| Ruby derives its name from the Latin word for | | | | contain prophetic powers. It was believed that a |
| red, "rufus". The beauty, rarity and historical | | | | Ruby could warn its owner of misfortunes by |
| mystique of Rubies are undeniable. Ruby is July's | | | | deepening in color. |
| birthstone, the gemstone for Capricorns and the | | | | Like many "allochromatic" (other colored) gems |
| traditional 15th and 40th anniversary gift. | | | | whose colors are due to trace elements, apart |
| With the earliest record for the mining of Rubies | | | | from their color, Rubies are identical to Sapphires. |
| dating to more than 2,500 years ago, the | | | | Rubies and Sapphires are comprised of the |
| historical mystique and beauty of Rubies is as | | | | mineral known as Corundum. The crystalline form |
| colorful as the legends and lore that surround this | | | | of aluminum oxide, the name Corundum is |
| most precious of gems. | | | | believed to be derived from three ancient Tamil, |
| Prized throughout history, many believed that | | | | Hindi and Sanskrit words for Rubies and Sapphires, |
| mystical powers lay hidden within this intensely | | | | "kurundam", "kurund" or "kuruvinda" respectively. |
| colored red gemstone. The fiery crimson color of | | | | Did you know that Rubies are rarer than |
| Rubies caused many civilizations to associate | | | | Diamonds? In the last 60 years hardly a month |
| them with passion, love and romance. Rubies | | | | has passed without a new Diamond deposit being |
| were also thought to bestow wisdom, health and | | | | discovered. In contrast, Rubies are only found in a |
| luck in gambling. | | | | handful of mines worldwide. |
| Mentioned in Sanskrit texts, the ancient Hindus | | | | Did you know that Rubies are more expensive |
| were so enchanted by the color of Rubies that | | | | than Diamonds? A 16 carat Ruby that sold at |
| they called them Ratnaraj "the king of gems". The | | | | Sotheby's in New York in October 1988 fetched a |
| ancient Hindus thought that the colors of Rubies | | | | staggering $3,630,000! |
| were due to an inextinguishable fire that burned | | | | Second only to Diamonds in hardness, Rubies are |
| inside the gem which would endow its' wearer | | | | one of the toughest gemstones and with no |
| with long life and even cause water to boil! | | | | cleavage, breakage rarely occurs. This combined |
| As in Sanskrit texts, biblical references to Ruby | | | | with the fact that Rubies come in many different |
| (all red gemstones were collectively called | | | | shapes and sizes, makes them perfect for all |
| Carbuncle at this time) refer to it as a most | | | | types of jewelry. |
| precious gem. In the King James version of the | | | | While color preferences are subjective, the best |
| Bible, Ruby (Carbuncle) is mentioned four times: | | | | Rubies possess an intense, almost electric red |
| Exodus 28:17 | | | | effect due to fluorescence. Color is the most |
| And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even | | | | important factor when evaluating Rubies. While |
| four rows of stones: the first row shall be a | | | | cutting and size (fine Rubies over 3 carats are |
| Sardius, a Topaz, and a Carbuncle: this shall be the | | | | very scarce) is also important, transparency is |
| first row. | | | | secondary. Why is this? Colored by chromium and |
| Exodus 39:10 | | | | other trace elements, Rubies formed millions of |
| And they set in it four rows of stones: the first | | | | years ago deep within the earth. As very few |
| row was a Sardius, a Topaz, and a Carbuncle: this | | | | Rubies crystallized undisturbed, a whole host of |
| was the first row. | | | | tiny irregularities (inclusions) are a characteristic of |
| Ezekiel 28:13 | | | | their formation. Far from being flaws, inclusions |
| Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every | | | | are also a fascinating hallmark of authenticity that |
| precious stone was thy covering, the Sardius, | | | | records a gem's natural relationship with the Earth. |
| Topaz, and the Diamond, the Beryl, the Onyx, | | | | Microscopic rutile inclusions, commonly known as |
| and the Jasper, the Sapphire, the Emerald, and | | | | "silk", are a normal characteristic of Rubies. When |
| the Carbuncle, and Gold: the workmanship of thy | | | | evenly distributed, small quantities of "silk" enhance |
| tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in | | | | a Ruby's beauty by creating a soft uniform |
| the day that thou wast created. | | | | distribution of light or sparkle. |
| Isaiah 54:12 | | | | Asterism or the "star effect" is a reflection effect |
| And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy | | | | that appears as two or more intersecting bands |
| gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of | | | | of light across the surface of a gem. This rare |
| pleasant stones. | | | | phenomenon is found in both Rubies and |
| Interestingly, the gems called "Rubies" in the Old | | | | Sapphires. |
| Testament may have actually been Spinel or | | | | As Rubies come in many different colors and |
| Garnet. Up until the 18th century, when chemical | | | | sizes, ultimately, your personal preference should |
| testing was improved, most red gems were | | | | be your primary concern. But what is the |
| called Rubies. In fact, many of the famous Rubies | | | | difference between a Royal and Majestic Ruby? |
| in the crown jewels of Europe have since been | | | | "Royal" relates to size (2 carats or more) and |
| identified as Spinel or Garnet. For example, the | | | | "Majestic" relates to quality (color and clarity). |
| Black Prince Ruby that rests proudly at the | | | | However, by calling a gem "Majestic" we are not |
| center of the British Imperial State Crown is | | | | suggesting that it is the best quality available |
| actually a red Spinel! | | | | anywhere, simply Our Madagascan Rubies are |
| Ancient Ceylonese legends (modern day Sri | | | | mined at high altitude, deep within an impenetrable |
| Lanka) relate the story of the destruction of their | | | | jungle. The only way to reach the Ruby mines |
| demonic King Ravana. They believed that after his | | | | near the mining village of Moramanga is by |
| demise, his blood set into Rubies resulting in their | | | | helicopter or a grueling long day's trek (11 hours) |
| intense red color. | | | | on a muddy trail through dense mountainous |
| Native Americans believed that offerings of a fine | | | | rainforest from the Madagascan town of |
| Ruby resulted in rebirth as a powerful Chief. | | | | Andilamena. A relatively new deposit found in July |
| Some cultures believed Ruby's blood-like color | | | | 2004 yields our Majestic Ruby. |
| would protect the wearer from injury. In fact, | | | | Apart from Madagascar, we also source Rubies |
| ancient Burmese warriors believed that when a | | | | from Vietnam, Tanzania, Kenya, Sri Lanka, China, |
| Ruby was inserted beneath the skin it generated | | | | and of course Thailand. However, strict |
| a mystical force, making them unconquerable in | | | | environmental regulations combined with depletion |
| battle. | | | | have resulted in the reduction of Thai gem mining. |
| In the 13th century, the renowned explorer Marco | | | | With approximately 80% of the world's Rubies |
| Polo wrote that Kublai Kahn, the Mongol Emperor | | | | passing though Chanthaburi, Thailand our |
| of China, once offered an entire city for a Ruby | | | | craftspeople are the first to choose the finest |
| the size of a man's finger. | | | | examples. We use Rubies when handcrafting all |
| Because of its fluorescent properties, a giant | | | | manner of gorgeous jewelry and being the gem |
| Ruby once lit an entire chamber in a palace of a | | | | of love and passion, heart shaped Rubies are hard |
| Chinese emperor! | | | | to resist. |
| In the Middle Ages, Rubies were thought to | | | | |