| Ruby is also the most commonly named precious | | | | Thailand, well known for dark, brownish-red rubies. |
| stone in the Bible; an example being Proverbs 31: | | | | Now and then one of the rare star rubies is |
| "A virtuous wife is worth more than rubies". Did | | | | found. Mining for rubies is done by primitive |
| you know that ruby is the birthstone for July. | | | | methods, much as it was centuries ago. |
| Ruby is actually an instance of the mineral | | | | To dream of rubies is to dream of success in |
| Corundum. The term ruby is reserved for | | | | business, money, and love. The sparkle and |
| corundum of a red color, with other colors called | | | | luminescence of rubies is said to be created by an |
| sapphire. Ruby is extremely rare and one of the | | | | inextinguishable fire in the heart of the stone. |
| most valuable precious gemstones in nature. | | | | Jewelry set with rubies is worn to banish sadness |
| Rubies are known for being the second hardest | | | | and negative thought patterns. |
| gemstone, next to the diamond. The gemstone | | | | The process of creating synthetic rubies is known |
| ruby represents the sun, ruler of all planets. Like | | | | as the Verneuil process. The production of |
| sapphires, rubies are very hardy and safe for | | | | Chatham rubies is not harmful to the environment. |
| normal gemstone care methods. | | | | Another enhancement in rubies is diffusion with |
| Rubies are a red to orange-red to purple-red | | | | beryllium, or a similar element, which artificially |
| variety of the mineral corundum, aluminum oxide | | | | adds color to the stone. The most common |
| (Al2O3). The best color for rubies is a deep pure | | | | treatment for natural rubies is heat treatment. |
| vivid red to slightly purplish red. Corundum exists | | | | The clarity of rubies is not as much of a factor in |
| in many colors but is best known as the precious | | | | its value because natural, perfect rubies are |
| stones sapphire (blue corundum) and ruby (red | | | | impossible. The fracture filling of rubies is also |
| corundum). Corundum, is hardness 9 on the Mohs | | | | done intentionally, and it is not always disclosed. |
| scale? Only a few hundredths of a percent of | | | | Glass-filling voids in rubies is not considered an |
| Cr3+ ions are necessary to dope the corundum | | | | acceptable treatment. |
| into Ruby. Corundum crystallizes in the hexagonal | | | | Microscopic inclusions, sometimes called "silk", are a |
| system. The asterism of star sapphires and rubies | | | | normal characteristic of rubies. These silk inclusions |
| is a result of the present of TiO2. | | | | also cause star rubies to be semi-transparent. |
| The most famous source of fine rubies is Burma, | | | | Ruby without inclusions is very rare to find. A |
| which is now called Myanmar. The unique color in | | | | ruby without inclusions can cost you twice as |
| Burmese rubies is described as 'pigeon's blood'. | | | | much as another that is much bigger but with |
| The only source of "pigeon blood" rubies is Mogok | | | | some inclusions within. Fluid inclusions have been |
| in Upper Burma, about ninety miles from Kepling's | | | | studied in rubies from marble-hosted deposits in |
| Mandalay, and are known in the trade as "Mogok" | | | | the Luc Yen mining district, North Vietnam. If you |
| rubies. Burmese ruby rarely exceeds several | | | | buy a Ruby with no inclusions then it may be a lab |
| carats; large flawless Burmese rubies can be | | | | created gemstone. Oriented rutile crystal inclusions |
| worth millions of dollars. Burmese Ruby - strong | | | | cause a six-rayed-star light effect (called |
| red (Cr); best stones fluoresce in strong sunlight. | | | | asterism) to form the popular Star Ruby. |
| Today, the term 'Burmese Ruby' is commonly | | | | Gemologists use these needle inclusions found in |
| used to describe all rubies of this deep, rich color. | | | | natural rubies to distinguish them from synthetics, |
| New mines producing "pigeon's blood" rubies and | | | | simulants, or substitutes. A good guideline is to |
| vibrant colored spinels have been found in a | | | | first select a ruby with the best color you can |
| remote part of Northern Burma (Myanmar) called | | | | find and then make sure the inclusions are slight. |
| "Namya". Another major source of rubies is | | | | |