July’s birthstone is the fabulous ruby, called the “king of precious stones” for its rarity,
beauty and hardness (second only to diamond). Associated with life force blood, the quality of a ruby is determined by its colour, which along with carat weight, affect its value.
Chromium gives the ruby its red colour which varies from deep shades of red to dark pink. The brightest and most valuable shade of red called blood red or pigeon blood, commands a large premium over other rubies of similar quality. Inclusions are common in rubies, but it doesn’t decrease the value of the stone, instead they help to determine the natural gemstones to the synthetic ones. As a rough stone ruby appears dull, but when cut, it has a beautiful lustre.
Rubies are a symbol of power and youthful energy, they command the greatest price per carat of any other gemstone and have a rich history. Early cultures treasured rubies for their similarity to the redness of the blood that flowed through their veins, and believed that rubies held the power of life.These precious stones have been mentioned in the Bible, worn by royalty throughout history, and believed to protect ancient warriors in battle. European royalty and the upper classes wore rubies to guarantee health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love.
The ruby has retained its importance and its popularity is just as great today as it always has been. As a symbol of passion, ruby makes an ideal romantic gift, and is traditionally given for 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.
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