How to Grow Broad Beans

The broad bean is also known as the horse bean, the field bean, the Windsor bean, and most famously as the fava (Vicia faba). It’s actually vetch, a type of legume that traces its roots to west Asia. They love cool weather and full sun, and can be grown in a variety of climates, and are an excellent source of protein and vitamins A, C and B. Rich in fiber and delicious, these are definitely worth growing in the garden. You can learn how to plant them, care for them, and harvest a crop of broad beans. See Step 1 for more information.

Steps

Starting Broad Beans

1. Select a variety of broad bean to try. Broad beans are available in many different varieties, some more appropriate than others depending on the space you have available. Whether you want to grow broad beans in a small kitchen garden, or a big hoop house, there’s the right plant for the space.^[1] Some excellent and hardy varieties:
   
   
   
   • The Sutton grows only about 12 inches high, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens, hoop houses, and anywhere space is at a premium.
     
     
     
   • The Imperial Green Longpod produces huge 15 in. long pods with several big beans in each, noted for their flavor.
     
     
     
   • The Stero are compact plants that produce heavily with regular picking, producing beans so sweet they can be eaten without cooking.
     
     
     
   • The Red Epicure produces vibrant red beans that can offer a distinctive and exotic alternative to regular favas or broad beans.
     
     
     
   • Aquadulce Claudia has been around since the 1850s, winning awards for its flavor and hardiness. This variety is particularly good to plant in the winter or late autumn.
     
     
     
2. Pick a date to sow your beans based on the climate. Depending on where you live, you may want to plant your broad beans in the late autumn, after you've cleaned up your garden from the summer, which means you'll be harvesting them sometime in the spring when you're ready to start planting other varieties. In regions with very cold winters, however, waiting until spring is essential.
   
   
   
   • Temperate zones: In most regions, you'll want to start broad beans in the early spring to ensure a late summer harvest. Broad beans like to be planted between 60 and 65 F, and struggle in temperatures higher than 80.
   • Warm Mediterranean Climates: Let plants winter in areas with mild winters. Fava beans can stay healthy down to temperatures of about , making them a good candidate for overwintering in some climates. Because of the long maturation period, planting broad beans in late autumn can ensure that you’re harvesting in early spring.
   • Cold or Very Hot Zones: Start beans indoors in regions with sudden shifts in temperature. If you live in the American Midwest or the Southeast, the transition from winter to summer is often sudden enough that it puts a strain on broad bean varieties, making it a better choice to start your plants indoors, several weeks before putting them in the ground.
3. Prepare the ground with fertilizer. Whenever you're planting your beans, plant them in well-tilled soil that's been properly fertilized with the fertilizer of your choice. Since broad beans are nitrogen-producers, you don't need to fertilize necessarily. If you do, use a low-nitrogen variety of fertilizer.
   
   
   
   • Pick a spot with good sun, away from any plants in the onion family, tilling the ground in the area you're planting several inches deep into the soil, adding compost as you work.
4. Consider inoculating the seeds to promote growth. Broad beans can grow in any kind of soil, as legumes are self-fertilizers. To help them convert nitrogen, however, it’s a good idea to use a Rhizobium bacteria to help the roots fix nitrogen and promote growth. This black powder is available at any gardening store.^[2]
   
   
   
   • Wet the seeds gently and put them in a coffee can or a cup with the inoculant, then shake them gently to coat the seeds evenly before planting. Do this just a few minutes before you're ready to put the seeds in the ground.
5. Direct sow your seeds or starts in well-tilled wet soil. Moisten your soil with water gently before planting. You don't want standing water, just a bit of dampness to get started.
   
   
   
   • Use your finger to poke a hole about 2 in. (5 cm) deep in the ground. Place them 8 inches (20 cm) apart in double rows, with the same distance between the two rows. If you're planting a variety known for growing quite large, you might plant them with a bit more space between.
   • Find the dark spot–the "eye" of the seed–and plant it downward. Some gardeners recommend planting twice as many seeds as you want plants, to account for non-germinating seeds.^[3]
6. Start plants indoors in colder climates. If you need to start your beans indoors, a great way to start them is using old toilet paper tubes, one tube per plant you hope to grow. Use a seeding tray, available at any gardening store, to line up your tubes and start your broad beans.
   
