| Passion, heat and love. These words capture the | | | | durable, lasting and probably still sizzling. What |
| essence of the ruby. This gemstone is one of the | | | | better way to commemorate this than a dazzling |
| four classic precious gems - emerald, sapphire and | | | | ruby necklace or some ruby diamond earrings. |
| diamond being the other three - and possibly the | | | | Whether it is given as a birthstone or for any |
| most coveted. Sure diamonds are a girl's best | | | | occasion, the red stone signifies love and affection |
| friend, but put on a blood-red ruby tennis bracelet | | | | for the recipient. |
| and you will sizzle. | | | | Cleaning these gemstones |
| Origin and make-up | | | | This gemstone is hard - a 9 on the Mohs scale of |
| Like the sapphire, this gemstone is corundum, a | | | | hardness, which means it is very durable. Cleaning |
| crystallized aluminum oxide formed under heat | | | | is easy. Your ruby necklace can be steamed, |
| and pressure. In fact, it is exactly like the sapphire | | | | agitated in the ultrasonic cleaner or soaked in |
| and the only colored corundum that is not called a | | | | soapy warm water. A light brushing with a |
| sapphire. The chrome particles are what give it its | | | | medium to soft bristled brush gets any dust out |
| delicious red color. | | | | of the crevices. Diamonds are durable too, so if |
| India was once the biggest supplier of the | | | | you have ruby diamond earrings, you can clean |
| gemstones, but now Myanmar, formerly known | | | | them as you normally would. |
| as Burma, has taken the lead in fine quality | | | | A bit of trivia |
| stones. You have probably heard of the wildly | | | | Sure purple means royalty, but red reigns. In |
| popular Burmese ruby because of its deep rich | | | | Indian culture, it was literally treated like royalty. |
| color. They are found throughout Asia including | | | | Whenever a stone of incomparable quality was |
| Pakistan, Nepal and Vietnam. More recently, they | | | | found, the Emperor rolled out the pomp and |
| were discovered in Kenya and Tanzania in the | | | | circumstance as if it were a visiting dignitary |
| 60s. | | | | instead of a gemstone. The Hindus would |
| More than a birthstone | | | | separate the stones into classes so that inferior |
| It is the birthstone for July, but July is not the | | | | quality stones could not taint the perfect stones |
| only time important to this vibrant red gemstone. | | | | and diminish their power. |
| Valentine's Day is a very big day for the rich red | | | | This fiery red gemstone is considered the "king", |
| gem. A heart-shaped ruby pendant, red roses and | | | | the most coveted and the most popular of all the |
| chocolates- a triple score on the romantic gifts | | | | gemstones. You will pay more for a perfect ruby |
| scale. | | | | pendant than you would for a diamond of similar |
| For enthusiasts, any time is a good time to get | | | | quality. This is because finding them with the most |
| one, but there is one other official day that calls | | | | desirable qualities- color, size and clarity- are rare. |
| for this luscious red stone. Just like months and | | | | But, it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. |
| birthdays, anniversaries also have gemstones | | | | As long as you choose the shade and cut you |
| attached to specific years. This gemstone gets an | | | | like, you will sizzle with the fire of this decadent |
| important one- the 40th anniversary. A couple | | | | gem. |
| that can make it to their 40th anniversary is | | | | |