Flashy 19thC Antique Handcut 5½ct BrightRed Ruby Ceylon Start Price USD 699.99 Current Price USD 699.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, October 13, 2008 End Time Wednesday, November 12, 2008 Location Seattle, Washington See more about 'Flashy 19thC Antique Handcut 5½ct BrightRed Ruby Ceylon' Description Your browser does not support JavaScript. To view this page, enable JavaScript if it is disabled or upgrade your browser. Increase Sales by 18% and double your hits - Vendio Gallery Click here to see 1200 CD's, antique gemstones and handcrafted jewelry items on our eBay store! Antique 19th Century Handcrafted Genuine Natural Faceted Five and One-Half Carat Bright Blood Red Ruby Oval from Ceylon. ORIGIN: Ceylon, 19th Century (present day Sri Lanka). SIZE: Length: 10mm. Width: 8mm. Depth: 7mm. Measurements approximate. WEIGHT: 5.42 carats. NOTES: Upon request we can set your gemstones as a ring, pendant, or as earrings (click here for more information). DETAIL: A very nice quality 19th century antique hand faceted ruby oval from Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka). 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 or “slightly blemished”, with a highly desirable bright blood red color, vibrant character, and sparkles of fiery, brilliant bright red flashes. It is “near eye clean” to the casual admirer, (or “slightly blemished” to detailed scrutiny), and is transparent as opposed to lower value translucent rubies. One could say that it was “absolutely transparent” if it were not for the fact that the gemstone is so thick! Owing in part to that thickness, if one wishes to be conservative, it would be safest to say that the ruby is relatively transparent. Of course most ruby gemstones are anywhere from lightly to heavily included. Unfortunately most transparent “rubies” sold even by the largest and most reputable retailers in the United States are synthetic (read the fine print; and the same is true of emeralds and sapphires). While this particular specimen might not be anywhere near flawless, to casual scrutiny it is at least “near eye clean”. If subjected to critical examination by someone with fairly sharp vision, one can pick out few minute blemishes with the unaided eye. There is a scattering of very fine particulate matter, most of it colorless crystalline material, some of it in the rutile form, which are very fine hair-like particles which almost look like very small strands of lint or hair. They look to be (rutile) mica schist particles (ruby is generally formed in schist), especially since the gemstone possesses just a little schiller (shimmer), common to gemstones with microscopic schist mica. The particulate blemishes are not terribly obvious to the casual admirer, and even to close scrutiny with the unaided eye they are not east to discern. These blemishes are almost impossible to make out from some angles of view, but more readily discernible from other angles. However aside from a grumpy critic, to the casual admirer, this ruby appears unblemished, and the tiny blemishes it does possess will be much more difficult to discern once the gemstone is set into a pendant or ring. As it is the only way to easily see these minute blemishes with the naked eye is to hold the gemstone up to a light source and scrutinize it carefully from the underside of the gemstone. From the front size of the gemstone to the casual admirer it is without blemish – simply a bright blood red ruby with very nice flash and sparkle. While in these 600% photo enlargement the tiny blemishes seem quite obvious, they really are not typically noticed by the casual admirer, and from some angles cannot be seen at all. Whatever sins the critic might find, to the eye it is simply a bright blood red ruby of gorgeous color, the miniscule blemishes are not really discernible to the naked eye, at least to the normal casual admirer, and the bright red gemstone possesses very handsome luster and really exceptional sparkle as well – lots of fire! If you hold this gemstone on the light and roll it between thumb and forefinger, it contains rolling flashes of red, it really is fiery. And while this gorgeous precious gemstone is not absolutely flawless, it is most certainly toward the higher end of the quality spectrum. Under magnification the gemstone shows the unmistakable characteristics of having been hand crafted. The coarseness of the 19th century finish is considered appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered a detriment, or detract from the value of a gemstone. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, most serious collectors consider such gemstones more desirable, possessed of greater character and uniqueness when compared to today's cookie-cutter mass-produced machine-faceted gemstones. Unlike today’s computer controlled machine produced gemstones, the cut and finish of a gemstone such as this is the legacy of an artisan who lived two centuries ago. 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 only visible under magnification. This gemstone has great luster and color, superb sparkle, and to the eye is transparent. But again, of course, we want to emphasize that this does not mean it is entirely flawless. True, the blemishes it possesses are not easily discerned by the naked eye – at least to casual scrutiny. As stated, to casual scrutiny it is simply a brightly colored blood red ruby gemstone of wonderful color and sparkle. However in these 600% photo enlargements you can see some of the blemishes, as well as occasional irregularities in the cut and finish. Naturally these characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, you must also consider that two centuries ago the mining techniques even possible then, let alone in practice, did not allow the ultra deep mining operations which are so commonplace today. Keep