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Do you desire a ruby?

5/14/2015

11 Comments

 
A 'pigeon blood' ruby sold at Sotheby's for a staggering £19.3million (just over $30 million) at a Geneva auction—three times the previous record. The 25.59 carat corundum amongst the rarest of all gemstones.

An anonymous telephone bidder paid 28.25 million Swiss francs, with costs for the Sunrise Ruby.

The head of Sotheby's international jewellery division said, 'The large, pigeon-blood red ruby 'is amongst the rarest of all gemstones. I mean, in 40 years I've ever only seen one this colour, this size, so they are beyond rare.' If you would like to see a picture of the actual stone see the Daily Mail. 

A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide) similar to the sapphire. It is the second hardest mineral after the diamond and extremely rare.

My former husband gave me a cut ruby he'd bought close to the mines in the rugged north of Australia in the 80s. I love it, although the stone isn't worth anything like the Sunrise ruby. When we separated for the final time, I had the ruby set in a signet-style ring made of 22ct gold made up of two wedding rings.

Hehe. That's a story in itself. When I was about 35 years of age, I thought I'd lost my wedding band when my finger shrunk in the cold sea off Robe, South Australia. My husband had already lost his in the sea ten years earlier, so he couldn't criticize. Eventually, we commissioned another 22ct band, which I wore for the next ten years until we split up. Meanwhile, I found the first ring in a bedroom box. I must have removed it, and then forgotten I'd been so sensible.

When first commissioned, my ruby ring fit my middle finger. I'd lost a lot of weight due to stress—you might know what it's like splitting up a long established marriage. Now, the shaft fits my ring finger. I must start wearing it again.

Do you own a ruby?

11 Comments
Mike Gardner - The Time Doctor link
5/13/2015 08:18:31 pm

Sotheby's are having a good week, the day before all records were broken for the sale of a painting and a bronze sculpture, i love the way you are able to blog about daily news items, a skill i'm yet to aquire

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Alana link
5/13/2015 08:22:39 pm

My Dad had a ruby ring. He almost never wore it. I never knew why, and I had forgotten all about it. He passed almost 30 years ago, and I have no idea whatever happened to it or even who gave it to him. You've brought back a childhood memory this morning.

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Kathy Hadley link
5/14/2015 12:32:04 am

I own one ruby on a necklace.

Rubies are my just younger than me sister's favorite. She has one in her engagement ring from her former husband.

Personally, I prefer diamonds and blue sapphires.

:-)

Kathy

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Michelle Liew link
5/14/2015 12:51:36 am

Thanks for sharing a personal anecdote, Francene, and rubies are surely close to your heart. Don't own one, though I believe that it is the meaning the stone holds, rather than its physical form, that people tend to value.

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Dorit Sasson link
5/14/2015 01:40:00 am

I own zero rubies but I have always been amazed by their beauty. Maybe one day.

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Alexandria Gunn link
5/14/2015 01:49:43 am

I don't have a ruby, but it's my daughter's birthday. I love their colour and beauty. One day, maybe.

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Joan Harrington link
5/14/2015 02:03:20 am

Hi Francene,
I have never owned a ruby :) They are beautiful arent they?

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Shonda link
5/14/2015 02:13:50 am

Ruby is my birthstone. I have a couple pieces I truly cherish.

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Carol Cassara link
5/14/2015 02:18:08 am

It's my birth stone but not really my favorite gem.

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Courtney Dunsmore link
5/14/2015 09:32:53 am

Definitely wish I had a ruby! Absolutely gorgeous(:

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Ruchi Singh link
5/16/2015 06:56:59 pm

Never knew even unpoished gem staones could be auctioned for sucha huge amount. I have a ruby ring. Great post!!

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    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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