Gemstone Ruby
The word ruby is taken from the Latin “ruber,” meaning red color and it was used for all red color stones, but later it was specific for the gemstone ruby. The Ruby has unique feature of its dark red color classic gemstone, the Ruby is most demanded gemstone because of its toughness, long life, shining and less availability. The Ruby has many colors from red to deep reddish brown, the blood red color Ruby is most demanded and this type of Ruby is known as Burmese Ruby. The quality of Ruby from Burma is supreme over the other, the large piece of Burmese Ruby is most expensive and the worth will be more if the stone is flawless. The Ruby can be treated with heat and after heat treatment the gemstone of Ruby will be more transparent. The Rubies from Thailand have low quality, but can improve through heating. The Ruby, which have asterism is known as star Ruby, the star may be six or twelve rays and if the star is in light color, then the stone will be more worthy. The Ruby some time shows different color like light and dark when watched in different angles.
The ruby is highly valuable gemstone than others when it is in large size. It was believed that this gemstone is a spark of life, moreover it believed that ruby was self-emitter of light and that is why it was called glowing stone. According to Hindu religious men that house of gods were lighten up by the ruby. Ruby is more attractive gemstone among others because of its color and the red color of this gemstone is very prominent decent in gemstone. The ruby is durable because of its hardness and it is also used in jewelery and other purposes due to lustering and rarity. The transparent ruby is very expensive even than diamond moreover it is rare. The color of this gemstone is from pure red to dark reddish, the deep blood color ruby is known as Burmese ruby. The Thailand ruby is light in color than the Burmese and they are treated with heat to enhance its color from light to blood light. The heat treatment also reduces the flaws which are present within it, among colors and shades the opaque and semi opaque have less worth than pure red ruby. The chromium is behind the color of ruby and chromium is a metal.
Ruby Uses
The main use of this gemstone is in jewelry and frequently used in rings, bracelets and earrings. It is also used in pendants and necklaces, the most famous Ruby is deep red colored and now artificial Ruby is also used in jewelry. In ancient times the ruby were considered a source of good health and it was a shield against the evil thoughts, moreover ruby was considered a stone that beware the coming mishaps, disease and even death.
Ruby Sources
The main source of Ruby is Thailand, however, its color is not fascinating, but can be changed heat treatment. The precious gemstone comes from Burma similarly Madagascar is also a big source of Ruby. The other producer are Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Srilanka, Tanzania, Tajikistan, USA.
Ruby Properties
Ruby belongs to class corundum, which is aluminum oxide silicates and the color is because of iron, chromium and titanium. The chemical formula of ruby is Al2O3 and the hardness is 9. The synthetic ruby is also manufactured in laboratories and it is tough to differentiate between these two.
Ruby Varieties
Burma Ruby It comes from Burma, which is red in color. Pigeon’s blood, which is in blood color and have blue traces in it.Ruby fuschite is red color ruby blended with green fuschite and this variety is available in India.Star Ruby It contain usually six arms star within it. Ruby Zoisite it is a mixture of red opaque ruby in green it is from Tanzania.
Ruby as Birthstone
Ruby is the birthstone for July.
General information about Gemstone Ruby
Chemical Composition: Al2O3
Color: Red.
Hardness on Mohs scale: 9
Mineral class: Corundum.
Transparency: Transparent to opaque.
Zodiac: Leo, Scorpio.