RUBY

The word ruby comes from the Latin "ruby," meaning "red". Before the 18 th century all red stones were considered rubies. Since we know the chemical composition and crystalline structure, it is possible to differentiate them from the stones of the same color.

The most beautiful red ruby from Mogok, Jemmy ferrous region north of Myanmar. There is the famous ruby "pigeon blood" which samples over 3 carats are more expensive than diamonds of the same weight. They are also found in Thailand, the main producer of rubies in the world. Additional resources are extracted, in order of importance, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The majority of Ruby (90 to 95%) is now the subject of treatments to improve the color and transparency. The most effective is called "heat-diffusion", where the stone is heated to a temperature up to 1600 degrees in a dye mixture that enters the perimeter surface of the stone. Used for several years in the case of sapphire, this treatment is a recent application in the case of ruby.

The production of gem-quality synthetic rubies is currently reaches climax. Their physical, chemical and optical properties are identical to those of natural rubies. They are distinguished in the laboratory from the impurities they contain, their responses to ultraviolet light in color and sometimes that does not have the same wealth.

  

The jewels in this section are from Thailand.

Their color varies from red to pink to purplish red. Clarity

Varies slightly included no inclusion visible to the naked eye.

Characteristic

    Crystal system: Trigonal “trigone “

    Chemical composition: Al 2 O 3

    Color: Red

    Hardness: 9.0

    Specific gravity: 4.00

    Refractive index: 1.76 - 1.77

    Dispersion: 0018

    Polychrome: Purplish red and orange-red

    Birthstone: July