The ruby symbolizes contentment but the colour is often associated with love and passion.
For thousands of years the ruby has been thought of as one of the most valuable of gemstones. It not only combines colour, hardness and brilliance but is also quite rare.
Technically the ruby is a form of the corundum mineral. In its blue form corundum is known as sapphire. It is possible to mistake a red garnet for a ruby and some very well-known jewels thought to be rubies could in fact be garnets.
Rubies are mined in such diverse places as Africa, Asia, Australia and Greenland. Some of the finest rubies have been mined in Myanmar (Burma) but in more recent times the quality of rubies mined there have declined.
The world’s biggest ruby is the Rajaratna Ruby and it ways 2,475 carats and is currently located in India.
While a true ruby is quite rare there are plenty of artificial rubies available on the market today and that’s why jewellery featuring this beautiful stone can be found quite cheaply.
The samples show here start at just $39.95 and, if you follow the links by clicking on the image, you will find many more fine examples of jewellery that incudes the rich lustrous tones of the ruby.
