Though this cultivar has a narrowish profile, quite interestingly, it has the bonus of being a multi-stalked type, making it more of a typical garden plant. 4) H. annuus ‘Sunsation Yellow’

The general view at present seems to be that simple heating, being stable and indistinguishable from nature's own heating processes, is acceptable as long as it's disclosed. For this reason, heating doesn't radically lower the value of ruby gems. However, this isn't the case for other more recently invented treatments, such as diffusion coloring or filling with polymer and/or lead glass. For more information on ruby enhancements, see our article on corundum treatments. This natural, mined ruby has received both heat and glass filling treatments. Photo by Gemsphoto. Licensed under CC By-SA 3.0. Ruby SourcesRising to just over 1m and with flowers measuring 15-17cm in diameter, ‘Valentine’ produces amongst the lightest-coloured sunflowers – or the darkest, depending on your point of view. It has light, bright, lemony-yellow rays of a crinkly texture and a disc that is a chocolate brown shade. a b Ginanne Brownell Mitic (13 May 2015). "At Jewelry Auctions, Color Is King". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015 . Retrieved 13 May 2015. It is of a branching type and shows off its incredible, one-of-a-kind flowers nearly all summer long. 17) H. annuus‘Sunbelievable Brown-Eyed Girl’ Native to a swath of land from the central belt of the United States to that of Mexico, the common sunflower is found on prairies, grasslands and disturbed ground.

It produces a gorgeous flower, is prolific and floriferous, and it blooms all summer and autumn long! In the 1950s, synthetic star corundums known under the trade name "Linde Stars" enjoyed considerable popularity. It is considered among the rarest of all gemstones. [6] [4] The Swiss Gemmological Institute has described it as "a unique treasure of nature" and praised its "well-proportioned cut, highly attractive colour and fine purity". [5] The Gubelin Gem Lab in Lucerne stated that "such a combination of characteristics is very rare in Burmese rubies of this size." [5] The global chairman of Sotheby's International Jewellery Division, David Bennett, when interviewed on the ruby, stated "during his 40 years in the industry, he has never before seen a ruby of this calibre". [5] In a Gubelin grading report, it notes, "ruby is of Burmese origin" and that "its vivid but saturated color, poetically referred to as pigeon blood red, is due to a combination of well balanced trace elements in the stone, typical and characteristic for the finest rubies of Mogok." [8] Gemstones of the same quality typically form in only small crystals, making this one an "extremely rare" gem. [8] History [ edit ] Originally mined in Myanmar, its current name is derived from a poem of the same name, written by the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi. [5] Description [ edit ]Neate, Rupert (22 April 2023). "World's most valuable private jewellery collection goes on display in London". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023 . Retrieved 22 April 2023. The rubies from Möng Hsu are a rich, fluorescent red and are easily distinguished by their dark core. These gems were often treated at very high temperatures to enhance their color. Many jewelers and gemologists have had the unpleasant task of telling the proud inheritors of treasured heirloom ruby rings or brooches that they contain flame fusion stones with more sentimental than commercial value. Dating from the early 20th century, this men's 10k yellow gold ring features a bezel-set synthetic ruby with an intaglio carving of a Roman soldier. Photo courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Crescent City Auction Gallery. Lareef Samad (12 May 2015). "Sunrise Ruby Outperforms Diamond Lots at Sotheby's Geneva May 12, 2015, Jewelry Auctions". Newsinternetstones.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015 . Retrieved 19 May 2015.

On the other hand, heavily included or fractured rubies have less durability. Clean these by hand using only warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Inclusions can also help identify the source of a ruby. See our article on identifying the origins of rubies and sapphires for more information. Synthetics Most of all though, it’s the very large flowers, their uncomplicated daisy-like form, the brilliant yellow colour, and their height that make sunflowers so attractive. Sunflowers produce their floral reward very promptly after planting and in profusion, but they also have other pleasing characteristics. For rubies reasonably clear of inclusions or fractures, no special wear or care precautions are necessary. You can safely use a mechanical system to clean such stones, per the manufacturer's instructions.Today, there are heating and diffusion processes that can increase the rutile content and improve the star effect in such gems. Inclusions When they have withered, they form sunflower seeds which can be used for all your culinary needs and as a source of food for the wildlife in your garden.

Myanmar rubies often fluoresce so strongly that the effect is noticeable even in sunlight. They literally seem to glow, and aficionados greatly admire them. On the species plant, the disc florets are in varying rich shades of brown and the ray florets are a bright, sunny yellow. 2) H. annuus‘Valentine’

With the decline in Myanmar production during the 1962--1990 period, the market became conditioned to Thai/Cambodian rubies. Some people actually preferred them. Nevertheless, Thai/Cambodian rubies are acceptable only when good material from Myanmar-type sources isn't available. Today, production from Thailand and Cambodia is negligible. In the past, cabbed blood-red gemstones were known collectively as "carbuncles." Now, gemologists would distinguish these gems as distinct species, such as garnets, spinels, and rubies. This watch by Nicolaus Rugendas the Younger is known as the "Great Ruby Watch" because it features 85 transparent rubies set into the gold and enamel watch case. Augsburg, Germany, ca 1670. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Public Domain. Identifying Characteristics Other than where noted, they flower through most of the summer and are annuals. 1) Helianthus annuus In the late 1990s, gem-quality rubies began appearing in much more abundance from the Möng Hsu region of Myanmar. Nepal is a relatively new source of rubies. A goat herder discovered ruby in the mountains in the 1980s. The clarity of Nepalese ruby is usually low to mid-commercial, although gemmy crystals do exist. Typically, Nepalese crystals weigh 5 carats or less and have heavy color zoning, from pure red to pinkish-purplish red. Vietnam