Natural rubies are considered the most expensive gemstones in the world. Perfect quality Burmese rubies cost significantly more than diamonds of similar weight and quality.
More expensive than diamonds
The point is that large-sized perfect rubies are extremely rare in nature. In 2006, the famous jeweler Lawrence Graff bought a perfect ruby weighing 8.62 carats for 3.6 million pounds, that is, for each carat he paid 425 thousand pounds, which is a record selling price. At the same time, low-quality ruby crystals, which cannot be cut normally, cost several dollars per carat.
The very term "ruby" was introduced into use back in 1747 by the mineralogist Valerius. Prior to this, the word "ruber" or "ruberus" denoted a number of red stones - garnets, spinels and rubies. At the moment, rubies are called only a certain type of red transparent corundum, which is distinguished by a bright or dark, characteristic thick color.
The appearance of the stone depends very much on the place of extraction. The most expensive, Burmese rubies are distinguished by their characteristic red color with a noticeable bluish tint. This color is called "pigeon blood". However, rubies come in a wide variety of colors, from deep pink to vibrant crimson. It should be noted that not all rubies are completely transparent. There are interesting translucent stones with the effect of "cat's eye", such rubies are called "jirazol". In a processed and polished form, they resemble iridescent scarlet drops, such stones are most often used to create rings and earrings.
Original stones
Star rubies are highly prized. In such stones, you can see a special star, which consists of rutile fibers diverging at an angle of 120 degrees. Such an asterisk seems to be burning on the surface of the stone, thanks to the effect of asterism.
Rubies confidently take the second place among gemstones in hardness after diamonds. At the same time, ruby crystals have a very high degree of brilliance, which is uncharacteristic for any other gemstone, except for diamonds.
The price of a ruby is determined based on the beauty and color saturation, the absence of defects and the degree of purity. Foreign inclusions can reduce the cost of the stone, but in rare cases, contribute to its increase. For example, the presence of uniform soft "silk" in a transparent crystal (this word means whitish inclusions that capture light), most likely, will significantly increase the value of the stone. However, an excess of impurities suppresses the transparency and color of the stone, deteriorating its quality.
