The World’s Favorite Gemstones: Rubies, Emeralds, and Sapphires
In the glittering realm of gemstones, where beauty meets history, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires reign supreme. These precious stones have woven tales of passion and power, adorned legends and lore, and held the hearts of connoisseurs for centuries. In this exploration, we venture into the mesmerizing world of these gems, from their intriguing histories to their unparalleled beauty and significance.
Rubies: A Rich History
The illustrious history of rubies dates back to the ancient civilizations of Burma, India, and Egypt. These fiery red gems have long been esteemed for their association with love, strength, and protection. As we delve into their rich history, we uncover the profound cultural and symbolic importance these gems hold.
The world has witnessed legendary rubies such as the "DeLong Star Ruby" and the stunning "Liberty Bell Ruby."
Pigeon Blood Ruby / Crimson Red
The term Pigeon Blood Ruby describes the highest quality rubies. They have a deep, rich color and are considered the most valuable and beautiful of their kind. Pigeon Blood rubies have recently been renamed “Crimson Red.”
Liberty Bell Ruby
The Liberty Bell Ruby is an 8,500-carat ruby sculpture of the Liberty Bell, crafted from the world's largest mined ruby, mined in East Africa in the 1950s. The Liberty Bell showcases 50 diamonds embedded around it and is worth a staggering $2 million.
The DeLong Star Ruby
The DeLong Star Ruby is a 100.32-carat oval cabochon ruby with a 6-rayed star across the stone’s face. It was first sold to Edith Haggin DeLong, who then donated it to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City in 1937.
Fun fact: The DeLong Star Ruby was one of various pieces involved in a high-profile jewelry heist in 1964 and was returned to the museum in 1965 after being discovered in a bus depot locker.
Emeralds: Mystic Gemstones
Mined for centuries in South America, emeralds bear tales of conquest and mystique. The emeralds found in the Muzo mines, Colombia’s oldest emerald mine, are often more saturated and richer in color than emeralds found elsewhere, making them highly sought-after pieces. In contrast, African emeralds mined in Zimbabwe and Zambia are typically yellow-green in hue.
Chalk Emerald
The "Chalk Emerald" is one gem that has captured the world's fascination. This 37.82-carat, rectangular step-cut emerald, mined in Muzo, Colombia, was first acquired by famous jeweler Harry Winston, who transformed it into a ring with 60 pear-shaped diamonds, totaling 15.62 carats.
With a price tag above diamonds, these exquisite green stones are not only rare but are also symbols of renewal and wisdom, as well as heralds of healing and inspiration. Emeralds are believed to promote and enhance qualities like balance, inspiration, wisdom, and patience, and are commonly associated with life-affirming properties.
Sapphire: Timeless Appeal
Sapphires, with their deep blue allure, have a history entwined with many ancient civilizations, including Persia and Greece, where these stones were believed to confer protection against envy and harm. These beautiful gems have graced both royalty and commoners with their timeless beauty. The enduring popularity of sapphires can be attributed to their striking blue color and the sheer versatility they show in jewelry design.
Princess Diana’s Ceylon Sapphire Engagement Ring
Princess Diana’s famous engagement ring was a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire, mined from Sri Lanka, surrounded by a diamond halo. It is said that Princess Diana chose the ring because it matched her blue eyes. It is precisely the deep, rich hues of a Ceylon stone that make them attractive choices for engagement rings and other fine jewelry pieces.
The Star of India
The Star of India is one of the largest sapphires in the world. It is a 563.35-carat star sapphire, approximately the size of a golf ball. At present, it is held in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where it continues to dazzle the eyes of its visitors.
Properties and Characteristics
A detailed examination of the physical properties of these gemstones reveals their unique qualities. From the mesmerizing clarity of emeralds to the vibrant colors found within each gemstone family, we uncover the distinctive features that make these gems so precious. As well, explorations of their crystal structures help shed light on the science behind their breathtaking beauty.
Color, the most apparent and enchanting characteristic of any gemstone, varies dramatically within these gemstone families.
Ruby: Red Corundum
Rubies, renowned for their captivating red hue, owe their color to the presence of chromium. It's this very element that transforms a corundum crystal into a mesmerizing ruby, which, when coupled with its intrinsic durability and hardness, contributes to the desirability of rubies in jewelry.
