee Valley. The crystal is a textbook, doubly-terminated representation of the Propst Farm Rubies in its habit and color. It's important to note that Propst Farm is a lesser-known source for Ruby crystals, which rarely occur in gem quality examples suitable for faceting. The crystals are hard enough to find on the market, but to have it matched up with a fine quality faceted stone is beyond rare in my experience. It should be noted that the gem in this set has not been treated in any way whatsoever, unlike some commercial Ruby gems you'll find on the market, which have been glass-filled to improve their clarity. A really attractive, desirable, and hard-to-find set from North Carolina.  Valued between $2,000 - $2,500 on the retail market for the obscurity, overall quality, and the fact that they are Rubies from the United States. From the collection of Dr. James "Jim" Houran, noted thumbnail mineral collector, gemstone collector, and a speaker at our annual Dallas Mineral Symposium. Jim is the Managing Director of AETHOS Consulting Group. He's a 25-year veteran in applied psychological research and a published expert on peak performance, online testing, and interpersonal and organizational compatibility. He has authored over 150 articles, and his award-winning work has been profiled by a myriad of media outlets and programs including the Discovery Channel, A&E, BBC, National Geographic, NBC’s Today Show, USA Today, New Scientist, Psychology Today and Forbes.com.