Ruby belongs to the category of being one of the precious stones along with diamond, emerald, and sapphire. A gemstone characterized and identified by having a blood red, brownish, or sometimes purplish color. It is a mineral variety of the corundum family with a chemical formulation of aluminum oxide and chromium, the element that causes the red color in rubies. Aside from ruby, sapphires are also gem-quality of the corundum family. Ruby comes from the Latin word ruber which means red.
Faceting procedures of rubies include dissolving rutile inclusion, color alteration, healing of fractures and in some cases completely filling the cracks. The hardness of gemstones is defined by a Mohs scale and rubies fall under a 9.0 definition. Among all the natural gemstones, diamond is considered to be the hardest with a 10.0 definition.
When it comes to purity and hue, Myanmar (Burma) is the country where youll find these prized red stone gems. In the mountainous are of Mogok, which is located 125 miles facing north of Mandalay, is where youll find the “Valley of Rubies,” famed for its rare “pigeon blood rubies,” as well as blue sapphires.
Rubies are valued by its color, clarity, cut and carat. Color is the first factor that determines its price. A ruby stone with a “pigeon blood red” color, considered to be the best and the brightest of red, can command a very big premium on its value over other ruby stones of the same quality. Clarity follows color along with its cut and carat of the gemstone. A clear ruby stone can also command a very high premium, however, the absence of rutile inclusions that appears to be needle- like under a jewelers scope may indicate that the stone has undergone treatment in some way.
Rubies in Asian countries are given the highest of regard. These gemstones were used in India as well as in China, as ornaments of noblemens armors, harness and scabbards. It was also noted in history that rubies were used to give good fortune to structures and buildings by laying them beneath its foundation. In the Vedic astrology, the gemstone ruby has been associated with the Sun, also as a symbol of the 40th wedding anniversary of a couple. While in the Chinese astrology, ruby is associated with the year of the pig. Ruby is also the birthstone of the month July and the gemstone for the zodiac signs of Cancer and Leo. The roman mythology once dictated that when a ruby is inserted into the flesh of its owner, it was believe to empower him with invulnerability.
Imperfections are bound to be found in natural ruby stones. These imperfections include rutile inclusions, needle-like inclusion also known as silk and color impurities. The rutile inclusions in a natural ruby stone are used by gemologist to set them apart from substitutes, stimulants or synthetic rubies. Imitation rubies are available in the market and they have been present for some time now. Nonetheless, natural rubies will always be an excellent choice among the red corundum gems.
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