Ruby & Sapphire Bibliography
Explore books, articles and historical sources on ruby, sapphire and corundum in Four Treasures, the Lotus Gemology reference database. This bibliography brings together matching records from the collection, with publication details, abstracts and cover images where available.
Ruby & Sapphire References
The list below matches the terms ruby, rubies, sapphire or corundum in the database's searchable fields. Some references discuss these gems as part of a broader subject. Linked titles take you to external links where you may find the full reference.
Damigéron, Evax et Marbode: l’héritage alexandrin dans les lapidaires médiévaux
Damigéron, Evax and Marbode: The Alexandrian heritage in the medieval lapidaries
Journal Article
Halleux, R. (1974) Damigéron, Evax et Marbode: l’héritage alexandrin dans les lapidaires médiévaux. [Damigéron, Evax and Marbode: The Alexandrian heritage in the medieval lapidaries] Studi Medievali, Vol. 15, pp. 327–347.
Record No. 924 | Sinkankas/Born No.: 2686; NIB | Language: in French | not seen
Halleux examines the transmission of the Alexandrian lapidary tradition into medieval Europe through texts associated with Damigeron, Evax, and Marbode. The study traces relationships among these lapidaries and investigates the survival and transformation of ancient traditions concerning stones, particularly their supposed medicinal, magical, and astrological properties. It considers the textual sources and transmission of this material from late antiquity into medieval Latin literature, showing how inherited knowledge about stones was adapted and reorganized by successive authors. The article is particularly relevant to the history of gemology for its analysis of the origins and development of medieval European beliefs concerning the properties and virtues of gemstones.
Letters of Medieval Jewish Traders
Book
Goitein, S.D. (1974) Letters of Medieval Jewish Traders. Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press, 359 pp.
Record No. 828 | seen
Die antiken Gemmen des Kunsthistorischen Museums in Wien
The Ancient Gems of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna
Book
Zwierlein-Diehl, E. and Luckert, I. (1973, 1979, 1991) Die antiken Gemmen des Kunsthistorischen Museums in Wien. [The Ancient Gems of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna] Munich, Prestel Verlag, 3 vols., 280, 414, 362 pp.
Record No. 16726 | Sinkankas/Born No.: 7458; NIB | Language: in German | LTL
An extraordinarily comprehensive catalogue of the ancient engraved gemstones and related objects in the Kunsthistorischen Museum in Vienna. Includes pieces from the Minoan period, through the Roman era, to the post-antique ages. Zwierlein-Diehl and Luckert catalogue the extensive collection of ancient engraved gems in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Published in three volumes, the work provides systematic descriptions and illustrations of intaglios, cameos, and related engraved stones, with entries addressing material, dimensions, technique, subject matter, style, date, provenance where known, and relevant bibliography. The collection encompasses Greek, Etruscan, Hellenistic, Roman, and later material and includes a wide variety of gemstones and ornamental stones. Detailed discussion of iconography, inscriptions, workshop traditions, and stylistic and chronological relationships makes the catalogue an important reference for the study of ancient glyptic art as well as for the identification, use, and historical appreciation of gemstones in antiquity.
Fission track age of the gem deposit of Pailin (Cambodia) and recent tectonics in the Indochina province
Journal Article
Carbonnel, J.P., Selo, M. and Poupeau, G. (1973) Fission track age of the gem deposit of Pailin (Cambodia) and recent tectonics in the Indochina province. Modern Geology, Vol. 4, pp. 61–64.
Record No. 7640 | not seen
A Report on Gem Deposits at Ban Bo Khaeo, Denchai, Phrae Province, Northern Thailand
Report
Vichit, P. (1973) A Report on Gem Deposits at Ban Bo Khaeo, Denchai, Phrae Province, Northern Thailand. Economic Geology Division, Dept. of Mineral Resources, Bangkok,
Record No. 1775 | ISBN/ISSN: 9 pp. [in Thai] | not seen
A Report on Gem Deposits at Chanthaburi and Trat Provinces, Southeastern Thailand
Report
Vichit, P. (1973) A Report on Gem Deposits at Chanthaburi and Trat Provinces, Southeastern Thailand. Economic Geology Division, Dept. of Mineral Resources, Bangkok,
Record No. 1774 | ISBN/ISSN: 14 pp. [in Thai] | not seen
Les corindons artificiels commercialement denommes; rubis synthétiques et saphirs synthétiques
The artificially produced corundums commercially known as synthetic rubies and synthetic sapphires
Journal Article
Poirot, J.-P. (1973) Les corindons artificiels commercialement denommes; rubis synthétiques et saphirs synthétiques. [The artificially produced corundums commercially known as synthetic rubies and synthetic sapphires] Revue de Gemmologie A.F.G., No. 37, December, pp. 13–14.
