July:
Ruby
Just as diamonds have become the gem of romance, ruby has
been the gem of passion and the heart's desire since the
dawn of time. Because of its lovely red color, ruby has
been associated with the heart, the blood and the centers
of passion throughout its history.
In ancient India, ruby was highly valued for three distinct
purposes. Mystics used rubies to stimulate spiritual creativity
and religious devotion. Healers believed that rubies could
heal diseases of the pelvic cavity and generative organs
as well as the heart and the blood. Soldiers wore rubies
to staunch the blood of wounds received in battle and as
a talisman against getting shot by arrows.
Many of the Hindu beliefs about rubies were passed along
the trade routes to Greek and Roman cultures. Ancient Greek
women believed that wearing ruby could bring them love and
physical beauty. Many Roman nobles had intaglio rings carved
out of ruby to protect their wealth and health.
Rubies were considered the wedding stone through the Middle
Ages and early Renaissance, as they were supposed to keep
passion alive and promote lasting love and contentment in
marriage.
In modern times, ruby has become the July birthstone, fifteenth
and fortieth anniversary stone, and the gem of Capricorn.
Sharing the same physical properties as its fellow corundum
sapphire, ruby's vibrant color and durability make it a
popular choice. These days, ruby-lovers are in luck. New
sources of supply in India, Africa Vietnam and Thailand
have made lovely rubies in all sizes and colors more readily
available than in previous years.
Rubies come in many shades of red. Rubies tend to be priced
by color. The closer a gem is to the vivid red 'pigeon's
blood' color, the higher the price. Many rubies are enhanced
by heat treating to improve color, but the color is stable
after treatment and does not require special care. Some
rubies have fissures or surface breaks that are filled with
a glass-like byproduct of the heating process. These stones
do require special care in cleaning and wearing, but they
are generally more affordable.
For those with a passion for red gems, there are several
affordable alternatives to rubies. Garnets offer a wide
range of red colors with plenty of fire. Red tourmaline,
sometimes called rubellite, provides light to dark purplish
reds. And red spinel is sometimes used as a ruby substitute
because of its pure medium to deep red colors. Any of these,
along with ruby, can satisfy the passion for lovely red
gemstones.
Styles