Sapphire: The Rainbow of Corundum
You may not know that sapphires are available in a spectrum of colors. Their signature deep blue comes from traces of iron and titanium, yet, nature's artistry does not stop there. Different colored sapphires, such as purple, pink, green, yellow, and orange, emerge when elements like iron, titanium, and chromium mingle within their crystal structures.
Emerald: The Most Prized Beryl
Emeralds, famous for their lush green appearance, are members of the beryl family and contain small traces of chromium and, occasionally, vanadium. These elements orchestrate a symphony of green shades that captivate the eye. Such unique color properties make emeralds a distinct member of the precious gem family.
Significance in Jewelry
Jewelry is the canvas where these gems come to life. Let’s take a look at some of the iconic designs with historical significance that have elevated rubies, emeralds, and sapphires over the years.
Royal Showstoppers
The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara
The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, worn by Princess Eugenie on her wedding day, features six large emeralds surrounded by rose-cut pave diamonds. The center emerald is 93.7 carats.
Queen Elizabeth’s Burmese Ruby Tiara
Queen Elizabeth’s Burmese Ruby Tiara is adorned with 96 rubies and surrounded by diamonds.
Catherine the Great’s Emerald Necklace
Catherine the Great’s famous emerald necklace features a 75.61-carat Colombian emerald. It was sold in 2019 for $4.5 million to a private collector.
Iconic Celebrity Gems
Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari Emerald and Diamond Pendant Brooch
Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari emerald and diamond pendant brooch was gifted to her by Richard Burton while she was filming Cleopatra. The 23.64-carat emerald was sold in 2011 for $6.6 million.
Harry Winston Wizard of Oz Slippers
In 2004, Windsor Jewelers acquired excess inventory from Harry Winston, including the ruby red slippers created with over 4,600 gemstones to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.
Rarity and Value
Investment-quality rubies, emeralds, and sapphires are rare and come at a premium price. Carat weight, color, clarity, origin, and lack of treatment are the major factors that affect a gem’s market value. A higher-quality ruby, for instance, can often come with a more expensive price tag than sapphires and emeralds. The highest record set for a premium quality ruby was $1 million per carat!
Lack of treatment drastically affects the cost of these gemstones, as sapphires are often heated to enhance their color, and emeralds are often oiled to deepen their hue. A “no heat” or “unheated” ruby or sapphire are the highest quality available on the market, along with a “no oil” or “insignificant oil” grading for emerald.
Additionally, origin plays a paramount role in determining value. Burmese rubies are highly esteemed and command higher prices due to their exceptional color and historical significance. Additionally, emeralds from Colombia are priced higher per carat due to the mariposa effect, unmatched vibrancy, and green-blue hue. Similarly, Kashmir sapphires are prized for their scarcity and iconic velvety blue. However, sapphires from Ceylon and Madagascar are gaining popularity as more material is found in deeper, more saturated tones.
Rarity isn't the only factor contributing to the value of these gemstones; market dynamics and historical significance play a pivotal role. Over the centuries, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires have been found in crown jewels and historical jewels, making them highly sought-after and have set the stage for their enduring economic worth.
For instance, Bulagari’s Serpenti Hypnotic Emerald necklace showcases a staggering 93.83-carat oval cabochon emerald as well as three other 100-carat gems and 15–20 satellite emeralds that each weigh from 10–30 carats. The one-of-a-kind piece, whose creation is the topic of the documentary, Inside the Dream, was sold for $3.5 million.
Another notable piece, the Cartier Sunrise Ruby Ring, features a 25.59-carat Burmese Pigeon Blood ruby, known for its deep red hue, and valued at $30.4 million. The Crimson Flame, a 15.04-carat cushion cut, Burmese Pigeon Blood ruby ring, fetched $18.3 million at Christie’s.
Cartier Sunrise Ruby Ring
Embarking on a Gemstone Journey
We hope you've enjoyed diving deeper into the “big three” gems; rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. As experts in the gemstone field and members of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), we specialize in the evaluation and trading of colored gemstones and diamonds.
If you’re looking to sell loose gemstones or colored gemstone jewelry to a trustworthy partner, let Windsor honor your jewelry’s legacy. Learn more about how to sell your jewelry with Windsor.
