MODELS OF RUBY ​​PENDANT

We adopt the Chatham, Himalayan and Natural sterling silver ruby pendant to warm up a classic outfit, bring a hint of colour to a slightly dull ensemble, dress up a neckline, without falling into provocation. Flamboyant red, ruby, the native stone of the month of July, evokes sensuality and passionate love. Embellished with a fine mesh chain, such as silver lace, the ruby ​​pendant is worn around the neck, near the heart. Much more than a simple accessory, the red ruby ​​pendant is a jewel with strong meaning. It is emblematic of love, which is why it is customary in France to offer it as a ruby ​​ring to celebrate 35 years of union between a man and a woman. Worn in ruby jewellery, this gem brings a touch of refinement to all styles of clothing. Its bright, intensely red is not lacking in spice. Available in ruby earrings, the flamboyant jewel elegantly sublimates facial features. We opt for a small discreet gem, or an impressive gem, with a royal dimension, to adorn a delicate frame. For each piece of jewellery, the customer is free to personalize the model according to her wishes. The ruby, worn around the neck as a pendant, is found in a wide variety of models.  For special requests and for a more superb rendering, Aileen’s offers each client the possibility of making their pendant to measure. For unique and intimate jewellery, imbued with excellence. Ideal for offering an original ruby ​​pendant, for a wedding.

Mineralogical characteristics

A variety of corundum from the group of oxides, ruby, composed of aluminium oxide and oxygen, has a transparent to translucent appearance and pyramidal facies. Insoluble in acids, it is the hardest mineral after diamond (with sapphire, other corundum).

It forms in igneous rocks or in metamorphic rocks such as mica schist or gneisses. In Asia, rubies appeared 60 million years ago during the rise of the Himalayas.

Ruby usually occurs in small crystals because chromium hinders its growth; a large dark red ruby ​​is therefore a rarity. Among the precious stones, the diamond comes first but a beautiful ruby ​​is considered to be rarer than a beautiful diamond.

Colours

Coloured corundum is commonly referred to as sapphire. There are thus, in addition to blue sapphire, yellow, purple, green or pink sapphires. Only the red variety has a name of its own: ruby.

Its colour comes from tiny traces of chromium (on average 1/1000) which replace aluminium in its structure. The level of chromium defines the intensity of the red. Rubies with brown tones also show traces of iron.

Red comes in all shades. Rubies from the same deposit do not always have the same intensity and therefore do not determine the origin. Light rubies are less prized. In the past, the Burmese discarded pale or pink stones because they did not find them “ripe” enough.

The most sought-after ruby ​​has a strong, strong red, with a slight hint of blue to darken. This perfect colour is called ” pigeon blood “. Others are cochineal red, culvert red, wallflower, crimson or vermeil …

Various inclusions are often found. Guarantors of authenticity, they are not always appreciated. Heat treatments can reduce or eliminate them.

Rubies sometimes have an asterism effect revealed by a cabochon cut. Rutile inclusions form a perfect six-pointed star. We know, for example, the Edith Hagen ruby ​​of Long. It exceeds 100 carats, comes from Burma where it was extracted in 1930. Offered to the American Museum Natural History in New York, it was stolen in 1964 and returned after payment of a ransom. The Smithsonian Institute in Washington is home to the famous 138-carat Reeves star ruby from Sri Lanka.

Possible confusion with other minerals

Ruby can be confused with the following stones:

1. Red spinel falsely called “broom ruby”
2. Tourmaline (rubellite) falsely called “Siberian ruby”
3. Pyrope or almandine garnet
4. Hyacinthe
5. Fluorite
6. Pink orange topaz sometimes called rubicelle

Extraction

Rubies can be extracted from underground mines using explosives, but the exploitation of alluvium provides the most important production. The rocks surrounding the rubies disintegrate, the detached rubies are then deposited in the valleys carved by the rivers.

In large farms, the soil extracted from the wells is washed mechanically with high pressure jets. The washing of the gravel in the waterways using saddles, an ancestral and manual method, is still practiced. With a lot of luck, you can collect rubies on the paths but this dream rarely comes true!

