Its intense red color never goes unnoticed. The ruby, positioned as one of the most valued gemstones in jewelry for its color, brightness, chemical composition, and hardness, is the ideal gem to create unique jewelry that will last over time. Discover all the characteristics, properties, and curiosities of this majestic gemstone in Planderful.
Characteristics of Ruby
According to its morphology, the word "ruby" comes from the Latin word "ruber", which refers to its red color. In Sanskrit, "ruby" would be ratnaraj, which means "king of precious stones"; so we get an idea of how important and valuable this mineral was for anyone in the past. Even the infamous Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan once traded an entire city for a large red ruby!
This deep reddish jewel has also been a favorite of monarchs, actresses, and aristocrats. The ruby stone hides a history of hundreds of years in which it became the "queen of gems". Also before the 18th century, all red gemstones of any quality were called rubies, and that included spinels, tourmalines, and garnets. That is why some legends may be associated with a different type of gemstone.
Ruby deposits can be found in Burma, Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia, China, and Russia, but also in smaller quantities in South Africa, Australia, Greenland, and the United States. Rubies from Burma, called "pigeon's blood" because of their intense red color and fluorescence, can be valued at real fortunes (even more than a diamond) if they have not been treated by human hands.
The chemical composition of ruby and its hardness
Fruit of the mixture of iron and chromium, the ruby belongs to the corundum family, like the sapphire. The only difference between the two is the color, i.e. red corundum is called ruby and sapphire is called all other colors, including pink. The ruby has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond, making it one of the four precious stones par excellence: diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
The color, brilliance, opacity, and transparency of the ruby
The most common is to find a totally transparent ruby; however, some small impurities can make it semi-opaque. Regarding its color and clarity, the most common is that rubies are subjected to a millenary practice of heat treatment to intensify both aspects. In the event that a client wishes to acquire a ruby without heat treatment, he/she may request it from us and will always receive it accompanied by a certificate stating so.
The value of rubies
This is one of the most valuable gemstones. Betting on a design with rubies is a winning bet that will not go unnoticed, even combining it with other gemstones is a guaranteed success. Whether you choose rings, earrings, bracelets or necklaces, rubies are jewelry for life.
Properties of ruby
If we want to know what ruby symbolizes in jewelry, we will say that it is related to properties such as protection, peace, harmony, and health. Even in some countries like India, it symbolizes the eternal fire. These jewels in contact with the skin will make you experience all their properties and benefits. But this is not the only meaning attributed to this gemstone.
For ancient European and Hindu cultures, the ruby was considered the "stone of the sun" and therefore represented the life force, inner fire, love, and passion. Since ancient times, the ruby has been considered a stone of protection that accompanied and helped whoever wore it. It was believed that its reddish to purple color prevented misfortune and protected its owners from any misfortune.
In general, we could say that these are the most accepted properties of the ruby.
Virtues of ruby:
- The stone of love
- Power and leadership
- Integrity and devotion
- Courage and strength
- Passion and energy
- Sexuality and fertility
- Generosity and prosperity
- Confidence and motivation
Ruby and the chakras
Ruby can certainly unblock a chakra. Signs of a blocked root chakra include feelings of insecurity, disconnection, some apathy, inability to feel enthusiasm, and lack of motivation. You may even feel physically weak. An overactive root chakra can be demonstrated by feelings of greed and mercenary behavior.
The root chakra is centered at the base of the spine and to use ruby as a treatment, you must find a quiet place to lie on your stomach with the gemstone on your lower back. Breathe slowly and relax. To increase the effectiveness of the ruby, keep in your thoughts the mantras: "I feel confident" and "I love life".
Emotional and spiritual benefits of ruby
Rubies have been the gemstone of ruling regents and nobility. It offers vitality and verve to the wearer, allowing them to live their life to the fullest and take advantage of every positive opportunity in their path.
Rubies increase desire and energy, allow us to enjoy the sensual pleasure of life, and attract romantic partners. A ruby sharpens the mind and improves concentration; it is perfect for preparing before important meetings or business.
They are so powerful that they can protect the wearer from malevolent forces. Warriors used to wear rubies as amulets to be invincible, although Burmese fighters took this to an extreme by inserting rubies under the skin before battles!
Physical benefits of rubies
Being a red stone, ruby is associated with blood flow throughout the body and this is associated with everything from blood pressure to strengthening the heart. It also has an influence on the stomach area, lower back, and digestive system.
Is ruby a birthstone?
Yes, ruby is the birthstone of July, the month of warm summer. The ruby is also a traditional gift for 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.
The ruby and the zodiac
Ruby has some connections to the zodiac stones. It is the birthstone of Capricorn and Cancer and, for those who follow Vedic astrology; it is traditionally associated with Leo.
Find your jewelry with natural rubies, also created in laboratories, on the Planderful website.
