Vintage Indian Jewelry Inspires Red Carpet Style

It may come as a shock for some, but the old dictum “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” made famous by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, may no longer prove universally true. A testament to how things have changed, Jennifer Aniston told the New York Times how hesitant she was with the enormous diamond engagement ring she received from her fiancé, actor Justin Theroux, “It took me a while to get used to it. I’m not a diamond girl. I’m more Indian jewelry and stuff.” Diamonds are not necessarily the ultimate accessory for contemporary women who want something colorful and bold. For traditional pieces that are vibrant and bespoke, look no further than antique Indian jewelry.

$5.1 Million Burmese Ruby Necklace Tops Hong Kong Auction

A ruby and diamond necklace weighing 62.46 carats. It was on sale for an estimated $3.5 million to $5.5 million at Christie's International auction in Hong Kong on Nov. 27. It sold for HK$39.9 million ($5.1 million). Source: Christie's Images Ltd. via Bloomberg

A “Pigeon’s Blood” Burmese ruby and diamond necklace sold for HK$39.9 million ($5.1 million), topping last night’s Christie’s International jewelry sale in Hong Kong.

Demand for precious gems as an attractive investment class has increased steadily in recent years. On Nov. 23 in Hong Kong, Bonhams set a per-carat record for a Sri Lankan sapphire with the sale of a 43 carat sapphire and diamond ring for HK$12 million.

Beautiful Ruby Crystal

Origion Montepuez, Mozambique

Synthetic Flame Fusion Ruby in Mother Rock

How Cut Effects the Value of Ruby

It is nearly impossible to find a perfectly cut natural ruby in the marketplace.  There are two reasons.  One is that rubies are very expensive, precious and rare, so there is a hesitancy to cut off any more stone than absolutely necessary during the faceting process.  The other reason is that ruby forms in the earth's crust as octahedral crystals, that are usually wide and flat.  These two facts mean that cut rubies found in jewelry are usually cut too shallow.  You can sometimes see through them (called "fish eye"), where if it were cut at the proper angles and proportions, you would only see light and glitter reflected back to you.

A well cut ruby is exceedingly beautiful and hard to find.  You will know a well cut ruby when you see it because it will dazzle you with its sparkle. This is because when the facets are cut at the proper angles, they act as mirrors and bounce light all around the inside of the stone.  Unfortunately, cutting a ruby at the proper angles usually means grinding away a large part of the ruby (a very skilled cutter will cut away even 60%).  And since rubies are such valuable gemstones, most of the time gemcutters ere on the side of keeping the gemstone as large as possible, instead of being cut at the proper angles.  When you are looking for a ruby, you can use the following guidelines to help you assess the cut.  (Though, you should go in expecting a poor one.)