Gems Notes and Extracts Augusto Castellani, Mrs. John Brogden 1871

'ItUBY. 193rubies, but the deceit is easily discovered by the differinghardness and the specific gravity.We do not know the name by which the ancientsindicated the different varieties of spinel ; only, inmy opinion, it may be asserted that the red or rubyspinel was described by Pliny under the name ofalabandic carbuncle, carbunculus alabandicus, because, inspeaking of carbuncles in general, he affirms," Alabandicoscseteris nigriores esse ;" that is, to have a darkercolour, and this is the case with the spinel ruby. Itis saidto be procured in Ortosia, and cut in Alabanda,whence the name given to them.3. BALAIS RUBY.By balais is meant a ruby of a lighter colour thanthe spinel, rather tending to pink, and whose specificgravity is never more than 3*446. It is even less hardthan the spinel ruby, and contains a greater quantityof magnesia.The balais is more easily scratched by the emeraldthan the emerald isby the rock-crystal. It will takea beautiful polish, but only as the result of muchpatience, and the use of a special chemical composition.on the wheel when being worked. Caire is convincedthat in India they have, for this purpose, a secretspecific, as balais are brought thence scarcely out ofthe original form, yet having a beautiful artificiallight.Neither balais nor spinels have ever been seenhaving the qualities of the asteria.