Pigeon Blood Ruby
The Ruby is one of the most precious and popular gemstones that is used in jewelry and is only second to the eternally popular diamond. It is the color of the ruby gemstone that determines the price and the darker and deeper the red the more expensive it will be and of all the rubies there are, the one of most value and absolute beauty is the pigeon blood ruby. The ruby has many different cuts to bring out its luster and these include the brilliant cut, step cut and the mixed cut. With rings becoming very popular these days, a ruby can look amazingly beautiful set in a band of gold or platinum.
The name ruby is derived from the Latin word “ruber” which means red and it is due to the element which is called chromium that the ruby gets it deep red color. The ruby is also one of the 4 precious stones among the diamond, sapphire and emerald that are more valuable and beautiful than others. If a pigeon blood ruby has been color treated in order to deepen its hue and hide any imperfections, the value of the stone is lost. Therefore one has to be very sure before buying a ruby and it’s wiser to request for a certificate from the seller to confirm its authenticity.
The more valued and highly graded rubies come in crimson toned red or vivid to dark red with secondary hues of purple, pink and orange. Of the three, the purple is preferred due to its ability to add richness to the color red. The pigeon blood ruby should ideally be set in pure gold to make the red of the ruby an even more pure red.
When buying a pigeon blood ruby, which is the most valuable ruby of all, the cut of the stone can once again determine its price. The clarity of the stone matters most of all and the clearer the stone is, the higher its beauty, value and price.
It was the Burmese who referred to the deep red of the ruby to pigeon’s blood or that of the center of the eye of a live pigeon. Some have even gone to the extent of describing the red as the first two drops of blood from a freshly slain Burmese pigeon. The other factor that makes the pigeon blood ruby so valuable is the tiny needle inclusions which are referred to as “silk” that scatter light and make the color velvety soft and spread across the face of the gem. Even in this aspect of the ruby, too much of silk is not considered good, while the most valuable and best rubies have just a scattering of silk spreading across the stone.
So what is it that draws people to this pigeon’s blood ruby which has been taken from the soil in the Burmese mountains? While many people have made their fortunes through the sale of these crimson stones, for some, it has only bought grief and poverty. The answer they say is in a fragment of this crimson pebble; which holds the true marvels of all creations bundled into one. You have to hold it in the palm of your hand to know and understand.