   
   
   • Place the tubes in the tray end-up, snugly fitting. Fill the tubes 2/3 to 3/4 full with potting soil. You'll probably spill some in between, but don't worry about the mess.
   • Place one bean on top of the soil in each tube. If you pre-soaked the beans to germinate them, place the seed root-down. Water the tubes from the top to compact the soil down a little, then refill each tube with a little more soil, covering the beans.
   • Place the tray in a room temperature place in your house. Once the beans sprout, move the tray to a sunny place. Cool temperatures are fine, just as long as it doesn't dip too much below freezing for too long.

Caring for Broad Beans

1. Stake the plants as they start to gain height. The small bushes that the beans will grow on will quickly become laden with heavy pods, and will sag over without the proper support. For this reason, it's important to plant stakes along your broad bean row to use to support them when they start to gain height.
   
   
   
   • Use small dowels spaced every foot or two along the row, with twine tied between, to give the plants something to lean on. You can use twine, or old strips of bed-sheet to gently tie the plants and keep them upright and keep the pods off the ground.
   • Don't wait until you've got a huge plant and it's flopping over to stake them. It's very easy to damage the roots and promote mildew if the plant spends too much time flopped over on the ground before getting staked up.
2. Water sparingly and deeply. Broad beans can withstand dry spells, but keep the plants well-watered, especially if you live in an especially warm climate. Water the soil deeply in the coolest part of the day–first thing in the morning, or in the evening after dinner–and avoid over watering. You shouldn't see a bunch of standing water around your broad beans.
   
   
   
   • Avoid overhead watering, which is watering the tops of the plants and letting it drip down into the soil. This will promote mildew and other problems. Water the soil.
3. Weed aggressively, especially if you’re wintering the plants. Broad bean roots are relatively shallow, making it very easy to accidentally uproot them if you're careless with a hoe. Weed around your broad beans by hand, keeping the area competition-free. Once the plant is established, you can lighten up on the weeding some.
   
   
   
4. When the plant starts producing pods, pinch off new sprouts. The plant will keep growing and will overproduce unless you stunt the growth by pinching off the new sprouts at the top of the plant as soon as you seen pods producing. At this point, you can harvest some of the leaves to eat, which are a surprisingly tender salad green.
   
   
   
   • Pinch out the growing tips when you see young beans appearing at the base. Remove the tips with two leaves attached from the tops of the plants. If you don't want to eat them, compost them.
5. Consider using a row cover. If you've got problems with rodents, groundhogs, rabbits, or other pests messing with your garden, broad beans would be a good candidate for row cover, if necessary. Row covers are plastic or cloth sheets that you can stake gently, draped over the plants. This leaves enough room for growth and air circulation, and also warmth.
   
   
   
   • Row covers can also be a great idea if you're planting in the autumn, because it will help trap the heat near the ground and protect the plants from frost.
   • If you use a row cover, leave the rows uncovered for a while in the middle of the day, maybe while you're weeding to let the air circulate more readily. Watch for fungal disease and wet rot at the base of the plants. If you see any whitish or yellowish patches, water them less and expose the plants to more air.
6. Watch out for aphids. Aphids love bean plants and will congregate usually at the top of the plants, near new shoots and buds. Some gardeners like to use insecticidal spray to keep aphids off the plants, but an easier method involves cutting the tops off the plants where the aphids congregate as you see them. If you're a diligent gardener, you should be able to pinch them off before they do much damage.
   
   
   

Harvesting Broad Beans

1. Harvest some early to eat them whole. Like other bush beans, broad beans can be tender and edible in the first couple days of their formation, eaten like sugar snap peas, or steamed whole as a side dish. Broad beans are notable for the waxy outer shell on each bean, but harvested young those outer shells will be soft and edible.
   
