Faceted Indian Rubies with Pave Diamond Clasp

The ruby is my birthstone and in searching for a majestic strand I found these at the first Tucson gem show I attended. I knew that I wanted these to be individually knotted and that they were to be strung with a simple, but spectacular clasp. It wasn't until probably three months later that I bought this one at a jewelry show at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Next step was to decide how long I wanted the piece and if I wanted to reserve two beads for earrings, which I did. I sent the materials off to the jeweler who does my pearl knotting and the resulting necklace is a beautiful piece of work, strung on ruby-colored silk. While I have created other ruby necklaces, this one if my favorite. Price: $2250.

HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT RUBIES:

The ruby is the July birthday. Its rich color speaks of love and passion. The ancient Hindus called the ruby the king of gems. As the July birthstone, the ruby is one of the most expensive and prized of the highly-colored, transparent gems. Considered by the ancients to have magical powers, the ruby was worn by royalty as a talisman against evil. Rubies were thought to represent heat and power. The ancients used the gems as projectiles from their blowguns. Ancient lore has it that by tossing a ruby into a cauldron of water, it would boil instantly. Medicine men carried rubies in their pouches Ground to powder, the crystal was said to cure indigestion.

Ruby, from the Latin ruber, meaning red, is a variety of Corundum, the second hardest mineral, after Diamond. The Corundum family comes in many colors and is considered technically sapphires except for the red stones which have been named rubies. They range in color from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red in color. Large sized Rubies are very rare and valuable.

Rubies have been mined for the past 2500 years, the most beautiful and highly-prized of which are found in Southern Asia in Burma (Myanmar). Gorgeous rubies also come from India, Sri Lanka, Australia Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.

The ruby is aflame with an inner glow, the eternal flame of love and protection that will never die.