Newsletter July 2015

Written for you in a month brimming with Colour & Vibrancy

Gemstone of the Month RUBY

The ruby, birthstone for July, is among the most highly prized of gemstones.
The name ruby comes from the Latin "ruber"
meaning red and is a form of the mineral
corundum. The red gemstone corundum is called
ruby while all other gemstone corundum colours
are called sapphires (fancy sapphires). These can
be colourless, orange, yellow, brown, green, blue,
purple, pink, violet and black.
Large rubies are harder to find than large
diamonds, emeralds and sapphires.
Fine quality rubies are extremely rare and the colour of the
gemstone is most important to its value. The finest and rarest
of rubies are found in the Mogok Valley, Upper Burma
(Myanmar).
Gems found here are intense red in their colour and are
traditionally known as "pigeons blood colour. Burma has
been a source for rubies since at least 600 AD. Both Thailand
and Myanmar regard the ruby as their national stone.
Ruby in its natural form

Rubies are one of the most historically significant coloured stones and
are associated with beauty and wisdom and said to guarantee health,
wealth and success in love. For centuries they have been associated
with power, confidence, strength, leadership, courage passion and
protection. The ruby was also believed to have curative properties and
used to improve blood circulation.

Portrait of Henry VIII, circa 1520. In his younger years Henry was a healthy, strong,
handsome young man who enjoyed sports including, archery, wrestling, jousting and
hunting. I wonder if he is wearing rubies?

www.manorhousedesigns.co.uk 07976 894519 / 01948 666817 - kate@manorhousedesigns.co.uk

The ancient Hindus, Burmese, and Ceylonese regarded sapphires as unripe rubies, believing
that if they buried the sapphire in the ground, it would mature to become a rich red ruby.
The ruby has accumulated lots of legends over the
centuries. Ancient Asian stories tell that the ruby was
self-luminous. They called it glowing stone or lamp
stone and it is said that an Emperor of China once
used a large ruby to light his chamber, where it glowed
as bright as day. People in India believed that rubies
enabled their owners to live in peace with their
enemies. In Burma warriors believed that rubies made
them invincible in battle - however, it wasnt enough
to just wear the rubies, they had to insert them into
their flesh and make them part of their bodies.
Pair of 'Garuda Head' bracelets in gold with diamond, ruby and
emeralds (Indian circa late 19th century)

In the Middle Ages, rubies were thought to bring good

health, as well as guard against wicked thoughts, amorous
desires, and disputes! Rubies were said to cure bleeding
and it was believed that the ruby held the power to warn
its owner of coming misfortunes, illness, or death, by
turning darker in colour. (Catherine of Aragon, first wife of
King Henry VIII, is said to have predicted her downfall in
seeing the darkening of her ruby).
Young Catherine of Aragon (Michel Sittow circa 1504-1505.

Rubies are rare and because of this there are very few
famous large rubies. In the 13th-century Marco Polo
related the tale of a magnificent gemstone - a ruby nine
inches long and as thick as a mans arm which belonged
to the King of Ceylon. Kublai Khan, the Emperor of China,
offered an entire city in exchange for the enormous
stone, to which the King of Ceylon replied that he would
never part with his prize for all the treasures of the world.
This 5.22 ct ruby from Vietnam seems tiny in comparison!

www.manorhousedesigns.co.uk 07976 894519 / 01948 666817 - kate@manorhousedesigns.co.uk

Many famous rubies in history turned out not to be rubies

after all - the famed Timur ruby, given to Queen Victoria in
1851, was later found to be ruby spinel.
This is Queen Therese of Bavaria's Tiara, (circa 1830).
It's made from rubies, spinels, diamonds, and gold.

In more recent times the ruby retained its importance and became one of the most soughtafter gems of European royalty and the upper classes.
.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing

the Mike Todd ruby and
diamond Cartier suite which
he gave her in August 1957.

Real ruby slippers - set with

4,600 rubies. Made to
commemorate the 50th
anniversary of The Wizard
of Oz. Wow!
(Harry Winston).

Beautiful & prestigious

jewellery - this Faberg
beetle brooch is in gold,
silver, diamonds, ruby and
enamel. (1908 1917. St.
Petersburg)

Today the desire for rubies is as great as it has always has been and continues to be regarded
as a symbol of passion. It therefore makes an ideal romantic gift with its wonderful rich red
colour and because it is harder than any natural gemstone except diamond (9 on the Mohs
scale), it is durable enough for everyday wear...and perfect for an engagement ring.

