Oh dear, it's hands up time I'm afraid.
I have been in touch with Zeke who confirms that the stone is NOT a ruby. Quite where we got that idea that it was a ruby, far less a Brazilian one, remains a mystery (we attach absolutely no blame to Zeke for this mistake by the way)
I have been back to the Inverness jeweler to offer my apologies which he graciously accepted with a firm handshake.
He explained that the reason he asked what we had paid, was that he has had numerous examples of people coming to him for valuations who had been ripped off by unscrupulous people. He didn't say where or not these "sharks" were British or foreigners.
The next time I want to buy one of these
perhaps I should go to and aviary.
Ah well, the man who never made a mistake etc etc.