I love rubies… Not only are they the birthstone of my daughter, but they also remind me of my Mother. I have an old ruby ring of hers that I wear most of the time and I adore it.
Mineral: Corundrum
Hardness: 9/10
Colour: Red
Birthstone: July
Anniversaries: 40th
Where are rubies found?
Rubies can be found in most countries around the Indian Ocean although the quality doesn’t come close to those traditionally found in locations like Myanmar (Burma) and Mozambique.
Mozambican rubies are over 500 million years old and are particularly rare.
Hardness
Rubies belong to the corundum mineral family, which is one of the hardest minerals on Earth. Rubies are super durable, 9/10 on the Mohs scale of hardness so second only to diamonds.
Ruby or Sapphire?
Rubies and sapphires share identical characteristics, crystal structures, and chemical compositions, with the only difference being the trace element chromium, which gives them their distinctive colours.
Myths & Legends
Known as ‘King of Gemstones’ in ancient Hindu texts, rubies were believed to hold the power of life. They were even carried into battle as protection.
Colour
The most prized colour of ruby is the deep blueish red and the most pure red ‘Pigeon Blood’ variety. Large natural rubies are very rare and frequently cost more per carat than colourless diamonds.
Any questions about Rubies?