While rubies come in a variety of red hues, the most valued color is pure red with a touch of blue, also known perversely as 'pigeon blood' red.
Rubies and sapphires are from the same mineral family of aluminum oxide called corundum. While rubies are red, sapphires would be any other color. The red in rubies comes from the presence of chromium and occasionally iron is found in ruby which accounts for the brown tint sometimes.
Rubies are one the hardest and most durable materials on earth. At 9 on Mohs' scale of gemstone hardness, rubies are second only to diamonds in hardness. Rubies are commonly heat treated to improve their color. A well-cut ruby can approach the brilliant luster of a diamond.
Rubies have been considered to be one of the most valuable gemstones on earth and India was considered 'The' ruby country. The term corundum comes from the Sanskrit word, 'kuruvinda'. The word ruby comes from the Sanskrit, 'ratnaraj' which means, 'King of Gemstones'. In India the Ruby was regarded almost as royalty itself and many times a king would have a new discovery of a spectacular ruby welcomed almost as royalty itself.
As color is the most important quality of the ruby, transparencies and inclusions are not so important as they are with diamonds. Inclusions, in fact, are often regarded as a statement of a genuine and certainly of the individuality of a ruby and.
There are many origins of Rubies including Vietnam which often have a purplish hue. Thailand Rubies tend to me more brown however, evidence of iron within the ruby. The lighter rubies, like strawberries or even raspberries usually come from Sri Lanka and are quite rare.
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