Famous Rubies In History

Just recently, Christie’s sold a record price of $6.4 million for a 87.8 carats of Burmese ruby and diamond necklace in Hong Kong. This goes to show that Red Rubies are still popular and even valuable just like top quality colorless and fancy diamonds. A few rubies have distinguished themselves because of their sizes and extraordinary beauty,here are a few list of some famous and remarkable rubies found in history.

Graff Ruby

1.) Graff Ruby – A well known cushion cut Burmese ruby with a weight of 8.62 carats. In February 2006, It was bought by a famous and credited London diamond and gemstone dealer Lawrence Graff. Graff paid a $3,637,480.00 at Christie’s. I was a new record price per carat of $421, 981. 43.

Alan Caplan Ruby

2.) Alan Caplan Ruby – Named after Alan Caplan, a famous mineralogist and gemstone dealer who acquired the stone in Burma. This stone is also known as “Mogok Ruby”, derive from source of this fine gemstone. This 15.97 carat Burmese stone was then sold by Sotheby’s in New York for $3,630,000 per carat of $227,301 last October 18, 1988.

The Carmen Lúcia Ruby

3.) The Carmen Lúcia Ruby – This is one of the finest and largest faceted Burmese rubies known. The stone was also mined from the fabled Mogok region of Burma in the 1930s.

Rosser Reeves Ruby by Chip Clark

4.) Rosser Reeves Ruby – Donated at Smithsonian Institution in Washington in 1965 by Rosser Reeves, this 138.7 carats ruby is one of the world’s largest and finest star rubies. Originally, the stone weighs around 140 carats, but was heavily scratched. After polishing, the stone weights 138.7 and made to center the stone’s star.

Delong Star Ruby

5.) DeLong Star Ruby – Another remarkable star ruby that can be found at the Natural History Museum in New York City. This deep purplish red ruby weighs 100.32 carats and has an eye-catching 6-rayed star effect. The stones was purchased by Edith Haggin de Long from Martin Ehrmann for $21,400, who later donated the stone to the Museum.

496.50-carat Nawata Ruby

6.) Nawata Ruby – An exceptional ruby gemstone that weighs 496.5 carats, and is a national treasure of the Union of Myanmar. It is also called SLORC Ruby (State Law and Order Restoration Commitee) and has an interesting story in history.

Hixon Ruby

7.) Hixon Ruby – A 196.10 carats gemstone donated to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles in 1978 by Frederick Hixon. It is one of the finest Burmese ruby crystals discovered to date.

The Hope Ruby

8.) The Hope Ruby – The most expensive cushion-shaped ruby ring weighing 32.08 carats and had a recorded auction price of $6.74 million. The auctioned price was the highest ever price for a ruby sold at auction.

Burmese Ruby Tiara

9.) Burmese Ruby Tiara – Queen Elizabeth commissioned this tiara from Garrard & Co in 1973 using the rubies and diamonds in her private collection. A total of 96 rubies are set into the tiara. The rubies were a wedding present by the Burmese people, after whom the tiara was named.

Burmese Pigeon’s Blood Ruby and Diamond Necklace

10.) Burmese ruby and diamond necklace by Etcetera – As I’ve mention this was the highest price ever paid for a ruby necklace at an auction. It weighs a total of 87.8 carats at $6.4 million.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September Birthstone – Blue Sapphire

Maybe you have noticed that the sky is most of the time at its bluest this month of the year? Maybe this is the reason why September’s birthstone is the stunning blue sapphire. Given that antiquity, the colour blue and September will always be connected. Even the phrase “Sapphire” derives its name from the Greek “sapphirus” that means blue, a word which itself derives from the Hebrew ” sappir” meaning to shine.

In western Europe, ancient pastorate wore sapphires in order to symbolize heaven, though ordinary people thought this gem attracted heavenly blessings. The sapphire was believed to represent the purity of the soul. Before and throughout the Middle Ages, it was worn by ministers as protection from sullied thoughts and allurements from the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe highly valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and covet. Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful.

Blue sapphires are usually reassuringly costly, wherever they find themselves within the colour spectrum. However as always, some tend to be more costly than others. The biggest costs are placed on medium to moderate dark blue stones. Sapphire’s do come in a number of colours. Pink, purple, green, orange, or yellow and so are known by their own colour, e.g. pink sapphire, green sapphire etc. However for this month’s birthstone, the sapphire must be blue!

 

What To look for when Buying a Saphire Gemstone?

An alternative and much more affordable birthstone for September would be the lapis lazuli. It’s been mined from around 4000 B.C. and is still in use today. This beautiful blue stone was a really extraordinary much rare and prized gem of the ancient world. The golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen seemed to be decorated with lapis lazuli, as were other funeral decorations of Egyptian kings and queens. This blue jewel of lazurite came only from the mine in northern Afghanistan, and was handed mystical and enchanting properties in historical Egypt and medieval Europe. In the present day Lapis luzuli is recognized to speak to truth, as well as the wearer of this gem is intended to be accorded enhanced wisdom as well as good judgement.