Giant Soviet Laser Ruby Rod, Polished skull slowly building up transparent gemmy

slowly building up transparent gemmy crystals in a variety of colors and forms

bubbly rinds of a boule

showing a silky chatoyance caused by twinning

revealing mini 'geodes' filled with ruby microcrystals

Giant Soviet Laser Ruby Rod, Polished skull slowly building up transparent gemmyThis is a super classic ruby laser rod, old surplus left over from the Soviet Union. It's basically the opposite answer to the Star Wars laser rubies, with a similar pink red tint. This would have likely been grown by the Czochralski method it is polished all around and only has minor chipping on the end faces. Overall it's an incredible piece and would also make amazing rough for gemstones if you could bear to cut it up. The rod measures 15. 8mm in