Ruby is a symbol of power and might. Ruby has been known since ancient times. The first mentions of the stone are found in Burmese and Indian sources of the 4th century BC. There is information about him in the Bible. However, the names of the ruby ​​were different then. In ancient Greece it was called "anthrax", in the Roman Empire - "carbuncle". Both names mean the same thing - "burning ember".

"Ruby" comes from the Latin rubber - "blushing". But in those distant times, rubies were called all bright red gems - rubies, red pomegranates, spinels. In the 18th century, the Swedish mineralogist Valerius divided the stones into classes. Since then, the ruby ​​has come to belong to the corundum class.



A stone like a ruby ​​could not but arouse admiration. In the most ancient treatises on precious stones, he was called “the king of stones,” and sometimes he was valued higher than diamond. In the ancient world, the ruby ​​was associated with the god of war Mars (Ares) and the titan Saturn (Kronos). But at all times, the ruby ​​was considered a symbol of power. They loved to decorate royal crowns and other regalia.

In ancient Rome, the ruby ​​symbolized power, nobility, dignity and aristocracy, therefore it was popular among the noble and wealthy. The royalty, in addition to their crowns, loved to wear rings with this stone, believing that the ruby ​​has the gift of prophecy and can warn its owner of an impending disaster, changing red to black.

Each nation keeps legends about the origin of the ruby ​​in its culture, it is associated with the deities of all religions, therefore many consider the stone to be sacred. There are many famous rubies that have been legendary for centuries.




Ruby belongs to the class of corundum representing alumina - Al? O ?. The density is 3.97-4.05 g / cm?. Has optical anisotropy. The red color is due to chromium impurities. But among the impurities, other elements are also indicated, for example, titanium or iron are occasionally present. Therefore, the ruby ​​can get purple, rose-red, red and dark red hues.

Ruby is a hard stone - 9 on the Mohs scale. It is second only to diamond, although its hardness is much lower than that of diamond.



Jewelery rubies are not so common. And the reason is all the same chromium, which creates cracks and breaks in the ruby ​​crystal. Therefore, crystals of rubies are rarely found weighing 2 or more carats.



But what about the large rubies that adorn the royal crowns? Where did they come from, if in nature everything is not so simple? The fact is that many large crystals in crowns turned out to be ruby ​​spinels or rubellites (red tourmalines).

Deposits of rubies

Ruby crystals are mined in many places on the planet, but mainly Asian and African gems are prized. The most beautiful and high-quality rubies have always been mined in Burma (Myanmar) - amazingly beautiful crystals with a deep saturated red color, with a shade of blue, which is called the color of "pigeon blood".

Today, these rubies are the standard of quality, they retain their color in any light. The discovery of a deposit of rubies in Burma took place in the 15th century. The Mogok mines in the north of the country, where the most beautiful crystals are mined, were discovered by accident. Thieves and bandits of the Burmese kingdom were exiled here. It was they who found the beautiful stones, which they did not doubt, and sent them as a gift to the ruler of the country.

When the monarch received valuable gifts, thieves and bandits were pardoned, they were allowed to return to their homes.However, many decided to stay on this land, away from people, in order to extract beautiful stones. But now, according to the order of the ruler, they had to give large gems to the state treasury. And if someone hides, then he will pay for it with his life.

Such a ban led to the fact that the world did not see the beauty of many large gems, as the violators of the laws split large stones into smaller ones and smuggled them to Calcutta. There, precious stones fell into the treasuries of the maharaja or were sent to Europe.



Today, the Mogok mines continue to operate, they are under the strict control of the state authorities and are leased only to those in the country. The territory of the mines is carefully guarded.

Among Burmese rubies, there are star crystals, on the surface of which, when properly cut, will appear a six - or twelve - pointed star. This asterism effect occurs due to the presence of rutile needle inclusions located in the crystal structure at an angle of 120 °. Crystals are very beautiful, after cutting they take on a silk shine.

