A melted crystal shines in a heated Thai/Cambodian ruby. These crystals begin life as solids, but are turned into glass by heat treatment. Because glass takes up less volume than a crystal, a frozen shrinkage bubble is often found in the glass. Note also the iridescence from the surrounding fingerprint, in shades of red and blue. This is because these are the two colors transmitted by ruby.
Natural Ruby • Thailand/Cambodia • Enhancements: Heat (H) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number: A-001-9448-1 • Date Posted: 06 October 2016
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.