   
   
   • Look for a narrow pod that’s bright green. The pods should be thin and narrow, showing none of the bulges that are the sign of mature beans on the inside. If beans are showing, let them mature fully.
   • Don't over-pick your young beans, since the full-grown variety is where the flavor's at. It's ok to pick a few from each plant if you can't wait, but save the majority for full maturation.
2. Harvest mature beans when the pods are bright and not over-bulging. Broad beans are ready to be harvested when the pods and plump and the beans are fat and distinct in each pod. The pods will appear to plump some and begin to droop with the weight of the seeds when they're ready to harvest.
   
   
   
   • Depending on what variety you're growing, pods can be anywhere from 6 to 15 inches long, with several large, fat beans on the inside, with several pods per plant. If you pick them regularly throughout the season, you should open up space for more production as well, if you're had a good growing season, weather-wise.
3. Shuck the beans. To get at the broad beans, you've got to shuck them out of their pods. Holding each pod with the pointy tip up, pull the string along the side of each bean to open the pod.
   
   
   
   • Again, depending on the variety, each bean should have 5-10 large beans in each pod, which have a thick waxy shell that needs removed before eating. It takes some work, but getting organized can help to make the process go fast.^[4]
   • The easiest way to do this is to blanch them, dropping the beans in boiling water for a count of five, then removing them immediately with a slotted spoon and putting them right into ice water. This will loosen the shells on each bean.
4. Enjoy the beans in soups, salads, and other dishes. The best way to eat broad beans is the most simple: steam them and serve them simply dressed with salt and pepper. They're big, meaty, and delicious, ideally paired with red meat. They're also a great base for bean soups, or as an addition to hearty salads.
   
   
   
5. Return the whole plant to the soil when the beans finish. Because broad bean plants are great nitrogen-providers, it's a good idea to return them back to the soil and let their nutrients enrich the soil. Cut each plant down to the base and dig the roots into the soil. Cover them in soil and rotate your garden so something in need of nitrogen-enrichment is planted there next season.
   
   
   

Video

Tips

• Broad beans grow well in most soil types but the richer the soil, the better the crop.
• Don't store the bean pods in the fridge; this will cause them to turn black and slimy quickly. They will keep well for a few days in a cool, dry and airy space.
• The beans can also be dried. Remove the beans from the pods, lay them out in a dry place and leave to dry completely. Dried beans can be stored in an airtight container for eating or growing again later.
• For longer term storage, freeze the beans; remove them from the pods, place in a plastic bag and freeze.

Warnings

• Black flies like broad beans.

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Broad Bean Pate
• How to Make Mozzarella Salad With Broad Beans
• How to Select and Store Broad Beans
• How to Grow Beans and Peas
• How to Harvest Pole Beans for Winter Use

Sources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1JgIX1M

How to Learn Faster

To adapt more quickly to the rapidly changing environments in which we live, we need to learn more effectively and efficiently. You can help your brain to absorb information more accurately and efficiently, sometimes by just changing how you take care of your body. You can also employ a few easy studying hacks, which will get you feeling smarter before you know it.

Steps

Preparing Your Body

1. Get plenty of sleep. A lot of the time, there's nothing wrong with you or how you study or learn: your brain just can't hold the information because your body isn't getting something that it needs. Often, that need is more sleep. You'll want to be sure to get plenty of sleep if you want your brain to be alert enough to absorb information. Just drinking an extra cup of coffee isn't going to work. This means you'll want to stop doing those late night study sessions. Instead, go to bed early, get a few hours of sleep, and then get up early so that you can study more on a well-rested brain.
   
   
   
   • Studies have actually revealed that while we sleep, the brain is flushed with a fluid that cleans it of toxins.^[1] When we don't get enough sleep, our brains are so overloaded with junk that it becomes difficult for the brain to function correctly.
   • How much is enough sleep really depends on you and how your body works. Seven to eight hours is what is recommended for most adults^[2], but some people need less and some people need more. You should be able to feel awake and alert through most of the day, without the aid of coffee. If you're tired before four or five in the afternoon, then you're probably not getting enough sleep (or you might be getting too much).
2. Eat enough food. When you're hungry, your brain will have a really hard time absorbing any information. It's hard to focus when all your body can tell you is that your stomach is empty. Make sure that you get enough food for all of the major meals. You might even want to choose something healthy to snack on while you study as well as during any classes or tests you might have to take.
   
