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"The perpetually glowing fire that never is extinguished," say the ancient texts. "As red as pigeon's blood" describes gems from the Mogok mines of old Burma which are older than history. Through the ages, "ruby red" has noted the pinnacle of the color, from its Latin origin ruber or rubrum.
Marco Polo, 13th century adventurer, told of the King of Ceylon's incredible gem, 9 inches long and as thick as a man's arm. Kublai Khan, Mongol emperor of China, offered an entire city for it. The King of Ceylon replied that he would never part with his prize for all the treasures of the world. Biblical psalmists used the ruby as the standard to measure virtue, integrity and wisdom. Through time, it has been more intimately associated with love and passion than any other gem.
The most desired ruby is so vivid a red that it seems a heartbeat can be seen in its depths, and so hot a crimson that you can almost take its temperature. Your Hyde Park Jewelers associate will assist you in selecting the ruby that smoulders, a visible expression of your passion for life and love.
World Sources
Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka & Africa
Enrichments
Most often subjected to heat to improve the color Care Ultrasonic & steam cleaning are usually safe, but avoid if fissures are present Repair Removing from settings before repair not usually required
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