Provenances

The Burma (especially the secular exploitation of the Mogok region) represents nearly 90% of world production. Operating conditions are very harsh and trade is often opaque. Twice a year, most of the production is auctioned off in gigantic events in Rangoon. But also found in other places in Asia:

1. Sri-Lanka (beautiful very red rubies from Ratnapura)
2. Afghanistan
3. Cambodia
4. India
5. Nepal
6. Pakistan
7. Thailand (Chanthaburi region, very deep wells)
8. Vietnam (zoned coloring)

In Africa :

1. Kenya
2. Madagascar
3. Malawi
4. Mozambique
5. Tanzania (amazing association: green zoisite with ruby ​​inclusions)
6. Zimbabwe

In America:

1. Brazil
2. United States (North Carolina, Montana)

In Oceania:

1. Australia

Etymology and meaning of the word “Ruby”

Ruby comes from the Latin rubeus which means “red”. In medieval Latin, he will give the term rubinus which one finds in words such as rubella, rubella… In Old French, the robin is thus a rubeline and the redstart a rubienne. We find the English robin in robin.

The rubiaceae plant family owes this name to the rubia tinctorum already described in Roman antiquity. This plant is the madder whose roots and rhizomes have long provided the red of our tissues.

Ruby (first written rubiz) is the plural form of medieval ruby or rubie. It will prevail from the 16th century.

Finally, rubicels designated small clear rubies (a word still used for certain pink or orange minerals). In the inventories of the Middle Ages, one finds frequent “rubiet” or “rubinet”, other small rubies.

The Ruby, gem of kings

These prodigious exaggerations do not put off the rulers of the kingdoms of the West.  Writings from the 13th century inform us that Saint-Louis had a ring “where is a big ruby ​​like a half-bean”.

In the 14th century, Charles V, the wise king, possessed an engraved oriental ruby, very old, representing a king without a beard. He uses it to seal letters written with his own hand. It is called the “King Charles V bookmark”. Her daughter-in-law, Isabeau of Bavaria, the most “hated” queen of France, prepares mixtures of rubies and crushed pearls to keep her slimness.

The Duke of Berry, at the beginning of the 15th century, holds, among his treasures, a ruby ​​sitting on a gold ring called Heart of France and another called Bonhomme; both donated by his wealthy and generous brother, the Duke of Burgundy. A little later, Charles the Bold from the same wealthy Maison de Bourgogne wears a priceless rosary of rubies on his hat.

The crown jewels

The royal crown of the Capetians housed a sacred thorn from the crown of Jesus Christ placed under a 278-carat carbuncle. This gem came from the dowry of the Queen of the Franks, Anne of Kiev, in the 11th century. An emerald from this crown has come down to us, but the ruby ​​has not. We still wonder about its true nature: corundum, spinel, garnet?

The question is resolved for the famous “Black Prince’s Ruby”, jewel of the Crown of England since 1367. This gem set in a Maltese cross on the front face of the imperial crown is a magnificent spinel. It can be admired at the Tower of London.  Same disappointment for the Anne de Bretagne ruby ​​called “Côtes de Bretagne”. Then cut in the shape of a dragon, it will turn out to be a spinel, currently visible in the Louvre.

The Saint-Wenceslas crown was created in 1347 for the coronation of King Charles IV of Bohemia, Romano-Germanic emperor. Raised in France, he wanted the same pomp for his crowning glory. Sapphires, emeralds and pearls set in highly titled gold surround a dazzling 250-carat oriental ruby. Today, the crown is hidden in a room in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. To access the treasure, the seven keys entrusted to seven high officials of the State and the Church must be gathered. It is easier to admire a copy at Prague Castle.

The benefits of Ruby against physical ailments

1. Protects the heart and circulatory system
2. Stimulates the functioning of the kidneys and adrenal glands
3. Preserves poisoning and contagion
4. Helps lower cholesterol levels
5. Restores tone and vitality
6. Promotes longevity
7. Improves visual acuity
8. Relieves tension and cramps, painful periods
9. Treats fevers
10. Promotes sexual activity
11. Protects from seasickness

The benefits of Ruby on the psyche and relationships

1. Brings joy to life and enthusiasm
2. Develops self-confidence and perseverance
3. Promotes prosperity
4. Regulates hyperactivity
5. Stimulates creativity
6. Increase all passions
7. Preserves jealousy and promotes wisdom
8. Strengthens willpower, courage
9. Keeps away nightmares and promotes positive dreams