“To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it”. This famous quote of Elizabeth I underlines the fact that it’s not at all easy to wear a king’s crown. But our favorite ruby gemstone has been wearing the crown of the King of gemstones quite effortlessly. And it has been doing so for a very long time. Have you ever wondered that out of hundreds of gemstones, why is ruby the one to have this honor?
Well, whether your favorite is ruby or its sister gemstone, you can not but admire the facts we bring you about this king. So let’s open the door to its court.
1. The Secret behind Rubies’ Red Color
One of the reasons for the crowning glory of ruby gemstone is its deep red color. The dark blood-red color of ruby crystals lies in the alchemy of chromium and corundum. The mineral corundum is colorless in itself but the infusion of chromium give the stone its color. The higher the concentration of chromium in the base mineral, the deeper shades of red. And when something else also comes in between, such as iron, then the color is no longer pure red. That’s why romantic hearts love the pigeon blood rubies to express their feelings.
2. The Origin & History of Ruby Gemstones
One can find numerous references to rubies in the Holy Bible and several other ancient texts. Emperors and royalties from ancient civilizations have cherished rubies for the stone’s blood-red hues and spell-binding appearance. The first reserves of rubies were discovered centuries back in the Mogok region of Burma. The Burmese warriors would keep rubies with them on the battlefield. The soldiers believed that doing so would help them win over their enemies. Similarly, Europeans in the medieval period considered rubies to be a source of wealth, success and wisdom.
3. Rubies Have a Sister Gemstone!
Not many people know the exciting fact that our two precious gemstones, ruby and sapphire are actually related. In fact, both originate from the base mineral corundum. The only difference between the two is the presence of different trace elements. With the traces of chromium in corundum, we obtain rubies. On the other hand, presence of other trace elements gives us various colored sapphires. And when no trace element is present, it is a white sapphire.
4. The Strength of the King is Next to Diamonds
If hardness score is the any measure of strength, then rubies nail it. They score an envious 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. This is second only to diamonds and obviously at par with its cousin gemstone, sapphire. This gives all ruby lovers a perfect reason to wear this sophisticated gem as the centerstone of engagement rings. It is almost impervious to wear & tear or cracking & chipping due to external forces. You can wear ruby jewelry every day as a pendant necklace, ring, or earrings without worrying at all.
5. Rubies are different from Pink Sapphires
Even though chromium present in the mineral corundum is responsible for both pink and red colors, it is the intensity which determines whether a stone is ruby or sapphire. Like any other colored gemstone, rubies have multiple tones of red color ranging from light to strong ones.
While the darker ones are called rubies, the lighter ones are known as pink rubies or pink sapphires depending on the locale. In the United States, ruby gemstones must fulfill a minimum color saturation level, otherwise they sell as pink sapphires.
6. Ruby Gemstones Differ by Origin
You might not believe this but rubies from different origins have distinct attributes that differentiate them from others. For instance, the rubies mined in Myanmar (previously known as Burma) possess a vibrant pigeon blood-red color. They are thus prized exceptionally for their extremely high quality.
Similarly, the rubies extracted from Thailand & Cambodia offer high clarity. Their superb tones of red are all due to the traces of iron in the mineral corundum. On the other hand, African rubies have purplish undertones wrapped inside the stones’ dark red hues.
7. Ruby is the July Birthstone
Rubies have been recognized as the traditional birthstone for the seventh month of the year. So if you are a July-born, you can benefit from the spiritual and astrological qualities of this precious stone. Wearing a ruby birthstone can assist you in accumulating good fortune, high levels of self-confidence, huge success, and courage along with improved health and well-being
8. Rubies are Utterly Significant in Love & Romance
The red color symbolizes energy & sensuality and the red-hued rubies perfectly inherit these attributes. For this reason, ruby crystals have long been associated with feelings of passion, love and romance. No other gemstone could be traded for a ruby when it comes to proposing love to your sweetheart.
As such, ruby rings work wonders as proposal rings, engagement rings and even wedding rings. Even milestone 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries are officially celebrated with ruby jewelry. There is also a belief that gifting a ruby gemstone can mend strained relationships.
9. Sunrise Ruby is the World’s Most Expensive Ruby!
Ever heard of the “Sunrise Ruby”? This 25.59ct pigeon blood Burmese ruby is reportedly the most expensive ruby or rather colored gemstone in the world. This massive ruby is the centerstone of a three-stone ring flanked with diamonds by Cartier.
Heidi Horten bought this exceptionally rare gem for $30.42 million during an auction in May 2015. After her death, Christie’s auctioned the ring for $14.7 million in May 2023.
10. The Largest Mined Ruby is Liberty Bell Ruby
Did you have the opportunity to look at the Liberty Bell Ruby? It could give you a whole new experience of the gem. This 8,500ct sculpture was built with the largest mined ruby in the world and is decked with 50 diamonds. Could you estimate the cost? It’s a whopping $2 million. But alas, this stunning artifact was stolen in November 2011 and could not be recovered till date.
Affordable Alternatives To Ruby Gemstones
No doubt, rubies exude an ethereal charm capable of winning over anyone’s senses. However, it is also undeniable that possessing a ruby gemstone is not within everyone’s reach. But fret not! You can always switch to affordable alternatives to rubies, such as red garnet, red spinel, red zircon, red tourmaline etc. With these red beauties in the frame, you can now confess your love with a bigger and brighter centerstone for your proposal ring.
Conclusion
Whether it is a July birthstone jewelry or an engagement ring embellished with ruby, it’ll always be a love souvenir. Are you also eyeing the king of gemstones in your jewelry box? Explore our exclusive collection of 100% certified, natural ruby rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets. And if you’re still unsure about the quality of our products and services, read GemsNY reviews and buy with confidence.
