Ruby
Ruby is the official US birth stone for July. It's classed as one of the "big four" gemstones along with diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. Popular ruby jewelry you can buy inbcludes rings, earrings and pendants.
What Are Rubies?
Ruby is a form of corundum (aluminium oxide) with a distinctive red colour produced by an admixture of chromium trioxide. The exact shade of red varies between pink and brownish red and these shades are often named after the regions in which they are usually found. The majority of high quality natural ruby today comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma).Corundum of other colours is simply called sapphire. Light red corundum is known as "pink sapphire". The borderline between pink sapphire and true ruby can sometimes be difficult to determine. It has been said to depend on whether you are tryng to buy or sell the stone!
The ruby is one of the hardest stones in nature, second only to the diamond, but can still be chipped or fractured if improperly handled. Natural rubies are very rare and valuable, however artificial ("created") rubies can be produced relatively cheaply.
Ruby can also be found as inclusions in zoisite. The combination of red ruby flecks within the green zoisite gives a distinctive and very attractive appearance.
Star Rubies
Some rubies have a property called asterism which results in a six pointed star being visible in the stone under bright lighting. Natural star rubies are rare however artificial versions can be created in the lab. As well as being more affordable, created star rubies usually "star" under a wider range of lighting conditions.
Symbolism and Lore
The name "ruby" comes from the Latin rubeus meaning "red". Most of its mythological associations stem fom its colour.The ruby is usually considered a stone of power and passion. It is supposed to bestow energy and willpower, counteracting lethargy. It has sometimes been associated with the sun.
This connection with power and the heat of the sun led to a legend that a ruby dropped in water would cause it to boil. The homes of the gods were sometimes said to be lit by the glow of rubies.
Rubies the colour of pigeon blood were referred to as being drops of the blood of mother Earth herself.
Properties
Ruby was traditionally associated with health and long life. The alchemists adopted the "perfect ruby" as a symbol of the philosopher's stone or elixir of life. According to Ben Jonson:
He that has once the flower of the sun, |