   
   
   • It's also a good idea to make sure that you're eating healthy foods. Junk food doesn't give your body the nutrients it needs to perform at its best. Snack on some almonds or a couple of carrots in order to feel alert and focused, instead of bloated and tired.
3. Drink plenty of water. Your body is at its best when it's well hydrated. When you don't get enough water, you won't be able to focus. You can easily become distracted, whether you realize it or not, by your thirst. It can even lead to things like a headache, making it even harder for you to learn.
   
   
   
   • Different bodies need different amounts of water to stay hydrated. The "eight glasses a day" that you hear recommended is just a rough estimate. The best way to tell if you're getting enough water is to look at the color of your urine. If it's pale or clear, you're drinking enough. Any darker color means you could use more water.
4. Get exercise. Of course you know that exercise is good for your body in lots of ways, but did you know that it can also help you learn faster? Some studies have found that light exercise while studying can help you to learn faster. ^[3] For people who are very physical and active, being forced to stay still for too long can also make it hard to stay focused, so exercising while studying can also be helpful in that way.
   
   
   
   • For example, try walking around a large room while you read your textbook. Record your class lectures and listen to the recordings while you use an elliptical machine at the gym. There are lots of options. Just remember to keep the exercise light and do it while you study.
5. Teach your brain to learn. Learning quickly is a habit and you might need to work to retrain your brain for good habits instead of bad ones. Improve your focus by doing complex tasks without breaks (even if they're unrelated). Set aside a time and place that's just for learning and keep that place sacred. Perhaps most importantly, find a way to make learning fun for you. This will make your brain want to do more and you won't struggle to learn quite so much.
   
   
   
   • For example, pursue learning about the subjects that you do enjoy. Eventually, your brain will master the learning skills and you can apply those skills to subject areas that you don't enjoy too.

Learning Like a Pro

1. Pay attention when you learn things for the first time. The best way to learn faster is to make sure that you're really paying attention when things are explained to you the first time. Even the smallest break in your focus can cause the information not to settle properly in your brain. Unfortunately, there are few tricks for this: you'll mostly need to learn how to maintain willpower.
   
   
   
   • Try listening with the idea that you will have to answer a question immediately about the material, such as your teacher calling on you, or so that you can repeat the information back to yourself. In fact, if you're on your own, repeating the information back to yourself (paraphrased and in your own words) can help to anchor the information in your brain.
2. Take notes. Taking notes is another great way to maintain your focus as you learn the material the first time. Taking notes not only forces you to think about the material you're learning, it also give you a framework to study from later.
   
   
   
   • Taking notes doesn't mean writing down everything that is said. All you have to do is write down the broad outline, with specific information when you know it's important. Write down major facts and any explanations that you either have a hard time understanding or you know you won't remember because they are very complicated.
3. Participate in class. Stay active in your learning experience. This will not only help you stay focused, it will also help your brain absorb the information better because it becomes a multi-sensory experience, rather than you just listening to someone talk. There are lots of ways to participate in your learning experience, from getting active in group work to asking questions during the lecture.
   
   
   
   • Try to answer questions when the teacher asks. Don’t worry about being wrong: this is a learning experience and being wrong sometimes is a part of the process.
   • When you’re split up into groups in order to do activities, reading, or discussion, really embrace the experience and participate. Don’t just sit quietly and do as little as possible. Engage your fellow students and ask them questions, give your opinions, and enjoy the experience.
   • Ask questions when you don't understand or want to know more. Asking questions is another great way to stay focused as you learn material, plus it will also help make sure that you really understand what you're learning. When you don't understand what your teacher said or when you think something is interesting and want to know more, don't be afraid to ask.
4. Create a helpful environment. If your lab partner is a huge nuisance or your place to study at home is in front of the TV, then it's probably no surprise that you're having trouble learning quickly. You'll need a quiet environment that's dedicated to studying if you want to give your brain the best chance at learning the information. Having a quiet, distraction-free environment means that you won't get distracted. Having a place set aside for studying and learning can also help, because it triggers your brain into working in a particular way.
   