in mind that 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. It is for this reason that 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 only visible under magnification. HISTORY: The name ruby comes from the Latin "rubeus" (red). The most sought after shade of red for ruby is often given the name "pigeon blood red", but ruby can be any shade of red up to almost pink. The only source of "pigeon blood" rubies is Mogok in Upper Burma, about ninety miles from Kepling's Mandalay, and are known in the trade as "Mogok" rubies. In Mogok, the rubies are mined by natives according to centuries-old customs. The famous "Hill of Precious Stones", near Bangkok, Thailand, yields rubies of a deeper shade, usually a more brownish color. Rubies from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) tend toward violet, and are lighter in color. Oriented rutile crystal inclusions cause a six-rayed-star light effect (called asterism) to form the popular "Star Ruby". The "Star Ruby" is also known as a "Mysore Ruby", as the majority are mined in Mysore, India. Ruby was worn by the ancients as an amulet for protection from plagues, poison, sorrow, and evil spirits. The ruby symbolized freedom, charity, dignity and divine power. The Greeks believed that the "fire" evidenced by a ruby's red coloration could melt wax. Up through Medieval Europe, rubies were worn for protection against unhappiness, lightening and upsetting dreams. 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. In India, it was said that he who offered rubies to the gods would be reincarnated as a powerful king or emperor. In Burma it was felt a ruby must not just be worn, but embedded in the skin to become part of the body, thus making the wearer invulnerable. Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the second hardest natural mineral known to mankind. The non-red variety of corundum is Sapphire. Sapphires are well known among the general public as being blue, but can be nearly any color. Rubies are mined all over the world, but the highest quality gemstones come from Burma Ceylon, Siam, and India. You might guess I travel extensively for a living. My profession is a purchasing agent for antique gemstones, which generally come from Russia, India, Ceylon, and Siam. I grew up in the Southern Urals of Russia, just miles away from some of the greatest gemstone producing regions in the world’s history. Alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced from the mountains within mere minutes or a few hours from the city I once called home. My interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar’s led to further education and conacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before this happens, before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, I try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old. I believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with me that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. In my travels back and forth between the USA, Asia, and Eastern Europe I also tend to accumulate a lot of books, CD’s, and audio recordings. So I oftentimes have lightly used CD’s, once-read books, audio recordings, and even some antique books I buy in Europe for sale as well. And occasionally I will find such a good buy on contemporary jewelry for my clients that I will purchase a few extra pieces to offer on eBay. These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques – just to avoid confusion. I also end up with boatloads of jewelry and gemstone samples which were not fully distributed to the retailers I purchase on behalf of. Some really great pieces, including antiques, pearls, as well as some pieces of antique Russian jewelry. I have always been fascinated with jewelry and gemstones. Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Bombay are great places to find incredible deals on both gemstones and jewelry, and over the years I have made many friends within the trade in these five cities. So you can look for a steady flow of little treasures I discover in my travels, and I will be happy to share with you the best deals I can find through my industry acquaintances in these far-off Asian lands. Though I spend a good part of each year in Europe and Asia, most of the year I am here in the United States, and that's where all of my little treasures are. So you can count on quick shipping and careful packaging. And if I am not home - I have someone who does it for me! Domestic shipping is $3.99 for first class mail or $6.99 for Priority Mail. Domestic rates include USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site). Canadian shipments are $3.99 for Air Mail; International shipments are $4.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA). I can add most other items I sell to the shipment for only $0.99 each. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. Insurance is available for both domestic and international shipments ($16 for domestic shipments; $36 for international shipments; ONLY required when PayPal is used – you may deduct this amount if you prefer an uninsured shipment AND you pay by check or money order). We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. If you intend to pay via PayPal, please be aware that PayPal Protection Policies REQUIRE insured, trackable shipments. If you do NOT want an insured shipment, send us a check or money order and deduct the invoiced insurance premium. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. I prefer your personal check or money order over any other form of payment – and I will ship immediately upon receipt of your check (no “holds”). If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price. We do offer a certificate of authenticity (COA) upon request for all of our items. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE." Place a Bid!