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usually
supplied the West with, the coloured stones, but since the beginning of
the war Bombay has taken its place and a cutting industry is thriving
at Cambay.
Rubies
of good colour, water and weight are seldom found and they are much
more costly than diamond or sapphire. Rubies above 10 carats in weight
are considered exceptional gems. Sapphires are also sold with the
rubies and the same methods prevail in its mining industry and
marketing. Sapphires of good quality as the rubies always find their
way to Europe and America. The smaller and cheaper stones are sold by
vendors at Mogok, who find good customers in tourists, as well as local
purchasers and in India. The rubies are considered more important.
The
Ruby Mines area must contain vast quantities of the ruby gravel, which
will support the indigenous mining for ever and the miners always hope
to get big stones. The speculative spirit is never lacking even amongst
poor people. A number of persons join and run a mine even when one
cannot do it alone.
Celebrated Rubies
Tavernier
has stated that the King of Visapore had a very fine ruby weighing 50
carats. The King of Burma had an extraordinary ruby of a pigeon's egg
size. The Crown jewels of France had a large ruby, cut into the form of
a dragon with extended wings. Russia had a ruby of a pigeon's egg size
in the crown of Empress Catherine. The Austrian Crown jewels had
several rubies of good size and quality. Two stones were sent to
England in 1875, one weighing 37 carats and the other
former
fetched a lakh of rupees. Some of the larger stones, considered as
rubies, have been proved to be spinels. Some good rubies are also said
to be in India in the possession of some of the large Hindu families.
The 'Peace Ruby' has already been referred to. Thousands of crudely cut
rubies set in Burmese Regalia were removed to England
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