   
   
   • If your classroom environment is a problem, ask your teacher for help. You might be able to move seats or work with someone else. If your home environment is the problem, find unique places to study. You can go to a library if there's one close enough. You can also do things like study in your bathroom or really early in the morning, if you have noisy roommates.
5. Work with your learning style. Learning styles are the different ways in which our brains best absorb information. There are many different learning styles and while we all can learn using every learning style, there are usually one or two that work best for an individual. You can take online tests to help gauge what your learning style might be, but if you have a teacher available to help you, they should be able to help you figure it out. You can even talk to them about adding more of that learning style to how they teach.
   
   
   
   • For example, if you find that you learn best when you can look at charts and graphs, you might be a visual learner. Try studying by drawing up your own infographics, to help you remember the information more.
   • Do you find that you remember how things sound or that you can clearly remember what you were reading as you listened to a particular song? If so, you might be an auditory learner. Try recording your class lectures to listen to before and after you study, or even while you study if the information is very clearly the same.
   • Do you sit in the classroom feeling like you might burst because you need to go for a run? Do you absent-mindedly tap your foot while you listen to lectures? You might be a physical learner. Try fiddling with a small object during class or go for a walk while you study, to help you learn faster.
6. Learn in the right way for the type of material you’re working with. Different kinds of subjects are learned better in different ways. You might not be studying for the subject you want to learn in the most helpful way. Adjust how you study so that you’re learning the right skills in a way that works with your brain.
   
   
   
   • For example, our brains are designed to learn language through interactions, listening, and usage. You’ll learn English much faster if you immerse yourself and spend time speaking it, rather than just looking at flash cards. If you need more help learning English faster, see our article on the topic here.
   • Another example is with learning math. Instead of just solving the same problems and looking at the same examples over and over again, look and solve lots of different problems that use the same skills.^[4] Doing problems with related but different skills can also help solidify your understanding of what you’re trying to learn.
7. Get evaluated for a learning disability. If you really find that you can’t focus while learning or that your brain doesn’t seem to absorb any of the information, even with help and different techniques, then you might want to consider getting evaluated for a learning disability. There are lots of learning disabilities and most are fairly common (it is estimated that as much as 1 out of every 5 people in the US have one^[5]). They don’t mean that you’re stupid or that there’s something wrong with you, it just means that you learn in a slightly different way. Common learning disabilities include:
   
   
   
   • Dyslexia, which causes problems with reading. If you find that your eyes can’t track properly as they move across a page, you might have dyslexia.
   • Dyslexia-related disorders like dysgraphia and dyscalculia which cause similar problems with writing and math. If you find it difficult to write about something but you can easily talk about it, you might have dysgraphia. If you have trouble recognizing numbers or doing things like estimating costs, you might have dyscalculia.
   • Central Auditory Process Disorder is another common learning disability which makes it difficult for sufferers to process sounds. It's similar to deafness, but without any hearing loss, and can lead to problems following conversations and focusing when background sounds are present.

Reviewing Material Efficiently

1. Study as soon as possible and as frequently as you can. Of course, the more you study, the more you'll learn so studying frequently is a good idea. But the sooner you start studying, the easier it will also be for you to remember everything. This means that you shouldn't start studying two or three days before an exam. Start work at least a week before an exam; and consider just studying continuously throughout the quarter if you feel like you need to.
   
   
   
   • It's a good idea to go back over old information at the same time that you go over the information from this week too. This will help keep those older ideas and skills fresh in your mind so that you can build on them.
2. Get help from a tutor or your teacher. There's nothing wrong with getting some help and getting expert advice that's tailored to your situation. It can seriously help you learn much faster. Put aside your shyness and your pride and ask your teacher for help. If they don't have time to help you, they should be able to help you at least find a tutor.
   
