Collection: Ruby

The name ruby ​​comes from the Latin ruber, etymological root of red. Before the advent of gemology in the 18th century, many red stones were incorrectly named rubies. During Antiquity, Petit Charbon (carbunculus) was a name which included ruby, garnet and spinel. Among the ancient Greeks, these intense red gems were called anthrax (burning coal). Exposed to an intense source of heat, they resembled the bright red of a burning coal.

Ruby belongs to the mineralogical family of corundum (crystallized aluminum oxide) just like sapphire. These two stones are basically allochromatic minerals, which means that they are colorless in their pure state and become colored thanks to the presence of chromogenic elements.

Concerning sapphire, it is iron and titanium which give it these magnificent hues. Concerning the ruby, it is the presence of chromium and iron which gives it these beautiful colors. It should be noted that too high a concentration of iron causes a rather brown tint.

However, the nuances of rubies are very specific and defined. Predominantly red, ruby ​​also contains 20% secondary color, such as orange, pink and purple. Rubies can have various optical effects, such as asterism (appearance of a star) or chatoyance (cat's eye effect).

In the 12th century BC, the first ruby ​​mining took place in Sri Lanka. Originally named Ratnaraj in Sanskrit translated as God of Precious Stones, Hindus and Burmese have long believed that transparent or pink sapphires were unripe rubies. Ruby embodies passion, love and romance. The Burmese considered the ruby ​​as a talisman and said that it was a drop of blood from the bowels of the earth.

Like many stones, ruby ​​is believed to have many spiritual virtues.

Sri Lankan rubies have been known to the Greeks and Romans since 480 BC. They attribute to the ruby ​​the power to help overcome all kinds of poisons, to promote passions and to make sadness disappear.

In the Middle Ages, Christian kings wore rubies on their crowns as a symbol of the blood of Christ. The ruby ​​was known to bring luck in gambling. In ancient Indian tribes, a ruby ​​was seen as an eternal inner fire believed to grant longevity.

Long confused with garnet or red spinel, it was only in the 19th century that it was finally included in the corundum group.

Ruby is one of the most expensive and rarest gems (much rarer than diamonds). Some rubies have the AAA designation, which indicates that they have magnificent clarity. Ruby has a very high hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale.

A dichroic stone, ruby ​​is 80% red and displays orange, pink, purple or violet as secondary colors. Rubies without inclusions are extremely rare. Certain inclusions such as those of titanium (also called silks) improve the play of light inside the stone.

To stay within a reasonable budget, you have to accept certain imperfections: a size that is not completely balanced or a lack of reach (natural hole). One should not look for a ruby ​​free of all inclusions, because they are part of its charm.

The beauty of a ruby ​​comes above all from its color and size. Some rubies undergo a heating treatment combined with a lead treatment and are then offered for sale. They can be found in the windows of foreign jewelers (especially Thai).

It should be noted that heating the stone is not necessarily bad: it protects the stone and ¾ of the rubies sold have undergone this heating treatment. This heating treatment should not be confused with chemical treatments which denature the stone. Unheated stones are extremely rare and extremely expensive (x 100) and are only used in very high jewelry for unique pieces.

To remember: it is in the heart of the Burmese jungle that we find the famous pigeon blood ruby , very rare. The most expensive ruby ​​is a Burmese pigeon blood ruby, 25.59 carats worth $30 million.

The main deposits are located in India, Burma, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, etc.

In Lithotherapy, ruby ​​is a stone that exudes vitality, joy of life and enthusiasm. It is perfect during painful events in life, such as the death of a loved one, a complicated breakup or the sudden loss of one's job. It allows you to get back on track and put things into perspective more quickly.

This fabulous red stone develops self-confidence, self-esteem and self-assurance. Thanks to this positive influence, the wearer of this stone can once again make plans and, above all, achieve them. He will show a lot of perseverance and tenacity.

Ruby is a stone that brings prosperity and luck. It gives a lot of instinct and clairvoyance. Its wearer will let himself be guided by his flair and will make great deals. Even at the professional level, he will quickly climb the ladder thanks to his great intuition.

This gem encourages and stimulates creativity. Its wearer will feel truly inspired and will want to create to express their emotions. This could be in various fields: writing, painting, music, etc.

Ruby has powerful energies and vibrations. It increases passions, encourages admiration and love. Its wearer does not know jealousy and promotes wisdom. This stone strengthens courage and willpower. It allows its wearer to succeed in what they undertake whatever the field.