Antieke juwelen glossarium
(verklarende woordenlijst)

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Ballas ruby (or balas ruby)

The name comes from Balascia, the present-day Badakshan (north Afghanistan) where mines of red spinels have existed since at least the 10th century. Magnificent jewels came from there to decorate the jewels of the royal houses of England, Russia and France. Ballas were considered to be inferior relatives of rubies in 16th century Portugal.