For more than two thousand years,
cultures throughout the world have highly desired rubies for their brilliance
and their vibrant, intense red color. This fiery redhead of gems, however, is
valued for more than just its stunning beauty. Over the ages, folklore has
credited the exquisite ruby with many mystical powers. Here are 16 facts about
rubies and their folklore that might surprise you! In gemology, only four gems
qualify for the elite category of “Precious Gems.” These are the diamond, sapphire,
emerald, and the ruby. Color Ruby can command the highest prices of any colored
gemstone. The per-carat prices of
fine-quality rubies have been rising consistently, many times breaking auction
records.
For better-quality material, slight
differences in color can make significant differences in value. For top-color
ruby that’s also free of eye-visible inclusions, the price rises even more.
Rubies are graded first by their
intense color and then by the brilliance and “liveliness” (sparkle). The most prized
colors for the ruby range from medium-red to dark-red with orange tones to
purplish-red. The most exceptional ruby color is called “pigeon’s blood.” A
pigeon’s blood ruby has exceptional brilliance, transparency, and is an
intense, fiery shade of red, with a subtle hint of blue or purple.
Rubies or Sapphires
The only difference between a ruby and a sapphire is the color! Both are corundum minerals. Those that are light pink are called pink sapphires, while only the deeply rich red gemstones are qualified to be rubies. Warriors have worn rubies into battle for their properties of