Ruby Jewelry - It's Precious

Ruby doesn’t need any introduction – it is one of the most precious stones, which can shine brilliantly in a necklace and at the same time glow with a subtlety in a ring. Ruby and red go together and it can ignite a thousand desires that will light your candle of passion without your having to say a word. That’s the magic of a ruby.

Being one of the rarest stones, it is precious and expensive but ruby has a beauty that can’t be expressed through words. It represents a power that comes with the red color, the color of blood, the color of an enchanting sunset and the color of love. The best ruby though is the fine ruby, which is born out of chromium. What chromium really does is that it breaks up the stone from inside to give it the perfection that comes with the name. You can recognize a good ruby from a bad one by looking at the color saturation. A good ruby will always have a high color saturation, which occurs due to the mixture of a red fluorescent emission and a bluish red body color.

We all relate to the ruby for the red glow but did you know that it is one of the rare and glorious accidents of nature. This red glow is the reason why ruby is so popular. In fact the Thai and the Cambodian rubies are purer versions of red, but they lack the fluorescence that some rubies are famous for. Most of the stones possess a certain degree of extinction but a fine ruby with its crimson fluorescence can mask it. Some of the best Burmese rubies glow with a red that is quite unfound and bathe in a red fluorescence that paints its entire glory right across the face of the stone.

The value of a ruby is determined by the intensity of the red color. So when you are buying a ring that has a ruby in it, the more intense the color, the more expensive it will be. The color will be intense without being too dark or too light. Another thing, you need to check while buying a ruby is the clarity. The general rule is that when you look into the stone, there should not be any inclusions. If there are any inclusions and it is visible to the naked eye then don’t buy it. The third most important and decision making factor is the cut. You will find rubies in different shapes and styles depending on how they have been cut. The most common type of cut is the oval one but you will also find round ones and the emerald cut.

Apart from the imperial jadeite and some rare diamonds, ruby is next most expensive gem in the world. The best quality ruby comes from the following countries:

1. Mogok, Burma

2. Sri Lanka

3. Madagascar

4. Nanyazeik, Burma

So when you are buying a ruby ring, necklace or any high quality jewelry containing ruby, be rest assured that it will sparkle with an intensity that can be next only to your passion or love.

Affinity Jewelers is committed to offering the absolute highest quality jewelry at the guaranteed lowest prices. You won’t find a better deal on wedding bands, diamond anniversary bands, diamond necklaces, pearl rings, earrings, bracelets, and gemstone jewelry anywhere on the web. At Affinity Jewelers quality jewelry can be affordable jewelry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Morley_M

Read more...

The Gemstone Education - Ruby - The King of Gems

Perhaps no gemstone has been as prized throughout history as the Ruby. Celebrated in Bible and in ancient Sanskrit writings as the most precious of all gemstones, Rubies have adorned emperors and kings and inspired countless legends and myths with their rich, fiery hues.

As the ultimate red gemstone, rubies have symbolized passion and romance for centuries. Ruby is the birthstone for month of July, and it is recommended for married couples celebrating their 15th and 40th wedding anniversary.

Also the color of blood, the stone is symbolic of courage and bravery. Warriors were said to have implanted Rubies under their skin to bring them valor in battle and make them invincible. The stone has also been used as a talisman against danger, disaster, to stop bleeding, and a number of other ailments. Its intense color was thought to come from an undying flame inside the stone; or, as some legends would have it, a piece of planet Mars.


Ruby is the red variety of corundum, a sister of Sapphire. Like Sapphire, Ruby is measured 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it the second hardest material known after diamonds.

The most valuable Rubies come from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, but they are mined throughout Southeast Asia. Good quality stones come from Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Kenya and Tanzania also are becoming more important as mining sources for Ruby. While the color of the stones from East Africa rivals the world's best Rubies, most of these stone are fraught with inclusions that diminish their transparency and value. However, the East African stones are displayed to full advantage in Cabochon cuts and have done well in the mass jewelry market. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia have all produced occasional top quality Rubies, but the rough terrain in these areas has made mining difficult.

The most important factor to consider when purchasing a Ruby is its color. It comes in a variety of shades ranging from purplish-red and bluish-red to orange-red. Like Sapphire, there is also a translucent variety of Ruby that can display a six pointer star when in a smooth domed Cabochon cut.

The finest rubies are intensely saturated, pure red with no overtones of brown or blue. After color, the factors that influence value are clarity, cut and size. Rubies that are clear with no visible inclusions are more valuable than those with visible internal flaws.

Rubies are readily available in sizes up to 2 carats, and because of their intense color and durability, they make excellent accent stones. Larger sizes can be obtained, but top quality Rubies are rarer and more valuable than colorless diamonds, particularly in sizes above 5 carats. For instance, a 16 carats Ruby sold at auction for more than $200,000 at Sotheby's in 1988. In May 1995, a 27.37 carats Burmese ruby ring sold for 4 million dollars at Sotheby's in Geneva, Switzerland, an astounding $146,145 per carat. In contrast, none of the D-color, internally flawless diamonds over 50 carats sold in the last decade can match this value per carat.

Rubies are rarely found perfect in nature, which is why many are heat treated to intensify or lighten their color or improve their clarity. Heat enhancement is permanent, stable process. Some Rubies also have surface fractures and cavities that are filled with glass like materials to improve their appearance. This filler may break, fall or wear out over time if exposed to heat, strong abrasives or constant impact. for both treated or untreated stones, the safest cleaning method is to just use soapy water or a mild commercial solvent and a brush.

The article above can be used on your web site or newsletter. When it is published, May I request that you include my name and resource box (the bio, contact and copyright information that follows the article). I would also appreciate if you could send me an e-mail of notification along with a complimentary copy of publication.

Bijan Aziz is the owner and Web Master for The Jewelry Hut.

http://www.thejewelryhut.com/html/gemstone.html
Read more...