Rubies are made of transparent corundum and the red colour is primarily due to large traces of chromium in the mineral corundum. Ruby is the third hardest mineral in the world after diamond and moissanite. The glamorous red ruby is also a favourite of royalty. A famous piece of ruby jewellery is the Burmese Ruby Tiara owned by Queen Elizabeth II.
Myanmar (previously Burma), particularly the Mogok area, is the oldest and most famous source of rubies. The rubies from Burma were so famous and sought after that they were often referred to as Burmese rubies. Luc Yen region and Quy Chau district in Vietnam were also popular sources of rubies in the past. In modern times, Montepuez in Mozambique has emerged as a prominent source with the stones often being compared to the Burmese rubies. South Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar also contribute to the global supply of rubies.
Rubies have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness implying that it is quite hard and can be used in everyday jewellery much easier than other gemstones.
Pure, heat treated, lattice diffusion treated varieties of ruby can all be cleaned with ultrasonic / steam cleaners or using warm soap water and a soft brush. Glass filled or dyed ones need to be cleaned with a partially wet cloth.
Rubies with deep red and purplish red colour are preferred over others.
Rubies with small or minimum inclusions are preferred. Some needle-like inclusions can cause light to scatter making the colour appear softer and uniform.
Cut is very important to showcase the brilliance of this sparkly gem. Most standard cuts are suitable.
Comes in a variety of sizes from very small to as large as 100 lbs.
The word ruby comes from the Latin word for red colour – ruber. Rubies are known to increase desire for love, enthusiasm for life, and well-being of the wearer. The pink-red hue of ruby is linked to the colour of passion, power and confidence. Ruby along with emerald and sapphire holds the title of the Big Three gemstones due to their popularity and enchanting beauty.
