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A Burmese ruby and diamond ring
Designed as a central cushion-shaped ruby weighing 6.05 carats within a surround of pear-shaped diamonds, circa 1950, mounted in platinum, French assay marks. Ring size 51.5, US ring size 5...
Designed as a central cushion-shaped ruby weighing 6.05 carats within a surround of pear-shaped diamonds, circa 1950, mounted in platinum, French assay marks. Ring size 51.5, US ring size 5 3/4 Weight 9.8 grams
Accompanied by an SSEF certificate stating that the antique cushion-shaped ruby is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating, and is red in colour with strong saturation. Also accompanied by a certificate from Gubelin Gemlab No.14100233.
Note: All stones have their own character, and this is never more evident than in coloured gemstones, whose often-apparent inclusions truly make them each unique, even more so before standardsised machine cutting. Amongst the more philosophical members of the trade, there is a common lament about the standardisation of rarity. In an attempt to explain the allure of exceptional gemstones we have also created definitions and boundaries that, once exploited by a commercial market, have created a system that leaves very little room for the appreciation of the individuality that is the real source of what can be so beguiling about a stone. However, that is not to say that there aren’t generalisations that can be made. One incontestable example is that it is not an accident that Burmese rubies came to command the highest price per carat of any rubies (indeed they do of any coloured gemstone apart from coloured diamonds). The chromium-rich deposits of the north-central Mekong region of Burma known as the Mogok Stone Tract, have historically produced the finest ruby specimens. Rich in colour saturation and with a velvety texture of luminescence in certain light that’s difficult not to feel poetical about. It is no wonder that the British made pains to try and connect this geographically-difficult region after its annexation in 1886 to their wider commercial interests in the region. However, the knowledge of its potential had been known since Marco Polo in the 13th Century and not just in Europe, as Chinese traders and explorers also wrote of the advantages of the region and its corundum deposits. This particular stone has the classic saturation of colour and hue of a fine Burmese ruby but of course has a unique character and beauty that - as is so often the case in life - cannot be fully explained by a piece of paper or even a photograph, you have to discover for yourself in person.
Accompanied by an SSEF certificate stating that the antique cushion-shaped ruby is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating, and is red in colour with strong saturation. Also accompanied by a certificate from Gubelin Gemlab No.14100233.
Note: All stones have their own character, and this is never more evident than in coloured gemstones, whose often-apparent inclusions truly make them each unique, even more so before standardsised machine cutting. Amongst the more philosophical members of the trade, there is a common lament about the standardisation of rarity. In an attempt to explain the allure of exceptional gemstones we have also created definitions and boundaries that, once exploited by a commercial market, have created a system that leaves very little room for the appreciation of the individuality that is the real source of what can be so beguiling about a stone. However, that is not to say that there aren’t generalisations that can be made. One incontestable example is that it is not an accident that Burmese rubies came to command the highest price per carat of any rubies (indeed they do of any coloured gemstone apart from coloured diamonds). The chromium-rich deposits of the north-central Mekong region of Burma known as the Mogok Stone Tract, have historically produced the finest ruby specimens. Rich in colour saturation and with a velvety texture of luminescence in certain light that’s difficult not to feel poetical about. It is no wonder that the British made pains to try and connect this geographically-difficult region after its annexation in 1886 to their wider commercial interests in the region. However, the knowledge of its potential had been known since Marco Polo in the 13th Century and not just in Europe, as Chinese traders and explorers also wrote of the advantages of the region and its corundum deposits. This particular stone has the classic saturation of colour and hue of a fine Burmese ruby but of course has a unique character and beauty that - as is so often the case in life - cannot be fully explained by a piece of paper or even a photograph, you have to discover for yourself in person.
Evidence of deterioration, incidental wear and use, commensurate with age, and materials.
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CARTIER, A cushion-shaped sapphire ring , 1930s
