This is gemstone is in 14 karat white gold with a filigree design. The ring is from a collector in Atlanta, Georgia area and circa 1880. It is set with a natural hand cut ruby of one carat in weight. Rubies in the Victorian were most always pink in color and not the red color of the today’s rubies which are mined in different areas in countries not mined in the 19th century.
Ruby: King of Precious Stones--Ruby has been the world's most valued gemstone for thousands of years. Ruby was said to be the most precious of the twelve stones God created when he created all things and this "lord of gems" was placed on Aaron's neck by God's command. The bible says that wisdom is "more precious than rubies," that is to say very valuable indeed. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, ruby is called ratnaraj, or "king of precious stones" and ratnanayaka, "leader of precious stones." Ruby is the gem quality of the mineral corundum, one of the most durable minerals which exists, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide. Corundum has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and is also extremely tough. In its common form, it is even used as an abrasive.
The stone is very well set with a ring size of 5 and can be resized up or down. This is a beautiful ring of the Victorian/Edwardian time period and in excellent condition and fine to wear.