Rubies are one of the most stunning precious gem stones with a deep, rich, fiery colour giving the wearer a warm, sensual feel and are believed to have magical healing and protective powers. If stunning ruby pendants, rings or earrings are what you’re looking for, the following guide will explore some interesting facts about this unforgettable gem.
Introduction to Ruby Gems
Along with sapphires, rubies belong to the mineral family corundum – only the red variety of corundum is classified as ruby. Ruby is also in the category of precious gemstones, together with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. All precious gems are beautifully translucent with a magnificent colour even in their purest form (except for diamond which requires a great deal of polishing). Precious gem stones are very hard weighing 8 to 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness making them ideal for superb, durable jewellery items.The term ruby comes from the Latin word ‘ruber’, meaning red. These gems are highly durable, weighing 8 to 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness – this makes them ideal for use in jewellery since they will not easily get scratched. High quality, natural rubies are very rare and expensive, so they should always be bought from a reputable dealer.
Main Sources of Ruby
Large deposits of rubies were discovered in Madagascar in the 1990’s and today this location is considered one of the world’s leading producers of the gem. Pigeon’s Blood rubies, with their wonderfully deep, rich colour are the most valuable of the ruby family and the best deposits are found in Myanmar (Burma) near the Mogok region. Rubies from Thailand reflect a brown to violet shade, while those from Sri Lanka have a lighter shade of red. Other primary deposits of ruby are found in Cambodia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Kenya, while smaller deposits are found in Nepal, India, Brazil, the US, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
Ruby Buyers Tips
• Rubies are one of the most expensive gemstones – large rubies are rarer and can fetch higher prices than even diamonds.
• Gems which have a purple hue to the naked eye are less valuable than the intense red variety of ruby.
• The most sought after rubies have a ‘silky’ shine due to their fine inner ‘needle’ structure which is formed by the mineral rutilum.
• The cut and polish of a ruby is extremely important to bring out the magnificent fire, glow and brilliance of the stone.
• Star rubies are extremely expensive and very rare. These gems have an incredible light effect called ‘asterism’ and are cut in half shaped cabochons (dome shapes) which causes the effect of a scintillating six-ray star.
• Rubies are often confused with spinel or garnets, so do buy from a reputable dealer to ensure you are getting the real thing.
• When choosing your ruby, look for a clear, glowing stone with as few inclusions (inherent fissures) as possible.
• Elements such as chrome, iron, titanium or vanadium create the incredible colour of rubies.
• These pinkish red to orange variety of corundum is called padparadscha, it is not classified as ruby.
• Some specimens have a purple to brownish red tinge, but the most valuable variety is the Pigeons Blood ruby – it has a pure, fiery, red gleam with a hint of blue.
• As with diamonds, rubies can be artificially created in a lab and feature the exact same properties as the natural gems, although these will command a lower price.
• Lab-created rubies tend to have a more vivid colour to them, as impurities are not present in an artificial environment which would modify the clarity or colour of the stone.
• Some rubies can display more than two colours when viewed from different angles.
Zodiac & Health Benefits
Rubies denote strong passion and are the symbol of powerful feelings. The colour itself is representative of fire and blood, along with warmth, energy and vitality. Rubies are believed to restore the body’s life force and increase energy.
During the Middle Ages, rubies were considered to bring wealth and virtue to their owner as well as relieve pain, cure rheumatism and protect them from drowning.These outstanding gems are the birthstone for those born in July and the zodiac sign for Capricorn. Rubies are also ideal gifts for a 15th and 40th anniversary.
Conclusion
Ruby is a passionate, sensual gemstone with an intensely fiery, glowing red colour. Whether you’re interested in rings, earrings or ruby pendants, jewellery featuring this superb member of the corundum family cannot fail to stand out from the crowd.
Author Bio:- Julia Littlewood is a Jewellery Designer. She is passionate about ornaments, gems and stones. If you want to explore the most vibrant and widest range of jewellery pieces , she suggests you to visit The Jewellery Channel. Julia loves joining parties, fashion shows, exhibitions apart from designing costume jewelleries and writing articles for her followers.
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