   
   
   • If you don't have money for a tutor, your teacher might be able to set you up with someone in your class that's doing well and can help you out.
   • Many schools also have free tutoring centers. Check those out if they're available.
3. Make a mind map to speed up your studying. A mind map is a great way to burn whatever information you're trying to learn straight into your brain. A mind map is a visual representation of what you're trying to learn. Use note-cards, pictures, and sheets of paper to write out facts, explanations, and organized concepts. Now, pin the items on a wall or lay them out on a floor, placing similar items together and using string or other items to indicate linked ideas and subjects. Study from this map instead of just looking at your notes.
   
   
   
   • When you go to take a test or write a paper, you'll be able to think back to your mind map and remember the information based on where it was and what it was connected to, just like how you can remember where things are on a geographical map.
4. Memorize efficiently to lock in information fast. Memorizing isn't always the most foolproof technique, but it can help if you need to learn certain kinds of information very quickly. Memorization works best for lists of things, like what order actions should be done in or vocabulary words. Systematic memorization of more complex material is unlikely to be successful.
   
   
   
   • Try using mnemonics in order to learn information more quickly. Mnemonics are phrases or words with act like a key to larger amounts of information. For example, the mnemonic phrase "My very eccentric mother's jazz singing usually nauseates."
   • Focus on small sections at a time. When you're learning and studying, it's a good idea to get as comfortable with small sets of information before moving on to new ones. You may feel like this goes slower but it's actually faster because you won't need to go back over the information as much. This is especially important when you're trying to memorize vocabulary, lists, and other similar types of information. Work on sets of words no more than 5-8 at a time before moving on to the next one.
5. Give yourself context that you find interesting. When you have context for information, it becomes much easier for you to process. When that context is really interesting to you, it also makes the information easier to remember. Do your own research and look for experiences which can help you to contextualize the things you're trying to learn.
   
   
   
   • Let's say you're trying to learn English. Try watching a movie that you're interested in that covers a similar subject to the particular area of vocabulary that you're trying to learn at the moment. So, for example, if you're learning travel words, try watching Lost in Translation.
   • Another example would be if you're trying to study for a history class. Find a documentary on the subject you're learning about or even one which just shows the country you're studying. Even just having visuals to go along with the stories will help you remember the information because it becomes easier to imagine.

Tips

• Don't settle on your first option for learning. Explore all options before making your choice.
• One way to think of what counts as "learning" comes from renown psychologist Robert Bjork: "Learning is the ability to use information after significant periods of disuse, and it is the ability to use the information to solve problems that arise in a context different (if only slightly) from the context in which the information was originally taught." ^[6]
• After you read a particular topic, try and say it out loud without seeing it and simplify it as much as you can so that it feels as if you were explaining it to someone. It will help retain that information for a longer period.

Warnings

• Use it or lose it! Find opportunities to use and practice what you learned. Be opportunistic. If a situation arises for you to practice, use it! For example, if you are learning Spanish and you go to a Mexican restaurant, practice speaking Spanish.

Video

Related wikiHows

• How to Learn
• How to Learn in School
• How to Learn Effectively

Sources and Citations

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source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1PdxXUt

How to Buy a Ruby

Rubies have long been valued for their incredible hardness and bright color. Unlike some gemstones, they are not graded on a precise, universal scale, but there are still several characteristics most jewelers use to rate a ruby's quality. Learn how to identify the quality of a ruby, select a setting for a piece of jewelry, and find out more about how rubies are mined or manufactured. Some ruby mines are associated with human rights abuse or environmental disasters, but there are several alternative sources that avoid contributing to these issues.

Steps

Evaluating a Ruby

1. Select a carat that suits your budget and preference. Carats (c) are a measurement of the gem's size. In general, the larger the gem, the more expensive it is. However, there tend to be significant price jumps at 1, 3, and 5 carats will likely get a better deal if you select a 0.9c, 2.9c, or 4.9c ruby instead.^[1] Remember that carat is a matter of aesthetics and practicality as well as value; someone with slender fingers or less ostentatious tastes may prefer a smaller gem.
   
