Watch a video of this specimen by following the Vimeo link below: https://vimeo.com/1184937461/6d6c00011a Ruby is one of the two precious varieties of corundum, along with sapphire. This sought after red gemstone has been extracted since the 8th century BC in Sri Lanka and has been adorning the royal families jewels in India and around the world, up to the present day. The name corundum derives from 'kuruntam' in Tamil, the language spoken in south east India. Ruby is probably also the most valuable colourful gemstone, whether is it as cut stone or mineral specimen. Here is a very nice ruby specimen from Mysore, displaying sharp purple pink crystals in calcitic matrix! Ex collection Lefebvre. Jean-Claude Lefebvre was born on May 8, 1942, in Liège. A graduate in geography, he began his career as a teacher before becoming a high school principal. A man of wide-ranging interests, he was passionate about astronomy, travel, and numismatics—as well as mineralogy, to which he devoted over thirty years, building his collection between 1980 and 2010. His approach was that of a rigorous and deeply committed autodidact. He initially developed his collection horizontally, aiming to represent as many mineral species as possible, more than 380 in total. He then refined it vertically, focusing on aesthetics, specimen integrity, and overall balance. He possessed a keen eye, that rare ability to instantly recognize the right piece, one that required no compromise. Among the highlights of his collection are an outstanding group of specimens from the Congo, along with a remarkable suite from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada, a legendary locality renowned for its rare species and complex crystal formations.