Keywords:
Life force, courage, passion, strength, enthusiasm, adventurousness, protectiveness
Birthstone:
Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July
Zodiac:
Ruby is the zodiac stone for Capricorn (December 22 – January 20)
Wedding anniversary:
Ruby is the anniversary gemstone for the 40th year of marriage
Affirmation:
I embrace my life with fierceness, passion and the courage to accomplish all that I will do
Ruby is a pink to blood-red gemstone and is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald, and the diamond. Second only to diamond for hardness, prices of rubies are primarily determined by color. The brightest and most valuable “red” called pigeon blood-red, commands a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality. Cut and carat (weight) also determine the price.
All natural rubies have imperfections in them, including color impurities and inclusions of rutile needles known as “silk”. Gemologists use these needle inclusions found in natural rubies to distinguish them from synthetics, simulates, or substitutes. Usually the rough stone is heated before cutting. Almost all rubies today are treated in some form, with heat treatment being the most common practice. However, rubies that are completely untreated but still of excellent quality command a large premium.
Colour is a ruby’s most important feature. Its transparency is only of secondary importance. So inclusions do not impair the quality of a ruby unless they decrease the transparency of the stone or are located right in the centre of its table. On the contrary: inclusions within a ruby could be said to be its ‘fingerprint’, a statement of its individuality and, at the same time, proof of its genuineness and natural origin. The cut is essential: only a perfect cut will underline the beauty of this valuable and precious stone in a way befitting the ‘king of the gemstones’.
Rubies have everything a precious stone should have: magnificent colour, excellent hardness and outstanding brilliance. In addition to that, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities. All natural rubies have imperfections in them, including color impurities and inclusions of rutile needles known as “silk”. Gemologists use these needle inclusions found in natural rubies to distinguish them from synthetics, simulants, or substitutes
Two magical elements are associated with the symbolism of this colour: fire and blood, implying warmth and life for mankind. So ruby-red is not just any old colour, it is an undiluted, hot, passionate, powerful colour. A ruby is said to display its unique brilliance in any light, be it natural or artificial.
The world’s most important ruby deposits are found in Burma and Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Other ruby deposits are located in Northern Pakistan, Kashmir, Tadzhikistan, Laos, Nepal, Afghanistan, Kenya, Tanzania and India.
Rubies of Vietnamese origin generally display a slightly purplish hue. Rubies from Thailand, another classical supplier often have a darker red which tends towards brown. This ‘Siamese colour’ – an elegantly muted deep red – is considered second in beauty only to the Burmese colour which is most highly prized is especially popular in the USA. Ceylon rubies, which have now become very rare, are mainly light red, like ripe raspberries.