lof 1996. The ruby was one of her favorite gemstones, and she wore it as a bold symbolof her strong personality. 1996 was declared the year of the ruby by the InternationalColored Gemstone Association, the non-profit organization that represents theworld-wide gemstone industry. 1996 was also the year that the mine in Vietnam wasdiscovered.As I said before, rubies are rarer and more expensive than diamonds. Today itcosts about $120 for a one carat and $7200 for a three carat stone. I visited FredSeufert’s Jewelers in Greenwich, CT. The owner, Fred, is a friend of mine. He showedme a 14K gold ring that had and emerald-cut 1.0 CT ruby set in it, with two tinydiamonds on either side. (The diamond weight totaled 0.28 CTTW). The ring wasprong set and cost $655.00.In conclusion, these gems, although quite overpriced in my opinion, are verybeautiful. I can understand why mankind has been captivated by their beauty for solong. It is amazing how nature can create such wonderful beauty from three simpleelements; aluminum, oxygen, and chromium. Their popularity, fueled by their rarity andsymbolism, has continued for literally thousands of years, and I am sure that it willcontinue for thousands to come.BIBLIOGRAPHY1.1999-2000 Encyclopedia Britannica.com Inc.2. The War of the Rubies by David Federman, taken from Modern Jeweler onwww.gemstone.org3. Red-hot Ruby Adds Passion to Jewelery from www.gemstone.org4. Ruby: King of Precious Stones form www.gemstone.org5. The Cambridge Guide To Minerals and Fossils by Bishop, Woolley, Hamilton...
