Resplendent and regal, ruby exudes passion, power and grandeur. The rich red color of this magnificent gemstone is heady and irresistible. The Sanskrit name 'Ratnaraj', meaning the 'king of gems' quite aptly describes the vibrant ruby. In ancient times ruby was valued more than even diamonds and over centuries, it has remained one of the most sought after gemstones, having adorned many emperors, rulers and princesses. Ruby owes its name to the Latin word 'ruber' meaning 'red'.

So much has been said about rubies and yet all the praise falls short in front of this endlessly vivid and enchanting gemstone. While some ancient legends call ruby the glint of life, a drop of blood from Mother Earth's bosom, others opine that the palaces of God are lit by enormous rubies. These vibrant stones are also believed to be self illuminated.

History has witnessed the regal ruby being an integral part of the rich and powerful. The Emperor of China used a ruby to illuminate his room while the crown of Charles IV of Luxembourg from the 1300s bore a ruby that was an astronomical 250 carats. These ravishing gemstones are believed to possess many a quality. Rubies in ancient times were used as a charm to induce fertility while many a warriors especially in Burma injected rubies into their skin to ward off wounds in the battlefield.

The finest quality of rubies that boast of a vivid color and luster are found in Burma, the erstwhile Myanmar. These are the most sought after rubies worldwide. Rubies however are mined throughout South and Southeast Asia with Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam turning into promising sources. Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa are also fast emerging as potent sources of rubies. Other occasional sources of rubies happen to be Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and India but due to the tough terrain of the region their potential has not been fully tapped.

The Burmese ruby by far remains most desirable with its exceptional color, also described as 'pigeon-blood-red'. The vivid red shade displays a unique brilliance under both natural as well as artificial light that makes these rubies so desirable. Another well known variety of ruby from Thailand is the 'Siamese color' which is a lovely deep muted shade.

Rubies undergo heat treatment to evolve into breathtaking beauties, exuding a rich, red shade. Heat treatment has a permanent effect on these stones and the radiant red color spreads deeply and uniformly into the stone. Heating residues are deposited along healed fractures during the heating process. Diffusion is yet another method used where the surface of the stone is exposed to heat, coupled with certain chemicals. The obvious result of this treatment is the color not permeating to the core of the stone and remaining superficial. With the exception of star sapphires, the process of diffusion does not work well with rubies. Heat treatment is definitely the desired form of treatment for rubies.

True to all other gemstones, the most important discerning quality of ruby happens to be it's color. A clear, vivid red color will elevate the value of a ruby. Clarity, in most cases comes much later. Some rubies, in spite of being accompanied with inclusions, are valued due to their vibrant and intense color. The cut of a ruby is important because only a good cut can accentuate and bring out the true beauty of this magnificent gemstone. Also, rubies in large sizes are desirable due to their rarity.

Ruby looks resplendent only when it retains its color and sheen. Thorough and frequent cleaning with the help of warm water and a mild detergent followed with a soft brush scrubbing will help retain the fine luster and color of ruby. An occasional cleaning from a professional jeweler is also required. One must avoid wearing rubies while engaged in any kind of rough work or while using harsh chemicals. It is best to store ruby jewelry wrapped in soft cloth or tissue, segregated from other softer stones.

The true beauty and grandeur of rubies come across best in the form of jewelry. Rubies look ravishing in almost all forms of jewelry. Large and prominent rubies make magnificent center-stones for rings, earrings and pendants while smaller ones are ideal for brooches, bracelets and earrings. Rubies when coupled with diamonds make truly breathtaking jewelry pieces. Both white as well as yellow colored metals complement rubies, bringing out their vivid color. Ruby jewelry looks good as day wear as well as for the evenings. Regal and rich in color, rubies make some of the most beautiful jewelry, and history remains witness to some spectacular ruby jewelry that have bedecked prominent figures over the centuries.



Ruby is the birthstone for those born in July and the astrological stone for the zodiac sign Capricorn. Ruby also happens to be an ideal gift for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversary.