Custom Wire Wrapped Faceted Ruby Set (July Birthstone: Earrings Necklace/Pendant Sterling Silver .935 Pendant 20 cts. earrings `10.5 cts each. Total 41 ct.
Size: pendant: 1 9/16 x 9/`6 inch or 40mm x 15mm Earrings: 1 x 1/2 inch or 24mm x 12mm
What Is a Ruby and Where Are They Found?
Ruby is one of the four precious gemstones. The others are emerald, sapphire, and diamond. Ruby comes from the Latin "rubens" meaning red.
Rubies are made of corundum. Corundum comes in many other colors, but those colors are classified as sapphires. Pink corundum is sometimes referred to as pink sapphire and other times is referred to as pink ruby depending on the hue, region, and personal opinion. Ruby gets its red coloring from trace amounts of chromium.
Ruby measures 9 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, second only to diamond and matched with sapphire. This makes ruby an extremely hard and durable gemstone.
History and Lore
Rubies symbolize power and protection. When worn as a talisman, ruby was believed to help protect warriors in battle. One more modern allusion to this legend is in The Wizard of Oz. Dorthy's ruby slippers were thought to protect her from evil.
Rubies are referenced four different times in the bible. The Bible associates these gems with beauty and wisdom.
According to ancient folklore, people of India believed rubies would help them be at peace with their enemies.
Thailand is one of the leading hubs for ruby mining and production, with other leading countries including Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and India.
Famous Rubies
Until the beginning of the 19th century, red spinels were thought to be rubies. Famous stones including "Black Prince's Ruby" and "Timur Ruby" were considered to be rubies until it was discovered that they and many other red stones were, in fact, red spinels.
Some famous rubies include the "Rosser Reeves Star Ruby," the "Edwardes Ruby," and the "De Long Star Ruby"
In 2011, an 8.24-carat ruby ring belonging to Elizabeth Taylor and made by Van Cleef & Arpels sold at auction for $4.2 million, with the price per carat amounting to approximately $500,000.
The most expensive ruby ever sold was the "Hope Ruby" which weighs 32.08 carats and sold for $6.74 million.