About Ruby: The fiery color of the
ruby symbolizes
devotion, passion, desire, and luxurious opulence. It was once believed that the wearer of a ruby was blessed with
health, wealth, wisdom and outstanding success in affairs of the heart. Rubies were thought to be magical,
mysterious and even mystical. The more beautiful the ruby gem, it was thought the more profound and positive
effect on the owner's life. Ruby is the
birthstone for July and the
anniversary gemstone
for the fifteenth and fortieth wedding anniversaries. Rubies excel in
durability with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Enhancements: Although cutting is the most
basic enhancement method necessary to display the beauty of a
gemstone, there
are many fascinating methods by which man has demonstrated his ability to draw maximum color, luster, clarity and
brilliance from nature's earthbound treasures. A basic understanding of these enhancement techniques will add to
your appreciation of the beauty, durability and value of the
gemstone jewelry you already own, or plan to purchase in the future.
Ruby is often
heat-treated to improve the color and clarity. This practice dates back to around 50 AD. The enhancement is safe
and permanent.
Buying a Ruby: Always let your taste be the
final guide in making your selection. Rubies come in a wide range of tones from stoplight red to crimson.
Generally, a red that is low in or free of purple is most desirable. Reds with overtones of
orange or
pink are fine as long
as the gemstones are saturated enough to be called red. Rubies are rarely completely clean and some of the most
desirable colors will often have small inclusions. A good guideline is to first select a ruby with the best color
you can find and then make sure the inclusions are slight. Rubies in sizes of over 1 carat are considered
important and sizes over 3 carats are particularly hard to find. All of the rubies at MyJewelrySource.com are red,
and as true red as we could find. Our rubies do not have purple overtones and they are nearly eye clean. Any
visible inclusions are subtle and not distracting from the beauty of the gem.
Care of Rubies: Since rubies are tough and
durable, they can withstand most cleaning methods. While steaming and ultrasonic cleaning will not damage the
gemstone, these methods are not recommended by MJS as they may loosen the setting, and subsequently, stones may
fall out. Your
ruby jewelry
may be cleaned with a soft-bristled brush or a cloth with plain or soapy water. Rubies must not be put in boiling
hot water.
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