History & Meaning of Ruby Gemstones

Ruby gemstones are a variety of the mineral corundum and is the second hardest natural gemstone next to diamonds — making them durable enough for everyday wear. A fine-quality ruby is extremely rare and the color of the gem is most important to its value. The darker the red a ruby possesses, the higher its value is considered; if the ruby gem is too light or has too much purple or orange, it will be called a fancy-colored sapphire.

The brightest and most valuable color of ruby is often called a “Burmese Ruby” — where it has a rich, passionate, hot, full red color with a slight blue hue. It is also often referred to as “pigeon blood” red and is only associated with the Mogok Valley mines in Myanmar. This rare ruby is sought after by many  and can cost millions. At an elevation of over 4,000 ft it’s clear to see why this mountain has produced some of the most rare ruby gemstones on earth. The color Pigeon Blood Ruby red, however, is not associated with the color of a pigeon’s blood but rather the color of a white pigeon’s eye. It should noted besides this ruby being rare it’s even harder to get the Burmese Ruby due to trade blocks and embargo’s by several countries including the United States. As well the government regulates the mines in it’s country making it an even more delicate situation.

There are many legends that circulate around rubies. Some people in India believe that ruby gemstones allow their owners to have peace with enemies. As well in Burma, warriors inserted rubies into their flesh so that they could be invincible in battle. Talk about a good luck charm! Whether you are looking for a good luck charm or a beautiful gem for that significant other you should understand the origins of the many different type of rubies. There are several variety of rubies which are broken into category mainly by their sizes. Besides the Mogok Valley some of the top sources for  getting ruby gemstones are India, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mozambique and the U.S. (North Carolina).

Burmese Ruby: This describes rubies usually from Burma. They are the most rarest and valuable of all other rubies. They are considered the best due to their color and durability. Due to trade restrictions if you are in the United States it’s now even harder to get these rare ruby gemstones.

Pigeon’s Blood Ruby: It’s name comes from it’s distinct deep red-magenta hue of which is similar to freshly drawn pigeons blood. Also it should be noted that the Burmese word for ruby is padamya which means plenty of mercury. These rare ruby gemstones have sold for more than $30 million at auction.

Ruby Fuschite: This beautiful gemstone has a combination of ruby crystals and fuschite. It’s used for healing properties that deals with the heart and bloodflow. It helps with carpal tunnel syndrome, blood, spleen issues, and virility Also it’s great for grieving and recent breakups.

Ruby Zoiste: This is a combination crystal that which has both the properties of  ruby and zoiste, similar in appearance to the ruby fuschite it’s believed by some the combinations of crystals aids in physics ability, natural healing increase vigor, and also decrease laziness. Wow, now how many parents would love to stuff these into their kids pockets 😉 . The ruby zoiste is also called the Anyolite. Unlike many other rubies the price shock isn’t as high. It should be noted they are mostly used for natural healing purposes but also add flair to ruby jewelry as well.

Star Ruby: They are rare rubies that reflects an opalescent star like image which is caused by “asterism.” This is an optical phenomenon caused by millions of years and tons of pressure shaping this rare beauty. They are so rare that only 1 out of every 3 rubies mined would contain a star and of those three only one will be red enough to be truly a star ruby. This ruby normally comes in sizes between 1-15 carats.

Now that you have a good understanding of the history of ruby gemstones and a understanding of the different types here are a few thing to consider if looking to buy rubies. First make sure you purchase from a reputable dealer that appraises their rubies and it also helps if they can tell you it’s origins. As well consider buying loose gemstones to get the most bang for your buck. Then you can go and have you gemstone inserted into your own jewelry. Some people love building lasting memories that they can treasure and want to develop a deeper meaning with the jewelry they wear. If so you may desire mining your own ruby gemstones.Consider making a trip to Franklin, N.C. where they have several mines open for tourist. It’s a great experience and will humble you to the process of getting gemstones from their rare form and turning them into beautiful pieces of ruby jewelry.

Ruby gemstones are considered the king of gems, being the most powerful in the universe. It was believed wearing a fine red ruby ring would give good fortune on its owner — making him or her have contentment and peace. Wives tales also say that it may ward off bad dreams by placing ruby jewelry under a pillow or bring in life force and protection by wearing a ruby ring on the left hand.

Given as a gift, rubies are a symbol of friendship and love. It is also the symbol of health, vitality and wisdom. Want a ruby gemstone but don’t want the hassle of traveling to dig or paying retail price, then consider our online auction where we have unclaimed seized and stolen goods from police property rooms up for grabs.