Ruby July’s birthstone was called “the king of precious stones” in ancient India, for its rarity, hardness (second only to diamond), beauty, and for its mystical powers. Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum. Corundum in its purest form is colorless. The trace element of chromium gives corundum a red hue, which can range from orangy red to purplish red. The more chromium found in ruby, the greater the intensity of the red color.
A pure, vibrant red to slightly purplish-red is considered the most desirable color. The purest, most intense ruby color has historically been called “pigeon’s blood”. These rubies have vivid color saturation, which is not too dark. Inclusions in a ruby affect its transparency. Inclusion-free rubies are practically nonexistent, so a ruby’s value partly depends on how visible its inclusions are.
Ruby is mined throughout Southeast Asia and while the majority is found in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), many exquisite gems also are found in Sri Lanka and Africa.
The history, legend and lore around rubies spans centuries. Warriors in Burma thought rubies made them invincible in battle; ancient Hindus believed those who offered rubies to the god Krishna would be granted rebirth as emperors; and many medieval Europeans wore rubies to guarantee health, wealth, wisdom and luck in love. Rubies were also believed to predict misfortune or danger.
Source: GIA 4Cs Blog
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