Ruby red is a rare precious gemstone whose hardness is second only to diamond.
Ruby red is associated with passion, vivacity, unbridled love and power. It is a gemstone of exceptional hardness, outstanding brilliance, and magnificent color. No wonder it is considered to be a royal gem, and was one of the most prized stones in any king’s jewel collection.
Ruby red is characterized by its deep red color, and everything else is secondary when evaluating the gemstone. It was only in the nineteenth century that it was discovered that ruby and sapphire originate from the same mineral, corundum. It is the presence of traces of elements like chromium, iron, titanium, or vanadium in corundum that give the gem its characteristic blood red color. Pure corundum is colorless, and if it has any other color and trace elements it is classified as sapphire.
Prior to the discovery of this closeness in composition to sapphire, rubies were thought to be the same as spinets or red garnets. In fact, the Black Ruby and Timur Ruby, which are part of the British Crown Jewels, are not rubies at all, but spinets. This may be true of a number of other gemstones and crown jewels. Ruby red is even rarer than what one thought it was. The presence of a star shaped rutile crystal inside makes it even rarer.
The only consideration while selecting or evaluating ruby red is its color. Fire and blood are associated with this color, and it essentially represents the warmth and passion of man. Even clarity and transparency are secondary. The presence of inclusions is also acceptable, as finding a large, deeply colored ruby with minimum inclusions is extremely rare. In fact the presence of inclusions is considered proof of its natural origins.
Important Sources of Ruby Red
Ruby red has been traditionally associated with India, and it has been an integral part of many erstwhile royal insignia. The best quality ruby is the Burmese ruby, a reflection of its color, not source. However, Myanmar has significant ruby deposits, particularly in the Mogok Stone Tracts of North Myanmar. Here lies the “valley of rubies” surrounded by high mountain peaks. Mong Hsu in North-east Myanmar is also well known for its ruby deposits.
Ruby red deposits are also found in the Himalayan regions of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Tadzhikisthan. Further east, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand have deposits which yield rubies of a slightly different color. Sri Lanka had deposits too, though the Ceylon Ruby is now rarely seen. East Africa is one of the more recent sources of this magnificent gem.
