The King of Gems: Intriguing Facts You Didn't Know About Ruby Stone
With their brilliance and alluring red hue, Rubies have long been admired as a symbol of passion, power, and prosperity. Widely referred to as the "King of Gemstones," these precious stones boast a rich history and an astonishing number of facts that go far beyond their breathtaking beauty. If you believe that you have already learnt everything worth knowing about the July birthstone, then you are wrong. Here is more about the Manik stone:
A Regal Title and Ancient Origins
The name "Ruby" itself comes from the Latin term "ruber", referring to the colour "red", a reference to its signature hue. The Ruby Stone was bestowed with a much loftier title, that is, "Ratnaraj", or "king of the gems". The name perfectly describes the adoration and respect Rubies have inspired for thousands of years. The Rubies' history goes back as far as 2000 years, and the Bible makes references to them, while Roman scholar Pliny the Elder has made elaborate descriptions in his 1st-century AD treatise, Natural History. The Rubies were so important to ancient Hindus that they thought that giving one as an offering to the god Krishna would ensure rebirth as an emperor, and they thus bear incalculable cultural and spiritual value.
The Science Behind the Red
Rubies are a member of the mineral corundum, with Sapphires also belonging to this category. The specific distinguishing factor that converts corundum to a Ruby is trace amounts of chromium. It's precisely this element that produces the rich red colour of the Ruby. The greater the amount of chromium, the richer and more prized the red tone.
But this chromium, as gorgeous as it makes the Ruby, also forms minute cracks and fissures inside the stone. This makes Rubies larger than over three carats and extremely rare and very costly. If a corundum gemstone has a pinkish colour instead of a proper red one, it's usually known as a Pink Sapphire, demonstrating just how thin the line is separating these two valuable stones.
Rubies are created under intense heat and pressure below the Earth's surface. This is a place where aluminium and oxygen atoms bond to form corundum, with chromium subsequently adding the distinctive red colour.
Durability and Rarity
Rubies have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. They are the second hardest natural gemstone, behind Diamonds. Rubies' extraordinary resilience makes them a perfect candidate for daily wear in jewellery.
Even though they are hard, big, fine Rubies are extremely scarce and can fetch prices that are at times even higher than Diamonds. The most prized colour is referred to as "pigeon's blood", a deep, rich red with a purple-pinkish tint. This variety of the Manik gemstone is traditionally coming from the mythical Mogok area of Myanmar (Burma), which is famous for yielding Rubies of superior character and colour. So, if you are looking to buy good-quality Ruby gemstones, then you can purchase online from genuine sellers like Pramogh.
Iconic Rubies and Lasting Symbolism
Over the centuries, Rubies have graced kings and queens and filled imaginations. The largest rough Ruby, the "125 West Ruby", is a whopping 18,696 carats, whereas the "Liberty Bell Ruby" at 8,500 carats was carved into the shape of the famous American icon.
Rubies symbolically have always represented passion, love, and bravery. Medieval Europeans thought that they would bring good health, prosperity, wisdom, love, and success, whereas in China, nobles even decorated them on their armour for power and protection. People have the same belief in popular culture, famously as Dorothy's Ruby red slippers in "The Wizard of Oz", which protected her from evil. In addition to being July's birthstone, Rubies are also the anniversary gift for 15th and 40th weddings, symbolising lasting love and devotion.
The Art of Enhancement and Creation
While the allure of natural Rubies is undeniable, it is a common and accepted industry practice for almost all natural Rubies to undergo heat treatment to enhance their colour and strength. This process fixes the colour of the gemstone and enhances its clarity. The first lab-created Rubies were released by Auguste Verneuil during the Paris World Fair in 1900, representing a major breakthrough in gemology. These synthetic equivalents have the same chemical structure as natural Rubies and provide an alternative that is more readily available while maintaining much of the natural stone's properties.
Conclusion
From their earliest beginnings and their connection to royalty to their deep symbolism, Rubies continue to fascinate and captivate us. They are not simply gorgeous stones but a reminder of the Earth's vast creativity and human beings' abiding connection to nature. Whether they are admired for their sparkle, valued for their astrological meanings, or simply appreciated for their fiery magnetism, Rubies richly deserve their reputation as the King of Gemstones.
