Ruby is a red mineral that is highly prized the world over for its exceptional beauty. Whether in earrings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets or rings, this precious stone from the corundum family lends itself to every desire and style. Planetys tells you where ruby comes from, its history and how this rare stone is formed.
The origins of ruby
Ruby mining dates back to the 8th century BC in the mines of Sri Lanka. However, the most important traces of ruby are to be found in Myanmar (formerly Burma), precisely in the Mogok Valley. Although this source is now depleted, it is the source of some of the world’s finest rubies.
Currently, Burmese rubies are mined in the Mong Hsu deposits in the north-east of the country. Because of the close link between the mining of these gems and Myanmar, the country’s kings are known as the “Lord of Jewels”.
Origin of the name ruby
From the Latin “Rubeus”, the name ruby means “red”. Originally, the ruby was named Ratnaraj in Sanskrit, meaning “ king of precious stones ”. This stone embodies love, romance and passion. According to some ancient beliefs in India and Myanmar, pink or transparent sapphire was an unripe ruby. For the ancients of that time, the ruby embodied the eternal inner fire capable of granting longevity.
Primary use of the red stone
In the Middle Ages, rubies were used for good luck. Like other gems of the time, rubies were believed to have prophetic powers. Its color would darken to herald impending disaster or misfortune. According to the Burmese, this gemstone was said to have therapeutic virtues, helping to combat certain illnesses.
Considered a drop of blood in the heart of Mother Earth, the ruby was used as a talisman to protect against accidents and injuries. Even today, in lithotherapy, ruby is credited with regulating the blood system. To enjoy the benefits of this gemstone according to lithotherapy, it’s best to wear it at all times. In the form of jewelry, which you can obtain from your Planetys online store.
How is ruby formed?
Like sapphires, rubies are the red variety of crystals in the corundum family. These gemstones form underground at depths of between 25 and 50 kilometers. Particularly in rock rich in aluminum and silicon. With the exception of Cambodian and Thai rubies, which form specifically in magma. All other rubies, such as sapphire, are born of the pressure exerted by the earth on this rock at such depths, and the temperatures that prevail.
Ruby properties and characteristics
Ruby has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. This places it just behind diamond, known as the hardest and most resistant gemstone in the world. It is therefore resistant to shocks and scratches. What’s more, ruby has a refractive index of 1.76, giving it exceptional brilliance, close to that of diamond. This gemstone also has inclusions that can be used to determine whether the stone is natural, synthetic or an imitation (red spinel).
At Planetys, our jewelry is made with rubies certified as natural stones. After your purchase, your necklace, ring, bracelet, pendant or earrings will be sent to you with the ruby’s certification of authenticity, as well as the gold or silver that holds and adorns the stone.
When the stone has an intense, pure color, its value can exceed that of a diamond. Indeed, the rarer and higher quality the ruby, the greater its market value. Being a highly included stone, it is often difficult to find pure, intense red rubies over 2 carats. The pigeon-red ruby is therefore the most sought-after. Its price can therefore quickly soar above that of a diamond. Jewelry made from this ruby is highly coveted the world over.
The composition of ruby
Like sapphire, ruby is a crystallized aluminum oxide (Al2O3). Both are colorless minerals in their pure state, but are eventually colored by chromogenic elements. The color so sought-after in this gemstone comes mainly from traces of iron and chromium. These elements replace certain atoms in the gem’s structure. Although ruby is essentially red, this natural stone contains 20% secondary colors such as violet, pink or orange.
Where are ruby deposits found?
This red gem is even rarer than diamonds. However, ruby’s quality and appeal vary according to the location of the deposit. The main deposits can be found in Myanmar. This country is historically known as the world’s largest ruby producer. Although the intensity of extraction has since diminished considerably, the gems mined in this country are pure and unrivalled. The finest ruby specimens, such as the pigeon’s blood ruby, are found in these deposits. The former Burma accounts for almost 90% of the world’s ruby production.
The main mines
Other major deposits of this natural stone can be found in Madagascar, Mozambique, Thailand, Afghanistan and Greenland. The fine, precious stones of Madagascar were discovered only recently, in 1990. These rubies are very pretty, but unfortunately not very pure. Mozambique has also become a ruby-producing country, with an abundance of beautiful specimens under its soil. These include deep, intense red rubies, star rubies and cat’s-eye rubies. When cut into cabochons, the cat’s-eye is clearly visible on the surface of this stone.
Ruby from Siam or Thailand can also be sourced from Cambodia, as these two countries share the same geological resources and subsoil. The hues of these stones are often dark, sometimes tending towards violet or brown. These rubies are exported around the world in jewelry or bare.
Harvested since 2017, Greenland rubies are of the highest quality and beauty. There are also rubies from Vietnam with a pinker color, rubies from Kenya with a fuchsia pink color, rubies from Malawi and AAA-quality rubies from Tanzania. Other stones have an intense red color similar to pigeon’s blood rubies.
What are the most beautiful rubies?
The rarest and most famous ruby is undoubtedly the pigeon’s blood ruby. Recently, the world’s largest ruby was discovered in Madagascar, with an intense red color similar to that of Myanmar. Also on this list:
Rosser Reeves ruby
Prince of Burma Ruby
DeLong Star ruby
Burj Alhamal ruby
- Edward ruby (167 ct),
- Sunrise ruby (25.59 ct),
- Rosser Reeves ruby from Sri Lanka (138.7 ct),
- The Midnight Star (116.75 ct),
- Neelanjali ruby (1370 ct),
- DeLong Star ruby (100 ct),
- Maung Lin ruby (400 ct),
- Prince of Burma (950 ct),
- Burj Alhamal (8400 ct),
- Hixon Ruby (196 ct)
- The Peace Ruby (43 ct).
At one time, the Black Prince’s Ruby, which has been part of the English crown jewels for centuries, was one of the world’s most prized gems. Unfortunately, this imposing stone was nothing more than a red spinel. It was subsequently nicknamed “The Great Imposter”.
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