The Jasper weekly courier., 1879-01-03
Concerning Rubies.


The ruby Is so called from the redness
which commonly characterizes this ex-
quisite gem Like the sapphire and tbe
oriental topaz, it belongs to the class
styled corundum, the members Of which
are alike in composition. though difsr-
ent IN color and quality. The true ruby.
OF red sapphire, Is said to be the most
valuable OF gems when of large size.
good color, and free from fault. so that
y exceeds even the diamond in value
~ IS harder than any other known sub
stance except the diamond, which alone
among precious stones it will not cut
~ is susceptible Of electricity by friction.
ana retains il for some hours: il Also
possesses double refraciion in a slioht
degree. Occasionally specimens are
asteriated, as in the case Of what arc
known as star sapphires. Though Il
can not be fused BY itself, in combina-
tion with fiux it may be melted into 4
clear glass. Mr.. Streeter describes ~
color as carmine, cochineal, or pigeons
oiood, and rosebud, often with play Of
violet. rJ =
The finest rubies are found in Ava
Siam. and Pegu; Others are fonnd Il
lndla, Ceylon, Brazil, Australia, Borneo.
Samatra, and some places on the CONT
nent Of Europe. The Burmese mines
nave long been famous; the working Of
them Is royal monopoly, and the King
mas, among other titles, that of lord of
tne rubies. The Brazilian ruby is de-
clared 70 be pink topaz, inferior TO
the true ruby, yellow in its natural state. |
and colored artiticially. Ii Is, unfor- ,
beyond the power Of ordinary I
cnasers TO pronounce any critical opIn- /
ion upon rubies, except as regards their |
appearance, size and color, the best be- !
ng that known as pigeons blood, which h
I pure, deep, rich red, quite free from 4
blue or yellow.
Speaking of the value OF the ruby. Mr.
emanuel observes that the rare occnr.
ence of the desired vivid pigeons !,
,lood color in ruby Of any size causes y
ne prices TO increase in an even greater 9
proportion than the diamond. For q
tones OF the finest quality he supplies e
ne following Valuations: One carat is II
'orth ia to f20; one and half, f25 n
t55; two, go to ESQ; and three. q
200 TO f250; four, f4O0 to f45O. Un- az
er one carat, the price ranges from f2 ~
- per carat, ,and over four carafs what os
called fancy price is commanded. nc
tier all, perhaps 1t may be said Of ru- pt
es in general, that when they exceed IN
le carat in weight no definite price Go
N De given as a guide to the pur- 81
lasee. sa
MIR. Streeter states that when a per. ~
ct ruby Of five carats Is brought into IN
g market, a sum several times as great !. ~
that offered for diamond Of the ~
m. weight will be bid for IL; il IL 49, 49,
aches seven carats it is almost invalu- ~ ~
le. "n
Yet rubies Of much greater size arein ths
istence. An Indian prince had one ~
near "A carats, and il was bought for 5;d
I pounds weight in gold. Catharine ba.
Russia had in her crown n ruby as no,
ge as pigeons egg; and there is she
q 70 have been one in Paris which the
ighed 1861 carats. That of Catharine lan
pears TO be still in the Russian treasu- ha;,
Others might be mentioned, especi- Ian
that among the French crown Jewels. nre
ich Is cut into the form Of dragon far,
h outstretched wings. The first han
'cimens, of course, are the monopolv 49,;
princes and persons with princely con
tunes Even these may, neverthc- in
! .p pe some'imes deceived, for we are dep
that two large stones shown as ru- She
among her Majesty's jewels at the dea,
ibition Of 1862 are simply spinels, extr
therefore neither rare nor precious. taxi
'ubies may be faulty, in other words, scril
have flaws, specs, silky or milky his
earance, or q tint which is too dark. inc
90 light. But fashion goes for some- SAY
e. and violet or pale c0lored rubies wor,
sometimes rise very much in value. has
least liable TO fuctuation are those this
he renowned pigeons blood hue. IN.
ne best rubies are usually cut in the
ed or half brilliant style, but when
Y, imperfect, or asteriated, they will
met with en- cabochen, or with a Tc
lded top, like carbuncles. Tc
nitations Of the rubies are made, and Tc
time look well, and even real ru- will
OF small size have been produced To
icially. isas
he ruby may be set either alone or To
.roups, or in junction with other Is a
ious stones. Few Jewels have q famil
g admirable appearance than those To
hich large ruby Is surrounded by sign
ionds. When set round with pearls calve
me quality the effect is also admira- To
hough some object to il, as they say room
ed Of the rubies. detracts from the him |
J quiet lustcr Of the pearls. We do 10
hink they look SO well in connec- fellow
with the emerald. the sapphire, or in |
coiored ms.--London Coun
nal. Il
Coun