How much is the Black Prince s Ruby worth?
Not only sapphires have become famous for their big names, glorious owners and stories. Sapphire’s brother, ruby, boasts no less family fame and a number of legends. Alas, there is no such ruby on the British crown, where two famous sapphires are located. The legendary “Black Prince Ruby”, which occupies a place of honor in the crown of British monarchs, turned out to be a red spinel. However, one of the most ancient stones in Britain (which, by the way, carries with it a whole tale of crimes and betrayals), did not suffer from this – its insurance value only increased. Which once again proves that good PR means no less than one’s own merits. However, cost is an exclusively formal concept for this stone. Whether the “Black Prince” is a ruby or a spinel, it, alas, is not for sale, since it is a Crown Jewel. And even legendary. So you can only look at it in a museum. Although, frankly speaking, there is still a ruby there. A small hole, drilled by someone in the “Black Prince” for wearing around the neck, is covered with a tiny but real ruby. Alas, he didn’t get a name. This is probably the only case when a gemstone of a higher category is used to cover up a defect in a stone of a lower category. This is the power of legend and popularity! Even if you were a real ruby a hundred times over, the real star for the public is still “The Black Prince.” 
Of course, real rubies end up on the crowns. It would be strange to doubt this. Thus, the ruby from the Czech crown of St. Wenceslas is world famous – a huge, irregularly shaped stone weighing 250 carats. The possession of this stone was not attributed to anyone – Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Atilla. Naturally, there is no evidence of this, but the trail of legends behind this stone is impressive! Just look at the gloomy statement that everyone who put on the crown of St. Wenceslas is not rightful will die a quick death! The last person to test this prediction on himself was the Nazi ruler of the Czech provinces of Bohemia and Moravia, Heydrich. Having put on the crown as a joke, the German protector was killed a few days later in an assassination attempt by resistance fighters. So don’t trust the legends after this. The stone itself cannot be seen now. Since there are no more kings in the Czech Republic, the crown is kept somewhere in the treasuries, and you can only see its exact copy in the Prague Cathedral of St. Vitus. But one of the largest rubies on the planet is kept not in the crown, but in the possession of a simple Indian lawyer. A giant crystal, covered with inscriptions, and bearing the name “Rajaratna” – Raja of Gems – weighing almost two and a half thousand carats, he inherited. The Indian, far from a millionaire, refuses to sell the stone. Well, that also commands respect. If this stone were mine, I, too, might not have dared to part with it. As among people, personal names are often given not to ideal stones, but to those that have their own, recognizable differences. In this, precious crystals are similar to film and theater actors – you may not be as perfect as a fashion model, but your individuality and charm will make you more famous than all the handsome men and beauties. This fully applies to the Rosser Reeves ruby, or simply “Reeves” – a stone with such a pronounced asterism effect that it seems unreal. Found in Sri Lanka and acquired by advertising tycoon Rosser Reeves, the magnificent 138-carat cabochon-cut star crystal was simply. donated to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Well, Reeves probably did the right thing. It is absurd to hide this stellar radiance from everyone in an anonymous private collection. Rosser not only donated a fantastic stone to the institute, but also gave the stone his name. And this, perhaps, costs no less. 
Rubies are the fiery pride of the world of precious stones. For centuries, rubies have been an important part of luxury and history. This stone stands out among less valuable gemstones for its special beauty. But rubies are more than just beautiful gemstones. They are one of those gemstones that are becoming increasingly popular and in which there is increasing interest. So, we want to introduce you to some interesting facts about this gemstone, which is considered to be the birthstone of July. 
What are rubies and where can you find them?
Ruby is one of the four most exquisite gemstones. The other three are emerald, sapphire and diamond. The name ruby comes from the Latin word “rubens”, meaning red. Rubies are made of corundum. Corundum can come in a variety of other colors, but gemstones of other colors are classified as sapphires. Pink corundum is sometimes called pink sapphire, but is sometimes also called pink ruby - this depends on the region or personal opinion. The red color of ruby comes from chromium. Ruby has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making it the hardest stone on earth, second only to diamond and moissanite in terms of hardness. For this reason, ruby is an especially strong and durable gemstone. Thailand today is one of the leading countries for digging and mining ruby, along with countries such as Madagascar, Sri Lanka and India.
History and symbolism of the ruby
Ruby symbolizes strength and protection. At that time, it was believed that as a talisman, a ruby worn would help protect soldiers in battle. Another modern allusion to this legend is in the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The heroine Dorothy’s flip flops, made of rubies, in this fairy tale, were supposed to protect her from evil. Rubies are mentioned four times in the Bible. It associates these exquisite gemstones with beauty and wisdom. According to ancient folklore, the people of India believed that rubies would help them reconcile with their enemies.
The value of rubies
Top quality rubies that weigh more than 10 carats usually sell for much more than similar sized diamonds. Prices for some large rubies have risen to EUR 190 per carat, while the average price for diamonds of the same size is almost half that. Such large rubies are much rarer than larger diamonds – this explains the price difference between them. The best valued color of a ruby is bright red with a blue tint – this ruby is called “April blood”. In rubies, inclusions (or “imperfections”) are quite common and are usually well tolerated. However, when such inclusions reduce the clarity or brilliance of the gemstone, the value of the ruby is significantly reduced. Many of the highest quality rubies have been excavated in Myanmar (formerly Burma), hence the name “Burmese ruby”.
Famous rubies
Until the beginning of the 19th century, it was thought that red spinels were rubies. Meanwhile, famous spinels such as the Black Prince Ruby and the Timur Ruby were considered rubies until it became clear that they, like many other red gemstones, were in fact red spinels. The world’s most famous list includes “Rosser Reeves Star Ruby”, “Edwardes Ruby” and “De Long Star Ruby”. In 2011, an Elizabeth Taylor 8,24-carat ruby ring made by Van Cleef & Arpels sold for $4,2 million, putting the average price per carat at $500. Meanwhile, the most expensive ruby ever sold was the ‘Ruby of Hope’, which weighed 000 carats – it sold for an impressive $32,08 million. Have you learned more than one previously unheard fact? Would you be interested in learning even more? Then we invite you to get acquainted with interesting facts about emeralds without waiting!
