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According
to the Hindu lore, bad rubies should never be worn although set along
with best rubies. The rough test for a padmaraga was to rub it on a
whetstone or tested padmaraga—the false one will receive
scratches-Except diamond and kuruvinda no gem can scratch upon
padmaraga or indranila. All gems derive their value from lustre and
colour and those lacking in colour and lustre are of little worth. The
Hindus also considered that the treasuring of padmaraga furnished with
every perfection is as meritorious as the celebration of Aswamedhayajna and leads to wealth, success and long life.
Ruby cutting
It
is done by means of diamond powder on an iron-wheel or skeif, and
polished on a copper plate with tripolis and water. In the East,
corundum powder for polishing is used. The usual form of cutting is a
mixed half brilliant. Silky and imperfect ones are cabochon cut so also
star stones. The centre of the star should be in the middle of the
stone. Engraving on rubies are said to be still in existence as old as
500 B.C. The Greeks and Italians specialized in this art.
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