   
   
   • As a rough guide, a one-carat natural ruby that costs less than $250 is likely considered "commercial quality" instead of "fine quality." At $700 and up, hold it to a high standard. At $10,000 per carat and up, the ruby should be exceptional and rare.^[2]
   • Laboratory-made rubies tend to be sold for about 85–90% of the price that a natural ruby of the same quality would fetch.^[3]
   • Because larger rubies are rare, the price increases faster than the size.^[4] A commercial-quality five-carat ruby may sell for ten times as much as a similar one-carat ruby, while a fine-quality five-carat ruby (which is quite rare) may sell for twenty-five times as much as a similar one-carat ruby.^[5]
2. Choose a cut. The cut of a gem describes how the gem has been shaped by a jeweler. The general shape is a matter of preference, although most rubies are cut as oval, cushion (a rounded square), or round. Heart or emerald (a rectangle with cut corners) are other relatively common options, but due to lower demand they may be a little cheaper compared to a gemstone of similar quality cut to a different shape.^[6][7]
   
   
   
3. Select a color. Ruby catalogs or websites may list this under color, or under hue. While pure red and purplish red rubies are the most prized varieties, high quality rubies exist in orange-red, rose, or pink as well. Selecting a color is a matter of preference.^[8]
   
   
   
   • If you are interested in pink rubies, look for pink sapphires as well. Sapphire and rubies are made from the same mineral, corundum, and classified as one or the other by color. Pink gemstones can be classified either way.
   • Pink rubies may be in higher demand in Asia than in Western countries, and therefore worth more on that continent.^[9]
   • Some companies will try to describe the color based on the area of the world it came from, but this system is not accurate.
4. If buying online, find a company with a return policy. While you can select the basic characteristics above while shopping online, it is extremely difficult to judge a ruby in more detail from a photo. Online gem salesmen may include information using the metrics described below, but even if they tell the truth, you may not find the ruby attractive when it arrives. If you must buy a ruby online, always make sure there is a return policy, and look up reviews of the company online to avoid scams. When the ruby arrives, judge it using the criteria below, and send it back for a refund or replacement if it doesn't match your standards.
   
   
   
5. Hold the ruby in bright light. Inside the ruby, you may see one or more black or grey patches, called extinctions, where the light doesn't reach. The more of these there are, the lower the ruby's value.^[10] Move the gem around in the light to see how visible the extinctions are from different angles. If you greatly dislike this trait, lighter-colored, shallow-cut stones tend to have fewer extinctions, but may have other problems, such as windowing (a transparent appearance, like looking through a window) and less brilliance.^[11]
   
   
   
   • The exact effect of inclusions on the ruby's price is somewhat subjective.
6. Check the saturation. This metric is also called color purity or intensity, and should be included with the ruby's description. Vivid rubies have the richest color and are the most valuable, with strong rubies close behind. A medium, fair, or weak saturation means the ruby's color is masked by significant shades of brown or gray, making the color less distinct.^[12]
   
   
   
   • These ratings are assigned based on the judgement of the jeweler, not on a scientific measurement.
7. Look at the ruby's tone. The tone of a ruby is a description of the amount of color present, ranging from very dark to very light. Medium tone rubies tend to be the most valuable, but this is up to personal preference.^[13]
   
   
   
8. Evaluate the ruby's clarity. Many rubies contain inclusions, or visible materials trapped inside the gemstone. Most commonly, a clear stone is more valuable. However, some ruby collectors appreciate the unique appearance a stone's inclusion gives it. Silky filaments of a mineral called rutile can create a sheen that is highly valued.^[14] If these filaments are arranged in a star pattern, the ruby is a rare and valuable star ruby.
   
