For thousands of years, ruby has been called the gemstone of love and is the symbol of powerful feelings. Any jewelry using a ruby signifies passion between two people, making it a romantic gift for Valentine’s Day. It is also the designated gemstone for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.
Most importantly, ruby is the birthstone for July!
Ruby in History
Ruby is extremely rare and one of the most valuable precious gemstones in nature. The color ranges from brownish red to light red, similar to ripe raspberries. The fluorescence of the color will turn brighter red under natural and artificial light.
While the finest rubies come from Burma, beautiful rubies also come from Thailand, today’s main source for the rare stone. Thai rubies tend to be a little darker in shade, with a red so deep they are almost violet. Rubies also come from India, Tanzania, Madagascar, Russia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Kenya, Mexico, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and North Carolina.
According to jewelsforme.com, the Indians call the ruby Ratnanayaka, the lord of the gemstones. They would separate rubies by their flaws and beauty. No inferior Ruby was allowed contact with a superior one because they believed the inferior one would contaminate the better one and lesson its magical powers. Hindus consider light-colored rubies to be proper for the ladies, and the darker rubies to be more appropriate for gentlemen. In the 1880’s, French jewelers called the ruby the gem of gems or the dearly loved stone.
Famous Rubies
The world’s most expensive ruby is the Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59-carat stone. This ruby sold for a record $30.42M in 2015 to an anonymous buyer.
The Liberty Bell Ruby is the largest mined ruby in the world, discovered in east Africa in the 1050s. It weighs 4 lbs., is 8,500 carats, and carved into a bell shape. This valuable stone was stolen from Stuart Kingston Jewelers in Wilmington, Del. During a robbery and has never been recovered.
The 100.32 carat DeLong Star Ruby is housed in New York City’s Museum of Natural History and gets its name from Mrs. Edith Haggin DeLong. In 1964 this ruby was stolen in a jewel heist, also with the Star of India and the Midnight Star Sapphire. All three stones were ultimately recovered.
Roberto Coin
Beginning in 1996, Italian jewelry designer Roberto Coin began producing his collection with a “secret ruby” inside nearly every piece. He was inspired by ancient Egyptians; pharaohs believed if a ruby touched a woman’s skin, it would grant her immediate prosperity, love, and happiness. This magical signature, surrounded by an antique halo of legend, represents the message of good wishes that Roberto Coin dedicates to his passionate clientele.
Jacqueline’s Fine Jewelry is proud to carry Roberto Coin’s collection. Many of his creations are chosen each year by fashion celebrities and movie stars to accompany them on the most popular and prestigious red carpets.
Caring for Your Ruby
The ruby’s excellent hardness is second only to a diamond. Your ruby should be stored in a fabric-lined box, away from other pieces of jewelry so they will not scratch other, softer gemstones.
Cleaning your ruby is simple: just soapy water and a brush or a commercial jewelry cleaner. Follow the cleaning with a good rinse and thorough drying.