A Spotlight on Rubies
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s ruby slippers gave her comfort and protection (and magic, of course). Three clicks and a wish, and she’s safe, home, happy. And now, the red luster the ruby gives off excites us all, young and old. Rubies are one of the world’s most precious stones (falling in line with diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds), and our lucky July babies get to celebrate these breathtaking stones every birthday.
The ruby is a perfect accent to any wardrobe, though many people get lost behind its deep red luster before learning more about the stone and its history. For instance, did you know that rubies aren’t just for those celebrating a July birthday? In celebration of a 15th or a 40th wedding anniversary, rubies are the way to go! Because the color red symbolizes so many things, giving her a ruby necklace or ruby earrings can show her just how passionate your love is and how happy you are to have the love of your life by your side.
So here it is: everything you’ve ever wondered and everything you need to know about rubies.
As compared to the hardness of a diamond (which is at a 10 on the Mohs scale), a ruby’s hardness is a 9 and 40x softer than a diamond. That said, they’re still one of the hardest gemstones.
Rubies and sapphires are basically the same thing. They’re like sisters with different eye colors. Both stones are made from corundum—only the sapphire is blue, and the ruby is red. So technically, rubies could be called red sapphires, but Dorothy wouldn’t click her magic red sapphire slippers together to get home, would she?
Well, because rubies and sapphires essentially share the same family tree, the color of most rubies isn’t just a simple red. Many have slight hues of other colors such as pink, orange, violet, and burgundy.
The rarest, most sought after, most valuable ruby in the world is of a shade called “pigeon’s blood.” It, in essence, shares the same shade as blood, presenting itself in a bright red to purplish-red color. As the much lighter colors of orange and pink begin to make their way through the stone, the price and value of the ruby slowly decreases. Because, just like any other stone, the value of a ruby is determined by the 4 C’s (carat, color, clarity, cut).
In order to achieve that perfect shade of red, many rubies undergo an enhancement process to intensify their color and clarity. Though the enhancement process improves the appearance of the stone, it also diminishes the value; untouched rubies are sold for millions!
In May 2015, a 25.59 carat Burmese ruby (the Sunrise Ruby) stole the show and sold at a whopping 30.3 million dollars during an auction, which broke the world record.
Most rubies are found in the eastern part of the world, though Burma and Mozambique are known for their ample supply and outstanding quality.
Rubies are mentioned four times in the Bible—meaning, people have been attracted to them for thousands and thousands of years. Well, not much has changed.
Rubies remind people of the power of life, that they are protected, and that they are loved unconditionally. Give us a visit to check out our selection and surprise the one you love with this beautiful stone. Because nothing says “I love you” like a ruby!
