Historically, rubies were mounted above a peacock feather, specifically the blue quills. This ancient mounting method and a precursor to foil-backing, was done to give a shimmering brilliance to this sought-after gem, color-derived from the iridescent feathers. Early ‘foil-backing’ was used for setting colored stones throughout the Georgian era, extending to mid-Victorian times, adding sheen and luster to the traditional cutting skills that shaped the gem-world of such times
