108 The Ruby.
thought
that if he or the donor were in danger, it would become black or
obscure, and would not reassume its pristine colour until the peril had
passed away.
The
ruby is cut by means of diamond powder on an iron wheel or skaif, and
polished on a copper one with tripoli and water. In the East they use
corundum wheels for the cutting, but the work is not flat and sharp.
The best and most usual form of cutting the ruby is the mixed or half
brilliant, although silky and imperfect stones are frequently cut en cabochon.
The
number of large rubies in existence, of fine quality, is very small;
one of the largest in the French crown jewels adorns the order of the
Golden Fleece, and is cut into the form of a dragon with extended wings.
The
two large stones which were shown amongst the jewels of Her Majesty, at
the Exhibition of 1862, as rubies, are simply spinels; an examination
of their specific gravity and hardness would soon show the truth of
this assertion.
In
Tavernier's travels he speaks of a ruby in the possession of the king
of Vishapoor, weighing fifty carats and of fine quality.
The
king of Burmah is said to possess a ruby as large as a pigeon's egg, of
extraordinary quality; but no European having seen it, its existence
may or may not be a fact. In the Russian treasury is said to be one of
a very large size, which was presented by Gustavus III., king of Sweden
; and among the crown jewels of Austria are several of fine quality and
considerable size.
