| Not only did Sarah Ferguson get to have the | | | | remove one would leave a gaping hole. |
| proposal of most little girls´ dreams, but | | | | After occupying Burma for some time, England |
| her Prince also managed to carry it off with | | | | was privy to some of the world´s finest |
| infinite style by opting for rubies. Wanting to find | | | | rubies as Burma is one the predominant sources |
| an engagement ring to adequately express his | | | | in the world. As a result, nestled within the British |
| love, Prince Andrew chose to design the ring | | | | crown jewels is some breath-taking specimens. In |
| himself with the help of famous Royal jewellers, | | | | fact up until the 1900s when George IV replaced |
| Garrard, and together they created a fabulous | | | | it with a sapphire, the coronation ring consisted in |
| pigeon-blood red ruby diamond ring to match the | | | | part of a large, table cut ruby which boasted the |
| hue of her hair. | | | | engraving of the St. George´s Cross. One |
| Throughout the centuries, the ruby has always | | | | of the most famous rubies by far is the Black |
| enjoyed a long royal heritage. One of the most | | | | Prince´s Ruby which is mounted on front |
| regal of rubies is the Chhatrapati Manik which | | | | of the Imperial State Crown and kept at the |
| dates back over 2000 years. At this time, the | | | | Tower of London. However, it is now known that |
| King of what was then Ujjain in India, Sri Raja Bir | | | | it is actually a spinel, which are less valuable and |
| Vikramaditya, commissioned a crown to be made | | | | more common then rubies. |
| according to Jyotish system of astrology. Nine | | | | While not exactly a true blue blood, Elizabeth |
| specially selected gemstones were chosen, as | | | | Taylor is royalty nonetheless and has managed to |
| Indian tradition denotes the number as having | | | | own her fair share of spectacular ruby jewelry |
| magical power, and the great ruby was placed at | | | | over the years. The Queen of Hollywood owned |
| the centre. Representative of the sun, the ruby | | | | several pieces including those given to her by |
| was believed to have particularly strong potential. | | | | ex-husbands, Richard Burton and Mike Todd. The |
| Not to be outdone, several hundreds of years | | | | latter once surprised her as she swam in her pool |
| later, the Iranian Crown jewels too boasted some | | | | (wearing a tiara!) with a pair of diamond ruby |
| pretty impressive examples of ruby jewellery. | | | | earrings, ruby bracelet and a ruby necklace and |
| Nasseridin Shah, the Persion ruler from 1848 to | | | | she said of them them that they "blazed like fire". |
| 1896, created an especially novel way of keeping | | | | Thankfully, beautiful items of jewellery such as |
| track of his jewels. He had so many rubies that | | | | gold ruby earrings, are now even more accessible |
| he devised the ingenious plan of creating a globe | | | | then ever before and with the rapid growth of |
| in which the rubies would indicate the continents, | | | | online jewellers, prices on these warm, vibrant |
| while emeralds illustrate the oceans. A total of | | | | stones are more affordable then ever before, so |
| 51,000 gemstones were used and in this way he | | | | you no longer need to be a Princess to own your |
| was able to check that none were stolen, as to | | | | own ruby studs. |