R IS FOR RUBY

"Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love's day;
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shoulst rubies find: I by the tide"

Andrew Marvell ~ year unknown

The Ruby is the world's most precious stone and, by far, the rarest. Not even the diamond, with its unfathomable depths of light; nor the emerald, serene in its perfect greeness; is worth more, carat for carat, than the Ruby.

In Indian iconography, the Ruby is the stone closest to the sun, the emblem of desire, the most sacred and holy of gems. It is thus little wonder that the ancient Hindus prized the Ruby well above all other jewels, calling it Rajnapura, the Gem of Gems or Ratnaraj, the King of Gems, at whose heart, it is said, surges an eternal and unquenchable flame. In English, we call it Ruby. In Sanskrit, it is Manikya. In Burmese, Budmiya. In Arabic, Yakut Bihar. In all languages, priceless.

Closest to a wild, living being, the Ruby is fiery, passionate and reckless. And while at times, the flames within the stone seem to soar with the gaiety of a hearthside fire, more often they blaze with a passion that pulses, almost literally. Indeed, the Ruby captivates with its ferocious beauty, it is a gem of fire and blood. From the fabled mines of Mogok in Burma to the Crown Jewels of England and Iran, the Ruby has a history steeped in mystery, magic and power.

Here are some other truly fascinating facts about Rubies:-

> An early recorded note of the transport and trading of Rubies arises in the literature on the North Silk Road of China, where in about 200BC, Rubies were carried along this ancient trackway moving westward from China.

> The famous lighted "Red Stars" mounted above Kremlin spires, thought to be giant rubies mined in Siberia, are coloured glass.

> Ruby is associated with the sun in Vedic astrology.

> Rubies have always been held in high esteem in Asian countries. They were used to ornament armor, scabbards, and harnesses of noblemen in India and China, and are often laid beneath the foundation of buildings to secure good fortune to the structure.

> The crown of Charles IV of Luxembourg from the 1300s held a gem quality Ruby that was a whopping 250 Carats.

Forgive me as I waxed long and lyrical over the fey fascinating virtues of the Ruby. And for the rather tongue-in-cheek name bestowed upon this wristwrapper you behold. It's just that the abundance of Rubies used to create it was SO vast, the bracelet had to be called R Is For Ruby.

The list of gemmies used:-

>> Faceted Blood Red Ruby Nuggets
>> Carved Pink Ruby Leaf Briolettes
>> Faceted Blood Red Rounds
>> Genuine Natural Kenyan Pink Ruby Rondelles
>> Madeira Citrine Briolettes
>> Rare Blue Labradorite Briolettes
>> Red Garnet Heart Briolettes
>> Sunstone Rondelles
>> Madeira Citrine Ovals
>> Mystic Pink Amethyst Briolettes
>> Pyrope Red Garnet Rondelles
>> Beer Quartz Cubes
>> Unique Rhinestone Headpins

This is, very possibly, the most luscious and decadent bracelet I've ever created, indeed R Is For Ruby is.

And that divine, 3-Dimensional Charm? It's a flower. The first first (and bottom) layer features intricate hand-crochet weaving. A second portion is perched atop this, comprised of four sleek petals. And finally, the third layer is another quartet of petals but this time, lusciously adorned with heaps of Pink Ruby Rondelles as well as Blood Red Ruby Rounds.

A wristwrapper of infinitely decadent proportions, R Is For Ruby measures 7" and is perfectly adjustable all the way to 8.25". Owing to her opulence, she currently best fits wrist sizes 5.5" to 6.5". However, as with all Eclettica pieces, her measurements are entirely customisable. All wire and chains used are 14K Gold Filled, whilst her Lobster Claw Clasp is 18K Gold Filled.

~ This is an original, copyright Eclettica design ~

{ COLLECTION }

R IS FOR RUBY is part of the ALPHABET SERIES Collection wherein the Atelier indulges in a spot of tongue-in-cheek chic whilst retaining its signature touches of opulence, decadence and wire-wrapped intricacy. R IS FOR RUBY is an exclusive one-of-a-kind design, available only from the studio of Eclettica.