July 1, 2013
July’s Birthstone of the Month: RUBY
What do Queen Elizabeth II, Liz Taylor, Jackie O, and Marlene Dietrich have in common? You may not guess “famous rubies,” but that’s one of several correct answers. Rubies, like these legendary ladies, have a long, regal past. A well connected symbol of royalty and representing the power of life and death, the ruby also was attributed to the power to prevent loss of blood, strengthen the heart, and negate poisons (although we would not recommend that you test that at home or elsewhere).
A member of the mineral family corundum, the dynamic red stone’s color range includes pinkish, purplish, orangey, and brownish red hues depending on the chromium and iron content of the stone. Sharing the same family tree with rubies are a spectrum of colorful sapphires, from traditional blue hues to the orange padparadscha, as well as yellow, green and pink. Any stone that drifts into the pink-ish end of the spectrum is classified as a pink sapphire. In the United States, minimum color saturation must be met to be called a ruby, and when found flawless, a ruby is sometimes worth more than a diamond.
The tough corundum family is second only in hardness to diamonds, making them the durable gemstone of choice for armor, swords, and shields over the centuries. Fortunately, today’s battles are more likely to be fought in the board room, and the strong, versatile stone still delivers great staying power for keepsake bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. Visit us today to see our impressive ruby selection!
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