There are also deposits of dark red rubies in Myanmar, which have not been used in jewelry production for a long time. But then they found that after heat treatment they acquire the same color that is characteristic of the reference Burmese. These rubies also became popular and are now used in jewelry.



Another country that can claim the best rubies in the world is Thailand. Dark red crystals with a brown tint were found here. They are called "Siamese". Rubies of unique beauty are found in Ceylon. They are prized for their rarity; the color of the gems ranges from light red to the color of ripe raspberries.

In Vietnam, rubies with a purple hue are mined. There are rubies in Laos, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, the Pamirs, India, Kenya, Tanzania.




Ruby is a stone of strong people, leaders by nature. It turns out that the ruby ​​for them will become an assistant on the path to great achievements. But, as the ancient sages argued, people who are vain and arrogant should not expect help from the ruby.



Astrologers claim that the ruby ​​is best suited for Leo, Sagittarius and Aries. It is among this category of people that you can find strong and temperamental. At the same time, they do not advise emotional and vulnerable Libra, sensitive Cancer and Aquarius to acquire ruby. Astrologers warn that the stone with its power can suppress them.

Ruby is a stone of power and luxury. Consequently, it can be owned by those who, with their strong character, have already achieved certain heights and have authority in society.



The beauty of the stone will highlight the beauty and elegance of middle-aged and older women. However, many women are in awe and admiration for the regal beauty of the ruby. Luxury rubies adorn the necklace, rings, rings, bracelets, earrings and even watches. Often rubies in jewelry are combined with diamonds, and gold serves as a frame for them.

Gem cost

The highest quality gems are considered, in which the least number of veins, cracks, haze and other defects. Otherwise, the price of stones is much lower. The quality of a stone is also assessed by its color. Rubies of pure red color are considered the best and more expensive.



For example, the price for a carat of premium rubies with an unidentified country of origin from 3.00 to 5.00 carats can range from $ 12,000 to and more than $ 25,000 per carat. The price of the highest quality Burmese rubies of the same order can range from $ 35,000 to over $ 60,000 per carat. In general, the price of rubies can be much higher, and amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, etc.

Ruby care

Those who are lucky enough to acquire a royal stone need to know what kind of care these stones require. Ruby, like many other stones, does not like long exposure to direct sunlight.

It is better to store a ruby-filled item separately from other jewelry by wrapping it in a cloth. This will prevent it from scratching. The stone is not particularly resistant to mechanical damage. First of all, you should be careful with the rings, since our hands are always doing some kind of work.

Ruby must also be protected from the effects of all kinds of chemicals. The stone should be cleaned carefully - using cloth napkins, and it is better to use the services of jewelers.




In India, the ruby ​​was called the stone of the Sun and was credited with the ability to heal many diseases. It was believed that the stone heals from disorders of the nervous system, epilepsy, paralysis, gastric diseases, helps with disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Many European physicians wrote about the healing properties of ruby. The same was observed in Russia. Even Tsar Ivan the Terrible himself, who loved red stones, said that yahont "heals the heart, brain, strength and memory of a person." Rubin also used Paracelsus in his medical practice.

Modern lithotherapists recommend wearing a ruby ​​for the same diseases that were mentioned in ancient treatises. You should not wear a stone for hypertensive patients, as it is assumed that the red stone with its energy can increase blood pressure and lead to a stroke. Cannot be worn by people with hemophilia, as well as easily excitable people.



The blazing red color of ruby ​​personifies the flame in the raging soul of a person, which helps to gain victories and perform feats. For people who feel such inner strength, the ruby ​​bestows good luck and happiness.

Ruby is a symbol of power and might. The stone has irrepressible energy and strength. According to astrologers, he can cope with any of us - both strong and weak. It will give confidence to the weak, it will make the strong even stronger. The energy of the stone will sweep away all obstacles on the way. Ruby can become a talisman only for kind people.