Hancocks

1.05ct 'Pigeon's Blood' Ruby and 18ct Yellow Gold Ring

A Madagascan ruby ring by Hancocks. The ring is centred on an unheated 'Pigeon's blood' octagonal step cut ruby weighing 1.05cts in a bezel setting between tapering shoulders channel set with calibre cut rubies, all in handcrafted 18ct yellow gold mount with a square profile band. \n
£18,500.00
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Information

Maker
Hancocks
Origin
London
Period
Contemporary
Gemstone
1.05ct Octagonal step cut, unheated 'Pigeon Blood' Madagascan Ruby - with certificate 18 x calibre cut rubies, combined total - 0.72ct
Setting
18ct yellow gold
Dimensions
UK finger size L, US finger size 5.75 (Can be adjusted to any size) Head: 7mm Band: 2.6mm
Weight Description
3 grams
REF
128236

Director’s Notes

Historically, the term ‘pigeon’s blood’ has been used to describe the most beautiful and coveted colour for rubies, allegedly due to its similarity in colour to the blood of a pigeon. Opinions differ as to the exact origin of the term with some saying it came from the Burmese, others that it was first used by the Chinese who had previously owned the area where the Burmese ruby mines were discovered and yet others sighting it as having Hindustani origins where lapidaries compared the colour to the blood red of a pigeon’s eye. Whatever the truth, one thing everyone agreed on is that only rubies of the finest vivid red colour with deep saturation and which showed a soft red fluorescence in daylight were referred to this way. Today rubies from both Burma and Mozambique can show this coveted colour and be certified as such.

About The Maker

Hancocks

Within the archives of the London jewellers Hancocks, there exists the most extraordinary book.  Large, heavy and showing distinct signs of age it is filled with page after page of diary entries documenting almost one hundred and twenty years of not only company history but social history as well.