Record No. 1429 | Language: in French | not seen
Poirot discusses artificially produced corundum marketed as synthetic ruby and synthetic sapphire, with attention to their commercial nomenclature and gemological identification. The brief article concerns the distinction between synthetic corundum and its natural counterparts and the terminology applied to these manufactured gemstones.
Report on the Investigation for Corundum near Gobbagurti, A.P. (Andra Pradesh)
Unpublished Work
Patil, R.D. (1973) Report on the Investigation for Corundum near Gobbagurti, A.P. (Andra Pradesh). unpublished report.
Record No. 1408 | not seen
New England rubies
Journal Article
Oughton, J. (1973) New England rubies. Australian Gemmologist, Vol. 11, p. 27.
Record No. 1384 | not seen
Burma’s mines and mineral potential
Journal Article
Job, A.L. (1973) Burma’s mines and mineral potential. World Mining, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 26–30, map.
Record No. 1062 | not seen
Magnificent Jewels: Rare Indian Jewels the properties of Princely Houses
Catalog
Christie Manson and Woods (1973) Magnificent Jewels: Rare Indian Jewels the properties of Princely Houses. Geneva: Christie, Manson, and Woods
Record No. 514 | not seen
Descriptions of Gem Materials
Book
Vargas, G. and Vargas, M. (1972) Descriptions of Gem Materials. Thermal, CA, privately published, 155 pp.
Record No. 5013 | Sinkankas/Born No.: 6824 | seen
Violette edelkorunde aus dem Umba-Geviet von Tanzania
Violet gem corundums from the Umba region of Tanzania
Journal Article
Bank, H., Berdesinski, W. and Ottemann, J. (1972) Violette edelkorunde aus dem Umba-Geviet von Tanzania. [Violet gem corundums from the Umba region of Tanzania] Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 21, pp. 126–127.
Record No. 4695 | Sinkankas/Born No.: NIS/NIB | Language: In German | not seen
Bank, Berdesinski and Ottemann describe violet gem-quality corundum from the Umba region of Tanzania. The brief paper examines the mineralogical and gemological properties of the violet material and its relationship to other fancy-colored corundums from this important East African deposit. Particular attention is given to the coloration of the stones and the trace elements responsible for it, together with physical and optical properties useful in characterizing the material. The occurrence adds violet corundum to the wide range of ruby, sapphire, and fancy-colored corundum known from the Umba area.
Crystal chemistry of corundum type structures
Journal Article
Zemann, J. (1972) Crystal chemistry of corundum type structures. Soviet Physics & Crystallography, Vol. 16, pp. 1039–1043.
Record No. 3194 | not seen
A Report of the Exploration for Gemstones at Trat Province
Report
Pothisat, S. (1972) A Report of the Exploration for Gemstones at Trat Province. Economic Geology Div., Dept. of Mineral Resources, Bangkok,
Record No. 1431 | ISBN/ISSN: 22 pp. [in Thai] | not seen
Ratna-Vijnana
Science of Gems
Book
Parasara, R. (1972) Ratna-Vijnana. [Science of Gems] Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan
Record No. 1392 | Sinkankas/Born No.: NIS/NIB | Language: in Hindi | not seen
Parasara presents a Hindi treatment of ratna-vijñāna, the traditional Indian knowledge or “science” of gems. The work belongs to the Indian ratnaśāstra tradition concerned with gemstones, their names, varieties, characteristic qualities, defects, testing, and valuation, together with beliefs concerning their auspicious or other properties.
Corundum in Rhodesia
Journal Article
Morrison, E.R. (1972) Corundum in Rhodesia. Rhodesia Geological Survey Mineral Resources Series, No. 16, 24 pp..
Record No. 1303 | not seen
Diamond crystals from the Isabella River, Oberon district, New South Wales
Journal Article
Males, R.A. (1972) Diamond crystals from the Isabella River, Oberon district, New South Wales. Australian Gemmologist, November, pp. 23–25.
Record No. 1218 | not seen
India’s Mineral Resources
Book
Krishnaswamy, S. (1972) India’s Mineral Resources. New Delhi, Oxford & IBH Publ. Co., 503 pp.
Record No. 1134 | not seen
Notes on the Mineral Deposits of Burma
Book
Clegg, E.L.G. (1972) Notes on the Mineral Deposits of Burma. Bangkok, Minerals Exploration Company, 80 pp.
Record No. 587 | not seen
Exploring the Literature of Corundum
Ruby and sapphire research spans mineralogy, gem deposits, identification, treatments, synthesis and the history of the gem trade. Older publications can also be useful for tracing terminology, early observations and accounts of mining localities. Publication dates and the original source should be considered when using historical descriptions.
For an introduction to collecting books on this subject, read Ruby & Sapphire Books: Collecting the Literature of Corundum.
About Four Treasures
Four Treasures is Lotus Gemology's freely accessible gemological reference database. Use the full database to search by author, title or keyword and explore literature on gemology, mineralogy, jewelry and related fields. Where available, hyperlinks on titles may lead directly to the full publication.