A Guide to Ruby Rings

Ruby rings are classic, stylish and elegant, and are the perfect gift for any special woman in your life, or even yourself. They are casual enough that you can wear them day to day, but chic enough to pair with the most dressy outfit. Although ruby rings tend to be quite expensive because of their high value, if you know where to look then you can find some really great deals.

Where to Look

There are a couple jewelry companies in particular that you will want to become familiar with if you are interested in buying ruby rings, one being Jewelry Central. They are a company that offers only the highest quality jewelry, and as well outstanding customer service and professional guidance to help you make the best possible jewelry buying decision.

They were established in 1999, and since that time they have worked hard to become one of the leading jewelry companies in the world. They offer a wide range of ruby rings, diamond earrings and necklaces, pendants, and much more, and their selection is so vast that regardless of your own personal preference you are sure to be able to find the perfect piece.

Their expert advice is a company feature that is especially adored, as their jewelry consultants available 24/7 to help you find that perfect gift or piece of jewelry with step by step guidance and advice.

Another great company that you should check out for ruby rings is Kay Jewelers. There are few people who do not recognize the Kay name in the world of jewelry, and this is for good reason. They are one of the original jewelry companies, and they now offer one of the largest and most vast selections of jewelry in the world. They are a company that understands that offering fine jewelry at a great price is only one important issue.

Remember

Just remember if you are looking for a ruby ring or other piece of jewelry that the process really requires a lot of time and dedication. You want to ensure not only that the piece you are interested in is made of the highest quality but also that you are completely satisfied with your purchase, because you certainly do not want to get home and regret your decision.

Any good jewelry store will offer jewelry consultants, and you should take full advantage of this offered help in order to get some second opinions before making your decision.

The Hope Diamond – World’s Most Famous Blue Diamond

The Hope Diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. It is perhaps the largest and most perfect blue diamond at over 45.5 carats. Its brilliant blue color is due to the presence of traces of boron in it. It is classified as a Type llb diamond, and displays red phosphorescence under ultraviolet light.

While there are numerous tales about its origins and legends about its curse, the Hope Diamond as it is known today, was first put on sale in 1812 by a London jeweler Daniel. It is believed to have acquired by British Monarch, King George IV, though there is no record of it in the Royal archives.

The Hope Diamond got its name from its subsequent owner, Henry Philip Hope, in whose collection it resurfaced in 1824. On his death, after much litigation, it passed on to his nephew Henry Hope, and stayed with the family till 1902. The Hope Diamond was sold to a London jeweler, but eventually made its way to the United States. It was bought by the Sultan of Turkey, who subsequently sold it in 1910. The diamond was later sold to Pierre Cartier of Paris, who changed its setting, and sold it to a young flamboyant American socialite Evelyn Walsh McLean.

It was Evelyn Walsh McLean who brought the Hope Diamond into the limelight. She wore it on every social occasion, and eventually she was recognized wherever she went because of the ever present diamond necklace. Like almost all of its previous owners had done, the Hope Diamond was sold to settle debts. It was bought by New York diamond merchant Harry Winston in1949, who exhibited it around the world. He eventually donated it to the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC in 1958.

The Hope Diamond has been a central exhibit at the Smithsonian ever since. It has been taken abroad on a few occasions, for exhibitions and is a star attraction of the Institute’s National Gem Collection. In 2005, after detailed computer analysis, the Institution officially confirmed that the Hope Diamond was part of the missing French Blue Crown Jewel.

The Origins of the Hope Diamond

Until 2005, the origins of the Hope Diamond were only a matter of conjecture. In 1660, a French merchant Tavernier took a 112 carat blue diamond from India to France. The diamond was mined in the Kollur mines of Golconda, and was believed to be stolen from the third eye of a Hindu Goddess. This is also believed to be the origin of the curse. Tavernier sold it to King Louis XIV, who had it cut to 67 carats. It became known as the Blue Diamond of the Crown or French Blue.

It was stolen during the French Revolution, and surfaced mysteriously in London twenty years after it disappeared. Death and debt may have stalked its owners, but the Smithsonian has raked in a fortune from curious visitors who come to see the Hope Diamond.