Ruby Jewelry: Made With the King of Gems

Some gem aficionados would say that there is truly nothing else quite as strikingly beautiful as a piece of ruby jewelry. Long coveted by rulers throughout the world, rubies were dubbed the “king of gems” because they have, at times, been more highly valued than even diamonds. Rubies are rarer than sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, which contributes to their exceptionally high value and worth.

Rubies are a particularly hard gemstone which is a member of the corundum family. With a mohs scale rating of nine, they are second only to diamonds in hardness. Found in the presence of alluvial deposits which contain chromium and give the stone its unique red color, rubies are identical to sapphires but for the occurrence of this one chemical.

Ruby jewelry is available in a wide range of red hues, from the palest rose (also known as pink sapphire) to the deep richness and blue tinge of the dark red pigeon’s blood shade. This is the rarest and most valuable shade of rubies, although the lighter raspberry and strawberry tones of rubies mined in Sir Lanka are also considered quite desirable. While color is the most important determinant of worth, do not be put off by the presence of inclusions in the stone as these do not detract from its value. In some instances, natural inclusions can add to the value.

Rubies are perhaps the one gemstone most often associated with royalty, from early references to the stone in Sanskrit writings to today’s modern families in India. Their associated lore and myth lends itself to the use of rubies as predictors of danger. Supposedly, the stone darkens to warn the wearer of inherent threat and protects against the adverse effects of poison. In such a way rubies were a powerful tool for royal advisors in days of old.






Traditional symbolism purports that rubies stand for wisdom, happiness, health, good luck, devotion, desire, and true love. Ruby jewelry is a particularly popular gift on Valentine’s Day due to its color and significance of love. The ruby is also the birthstone of July and associated with the day of week, Tuesday.

To select a valuable piece of ruby jewelry, be sure to examine the color for depth and richness. A popular choice for those on a budget are ruby beads, which make a lovely piece when they are designed as draping necklaces sparkling with hundreds of small stones. No matter the form, ruby jewelry is an enduring symbol of love and a gift which will be most appreciated for any occasion.

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Ruby Jewelry: Made With the King of Gems / Author: Diamonds International