   
   
   • There is no standard ruby clarity grading system. One common system rates the gem from 1 (perfectly clear) to 4 (many inclusions).
   • Another common system rates them from F (flawless), VVS (very very small inclusions, difficult to see under magnification), VS (very small, visible under magnification), SI (small inclusions, barely visible to the eye), and I (inclusions easily visible to the eye).^[15]
9. Understand ruby treatments. Natural, untreated rubies are rare and expensive. Almost all rubies are heat-treated by the jeweler to intensify the color. This treatment is widely accepted, since it does not affect the stone's durability and improves its appearance. However, if the gem has been treated with surface diffusion or flux healing, extra material has been added to correct flaws in the ruby. These rubies tend to be much less valuable due to the temporary nature of the treatment.^[16]
   
   
   

Choosing a Setting

1. Select a metal based on preference and budget. Rubies are often set in white gold, but the metal you choose comes down to personal preference. If you are buying the ruby as a gift for someone, try to find out which metals are used in her other jewelry.^[17] Lower carat precious metals are cheaper, but may be less lustrous or more capable of tarnishing.
   
   
   
2. Display large gemstones in a prong setting. In a prong setting, metal claws hold the edge of the gemstone in place. This keeps the gemstone secure, and is a popular option for larger gems.^[18]
   
   
   
3. Use a bezel setting to hold gems in place. A bezel, or metal rim, fits tightly around the gemstone to hold it in place. This is another common setting for large gemstones, as is the half-bezel that fits around a portion of the gem.^[19]
   
   
   
4. Explore other options for rows of stones. If the items of jewelry has multiple smaller stones, it may not require one of the above options to keep it secure. Explore designs such as pave (small, precious metal balls), channel (a groove containing the stones), or invisible (using grooves cut into the gemstones to attach them without a metal perimeter.^[20]
   
   
   

Learning about Ruby Sources

1. Consider a lab-created ruby for low-priced quality. Rubies created in a laboratory are chemically identical to natural rubies, and therefore are just as durable and attractive. They are almost always cheaper than a natural ruby of similar quality, because the manufacturing process is cheaper than locating and mining natural rubies.^[21] Lab-created rubies are an especially good choice if you are concerned about the negative human rights and environmental impact of ruby mines, which can be considerable.
   
   
   
   • These are often called synthetic rubies. Don't confuse these with imitation or artificial rubies, which are not real rubies and are much less durable and bright.
   • Star rubies are considered highly attractive, but natural star rubies are extremely rare and expensive compared to lab-created ones.^[22]
2. Look for "recycled" gemstones. About 98% of all rubies that are sold have been on the market for decades, since rubies are extremely difficult to destroy. Some companies specifically market some of their gems as "recycled" stones, sourced from public and retail owned jewelry, arguing that no new environmental impact is produced.^[23]
   
   
   
   • Critics note that purchasing new rubies supports gemstone mining communities.
3. Learn about rubies from Myanmar. Most of the world's rubies come from Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma. While older rubies may come from the famous Mogôk valley, they are now more typically from the region of Möng Hsu.^[24] Due to the history of the region and the many famous rubies that were mined there, Myanmar rubies have a special cachet. However, due to human rights abuses by the government of Myanmar, the importation of new games from the region is banned in the United States and Canada, and was banned in the recent past by the European Union.^[25][26]
   
   
   
   • The purplish-red rubies known as "pigeon's blood" rubies come from this area, and are extremely valuable.
4. Consider other source countries. Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Thailand, and several African nations export rubies, or have in the past, but these sources tend to ebb and flow as new mines are discovered or emptied. None of these sources are as famous as Myanmar gems, but some of them may be preferable for human rights or environmental reasons. The governments of Tanzania, Ghana, and Zimbabwe are all attempting to regulate the environmental impact of mines with limited success, as the individuals or small groups involved do not have the money to comply with environmental regulations.^[27] Rubies mined in the United States are subject to environmental regulation, but they only make up a small fraction of the world's rubies.^[28]
   
   
   

Warnings

• Just because a specific type of ruby is rare, expensive, or in high demand does not mean it will suit everyone's taste. Don't be afraid to pick the one you find more attractive, or that you think the gift recipient will.

Sources and Citations

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source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1DQlmkU