This huge and stunningly beautiful 23.1 carat Carmen Lucia

(Burmese) ruby is on display at the Smithsonian.
However, be aware, like any gemstone a ruby may chip or crack
due to blunt impact. This is especially true when mounted in a ring
or bracelet.

www.manorhousedesigns.co.uk 07976 894519 / 01948 666817 - kate@manorhousedesigns.co.uk

Top Tips on Caring for your Ruby Jewellery

Remove your ruby jewellery before performing any rough work, household tasks, DIY
or gardening.
Although rubies are hard and durable stones it is wise to prevent contact with
chemicals
Keep your rubies as clean as possible by applying perfumes, moisturisers, sun lotions
and hairsprays before putting on your jewellery.
Because rubies are hard foreign matter like soap and grease can accumulate on the
surface causing a faded or cloudy appearance.
To eliminate dullness gently clean your rubies in warm water and a mild liquid soap.
Use an old, soft toothbrush to remove any dirt from the setting. Rinse and the dry with
a soft lint free cloth.
Only use an ultrasonic cleaner if you are certain that your ruby has not been "fractured
filled".
Store each piece of your gemstone jewellery separately so that harder stones don't
scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in
which means that gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum.

Recent Commissions
Here's an image of a recent commission.
Made from the design supplied by my
client, I made this lovely silver pendant
with its initials and gemstones of ruby,
garnet and topaz.

Perhaps you would like to commission a

gift for a loved one? Either for a birthday,
wedding, or anniversary, Valentines Day,
Christmas or as a spur of the moment
gift, just to say I love you.
I'd love to hear from you.

Website: www.manorhousedesigns.co.uk
Email:

kate@manorhousedesigns.co.uk

Workshop:

01948 666817

Mobile:

07976 894519

www.manorhousedesigns.co.uk 07976 894519 / 01948 666817 - kate@manorhousedesigns.co.uk

Workshop Update
Hope you are able to enjoy the long, hot sunny days and light bright evenings. I've been busy
in my workshop - and I've had a holiday, so I'm looking forward to spending some time at
home, hopefully in the garden, with our friends. (I suspect good food ... and some alcohol
could be involved...)
Here's a taste of what I've been up to.
Marianne's 40th birthday gift - the story
Marianne is a very special person and the daughter of my good
friends, Kath and Frank. I've known her since she was 4 years old;
a happy, funny and beautiful little girl with auburn hair tied up in
bunches. So, for her 40th birthday in June (the 24th - lots of "4"s
involved here) I wanted to make something different with some
meaningful and sentimental significance for her.
This is what I came up with. It's a floral pendant- inspired by the
Clemetis Montana Grandiflora which climbs up our elegant old
elder tree in the garden.
The flower is pure white and has 4 petals.
Step One:

Step Two:

Step Three:

I cut four flower shapes

out of 925 sterling
silver sheet using my
trusty old saw.

The edges were then filed to

smoothen the saw marks
and then the file marks were
removed using a variety of
different grade sandpaper.

To give shape I then

placed the little flowers
in my dappling block
and domed them using
the punch.

www.manorhousedesigns.co.uk 07976 894519 / 01948 666817 - kate@manorhousedesigns.co.uk

now complete!
Step Four:

Step Five:

Once all 4 flowers

were shaped they
were soldered onto a
length of sterling
silver wire (the
stem).

After pickling to
remove any fire
stain the completed
piece was then
polished on the
polishing mop.

N. B. All of these procedures are potentially

dangerous and by allowing oneself to be distracted
or neglecting to wear one's magnifying specs, it is
possible to sustain a nasty cut, burn or even lose an eye. Hence, for polishing I wear this yellow
visor. Not a glamorous look, I know, but essential for protecting my face and eyesight. Kevin
took this and thinks I look as if I've had one too many G & Ts
... Alcohol is NOT allowed in the workshop - not even for
onlookers!
The bale on Marianne's pendant is an integral part of the piece
and forms part of the stem. It has some flexibility which means
that it can be worn on a silver chain or on a string of pearls
(June's birthstone).
I really hope that Marianne likes it - I loved making it for her.
I think that it is important to have jewellery that's adaptable and
versatile. This necklace can be worn as a casual piece on its
silver chain with jeans and a T shirt, or would look equally as
good with an elegant black cocktail dress - or to set off a suntan.
**********

In next month's Newsletter, I'll be sharing tips on how to get

the most out of your jewellery in "What I wore on Holiday".
See you there. Kate.x
www.manorhousedesigns.co.uk 07976 894519 / 01948 666817 - kate@manorhousedesigns.co.uk