Exquisite, Flashy, Sparkling 19th Century Genuine Natural Quarter Carat (Plus) Exceptionally Good Quality Faceted Baguette Cut Ruby from Burma.

ORIGIN: Burma, 19th Century (present day Myanmar).

SIZE: Length: 6mm. Width: 3mm. Depth: 2 1/2 mm. Measurements approximate.

WEIGHT: 0.28 carats.

NOTES: Upon request we can set your gemstone as a ring, pendant, or as earrings.

DETAIL: A very, very nice decent quality 19th century antique hand faceted baguette-cut ruby from Burma (present day Myanmar). Hand crafted by a 19th century Russian artisan, part of an heritage renown for the production of the elaborate gemstones and jewelry of the Czars of Medieval, Renaissance, and Victorian Russia. Originally used in indigenous jewelry, this sparkling precious gemstone is transparent, near eye clean, with a highly desirable bright blood red color, vibrant character, and sparkles of fiery, brilliant bright red flashes. It is near eye clean, of higher value transparent character as opposed to lower value translucent rubies. Of course most ruby gemstones are anywhere from lightly to heavily included. Most completely transparent rubies you see offered today at retail are either synthetic (read the fine print carefully) or cost $10,000 a carat.

This particular gemstone is an exception. Though it is not flawless, even at 600% magnification, the tiny little blemishes this remarkable gemstone does possess (some seamed colorless crystalline material) are not noticed upon casual scrutiny by the unaided eye. If you hold the gemstone up to the light and scrutinize it very carefully, you can just make out these blemishes. Certainly you can see them in the accompanying photo enlargements - but even in these enlargements they are starkly apparent. However in hand, to anything short of the most careful scrutiny, this beautiful sparkling gemstone simply appears to be clean, and it is most assuredly a natural ruby precious gemstone. We guarantee you will be mesmerized and dazzled by the brilliant flash and sparkling, fiery beauty of this natural ruby precious gemstone.

This gemstone has great luster and sparkle, and to the eye is completely transparent, but it is not absolutely without flaw. True, any blemishes it possesses are not immediately visible to the naked eye, and the gemstone can be characterized at a minimum, to use trade jargon, as "near eye clean". To casual and cursory view it is indeed eye clean or near eye clean. But if you look carefully you can pick out some of the seamed colorless crystalline material. It is invisible from some angles, but from other angles it is more sharply delineated. The ruby is mostly transparent - it is just that there are these wispy seams of crystalline material which show up when viewed from a particular angle. However this blemish is really only noticed upon critical inspection of the gemstone, and would be even less noticeable once the gemstone was mounted.

To the eye the gemstone absolutely transparent, and is alive with fiery brilliant red flashes. When struck by a light source, or when held up to the light, you can see right through. Of course one can make out the seamed colorless crystalline material, but at the same time one cannot help but admire the rich, blood red color, as well as the brilliant bright red sparkles. While this colorful precious gemstone is not absolutely flawless, it is definitely toward the higher end of the quality spectrum. The trained eye will easily discern tell-tale indications that the gemstone was hand cut and hand faceted. The coarseness of the 19th century finish is considered appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered a detriment. In fact these characteristics of a hand crafted gemstone are considered part and parcel of the magic of such an antique gemstone. Unlike today's computer controlled machine processes, the cut and finish of gemstones such as these is the legacy of an artisan who lived two centuries ago. Such antique hand-faceted gemstones possess much greater character and appeal than today's mass-produced machine-faceted gemstones.

However such tiny little characteristic blemishes are not only expected of antique hand-crafted gemstones, you must also consider that two centuries ago the mining techniques even theoretically possible, let alone commonly practiced, did not allow the ultra deep mining operations which are so commonplace today. Two centuries ago mankind was more or less limited to surface deposits or near surface deposits of gemstones. Higher quality gemstones which today are routinely mined from beneath hundreds of meters, even kilometers beneath the earth's surface, were simply inaccessible then. So antique gemstones must be appreciated as antiques first, gemstones second. The relatively superlative quality of contemporary gemstones routinely mined from deep beneath the earth's surface today were simply not accessible two centuries ago, or at least, only rarely so. However for most, the unique nature and character of antique gemstones such as this more than makes up for included imperfections which by and large, are (if at all) only visible under high magnification.

HISTORY: Rubies were amongst the earliest gemstones traded by mankind, since the 5th millennium B.C. Rubies were worn as an amulet for protection from plagues, poison, sorrow, and evil spirits from ancient times all the way through Medieval Europe. Rubies it was believed would bring health, wealth, wisdom, and success to those who wore them. In Sankskrit, an ancient language of India, ruby was called "ratnaraj", which means "King of Gems". To them, this fiery stone burned with an inextinguishable fire, capable of boiling the water in which it was placed. Even the ancient Greeks believed that a "fire" burned within a ruby, as evidenced by the red color, and they believed the ruby capable of melting wax. The Burmese actually embedded rubies within their skin as they believed it produced invulnerability. Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the second hardest natural mineral known to mankind (behind the diamond). The non-red variety of corundum is Sapphire. Because of its hardness and durability, ruby is an excellent choice for including in all types of jewelry. Sapphires are well known among the general public as being blue, but can be nearly any color. Rubies are mined all over the world, including India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, India, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, and North Carolina in the USA.

SHIPPING OPTIONS: All purchases are backed by an unlimited guarantee of satisfaction and authenticity. If for any reason you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it for a complete and immediate refund of your entire purchase price. Most of these antique gemstones were originally part of two collections, one originating in India principally composed of gemstones originally mined in India, Burma, Ceylon, and Siam, and then hand faceted in India. The addition of a second accumulation of antique gemstones originally mined in the Urals in the mid to late 19th century (including alexandrite) completed the collection. These gemstones as well were hand finished. The Urals have been one of the world's major sources of precious and semi-precious gemstones for many centuries. As well, additional specimens are occasionally acquired from other institutions and dealers in Eastern Europe and Asia. These antique gemstones are now in the United States and are available for immediate delivery.

We ship inventory from the USA order fulfillment center near Seattle, Washington. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipping within 48 hours of payment. A certificate of authenticity is available upon request. We prefer your personal check or money order over any other form of payment - and we will ship immediately upon receipt of your check (no "holds"). We will accept PayPal payments. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE".