Preview: The New Ruby Book From Gemfields
Bazaar enjoyed a sneak peak inside the beautiful new coffee table book dedicated to the King of Gemstones
After the success of its first gemstone book Emerald, Gemfields has commissioned another tome entitled Ruby. The book explores the long history of this fiery gem, which is traditionally associated with love, prosperity and protection.
With over 30 years’ experience as a jewellery specialist, the author Joanna Hardy believes that no other coloured gemstone fuels passion more than this stone. “We live with colour,” Joanna explains, “but place a ruby in front of any man or woman and there will be an instant response to this vibrant red gem.”
The “Star of Light” ruby ring by Wallace Chan
Joanna takes the reader on a breathtaking journey through ruby’s fascinating history, from the legendary mines in Burma and ancient silk trade routes of China, to the most recently discovered ruby deposit in Mozambique.
Treasured by royalty and the social elite throughout history, the book presents a number of iconic designs previously owned by kings, queens, Maharanis and style mavens. A total of 60 pieces are lavishly illustrated, many of which are previously unseen jewels from royal and private collections.
A 1924 headdress brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels in rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds
These include historical creations by the major jewellery houses such as Cartier, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as pieces by leading contemporary designers Hemmerle and Wallace Chan. The book sheds light on the specialised techniques employed by these expert houses, as well as tips on how to judge the quality of individual rubies.
A 2003 ring by Hemmerle with a central Burmese ruby weighing 5.33 carats
As a world leading supplier of coloured stones, Gemfields commissioned the book as part of its mission to educate jewellery enthusiasts about precious gems. With Ruby’s offering of expert knowledge, stunning jewels and interesting facts, we can hardly wait until its 12 October release date.