From the desk of our gemologist

Ruby, July’s gemstone, is one of the most well-known gemstones. Rubies appear in most culture histories. In the Bible, the ruby is the most precious stone out of the 12 stones created by God. Ancient Hindus believed that if you gave a ruby to the god Krishna, you would be granted rebirth as an emperor. Other cultures believed rubies made you invincible. We all know that in 1939, a young girl with ruby slippers believed that if she clicked her heels three times, she would return home.

Ruby is a member of the Corundum family. Corundum occurs in many colors, but only the red stones are classified as rubies. All the other colors are sapphires. Rubies can be found in marble or basalt rocks. The rubies found in marble tend to be more vibrant in color because they give off a red fluorescence, which under light makes the colors intensify. The rubies grown in basalt rocks lack this red fluorescence but still give off the beautiful red ruby color you know and love.

Ruby ranks a 9 on the MOHS scale. It is one of the hardest gemstones. But just like with any gemstone, thoughtful wear and care are important to maintain your ruby’s beauty. We recommend bringing your jewelry in every 6-12 months to be checked and make sure your jewelry lasts a lifetime!

Pictures via gia.edu gem encyclopedia