Antique 19thC 2/3ct Burma Ruby Celtic Magick Talisman

Exquisite, Flashy, Sparkling 19th Century Genuine Natural Two-Third Carat Exceptionally Good Quality Faceted Emerald Cut Ruby from Burma.

CLASSIFICATION: Faceted Emerald Cut (Octagon) Ruby Precious Gemstone.

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

SIZE: Length: 6mm. Width: 4mm. Depth: 2mm. Measurements approximate.

WEIGHT: 0.63 carats.

NOTES: Upon request we can set your gemstones as a ring, pendant, or as earrings (click here for more information).

DETAIL: Rubies were amongst the earliest gemstones traded by mankind, since the 5th millennium B.C. From the most ancient times all the way through the medieval world, ruby was worn by the classical Mediterranean civilizations as an amulet for protection from plagues, poison, sorrow, and evil spirits. Both the Greeks and Indo-Europeans (Celts) believed that the “heat” evidenced by the intense, red color was fire from within the gemstone, capable of boiling water or melting wax. Here's a very, very nice decent quality 19th century antique hand faceted “emerald 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, eye clean, with a highly desirable blood red color, vibrant character, and blinding sparkles of fiery, brilliant bright red flashes. It is eye clean to casual scrutiny (and “near eye clean” to detailed scrutiny), and is absolutely transparent 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) is not starkly apparent or disfiguring. And in hand to the eye this beautiful sparkling gemstone simply appears to be clean, without blemish. 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 visible to the naked eye, and the gemstone can be characterized to use trade jargon, as "eye clean". To the unaided eye it is indeed eye clean. But if you look very carefully through a 10x jeweler’s loupe or at these 600% photo enlargements you can pick out some seamed colorless crystalline material. It is invisible from some angles, but from other angles it is more sharply delineated. The ruby is entirely transparent – it is just that there is this little bit of crystalline material which shows up when viewed from a particular angle. However this blemish is really only noticed upon critical inspection of the gemstone, and even then really only using a jeweler’s loupe and then again, only at particular angles. It is not something you would notice with the unaided eye. And even using a 10x jeweler’s loupe this crystalline material 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 it. Of course one can make out the seamed colorless crystalline material using a loupe, 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 well 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: 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. Trackable and insured shipments are required by PayPal for all eBay purchases utilizing PayPal as a payment method. Therefore shipping costs for this item includes the fee for postal insurance ($6 for domestic shipments; $12 for international shipments); and is required for whenever PayPal is used as the payment method.

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. 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. We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with. 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."