Ruby

Throughout history the Ruby has been one of the most valued and prized gemstones.
Ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral species, while all other colors of corundum are called Sapphire. It is mined throughout Southeast Asia. Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) produce exquisite examples of this gemstone that the ancient Sinhalese people called "Ratnaraj," the King of Gems.

Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July.
Enhancement - Care and Cleaning - Lore and History

Enhancement

Despite all the best efforts of gem merchants to use technology to enrich color, fine ruby is still exceptionally rare. After being extracted from the earth, rubies today are commonly heated to high temperatures to maximize the purity and intensity of their red hue. Impurities may also dissolve or become less noticeable after heating. However, heating will only improve the color if the gem already contains the chemistry required. Occasionally rubies with small imperfections are permeated with a silicate byproduct of the heating process, which helps to make small fissures less visible. This enhancement, like heating, is permanent and rubies, whether enhanced or not, remain among the most durable of gems.

A new method of artificially coloring the surface of paler rubies or dark purple sapphires through the diffusion of beryllium, or a similar element, has made the red of ruby more affordable. Although this method is not yet common, in the future beryllium-diffused rubies may offer an affordable alternative to either untreated or heat-enhanced rubies, which are both much more rare. However, recutting or repolishing may affect the color of some beryllium-diffusion treated stones.
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Care and Cleaning

Ruby has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and it is quite tough. In its common form, corundum is even used as an abrasive. Clean your ruby or sapphire with warm water, detergent, and a soft brush.
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Lore and History

Historically, ruby has always been the most valuable of gems. It was believed wearing a fine red ruby bestowed good fortune on its owner -- although the owner must have already had good fortune enough to possess such a rare and beautiful gem!

Ruby is the gem of passion, courage, and power. Ancient Hindus described the red of ruby as an inextinguishable fire burning within the stone. Ruby was also thought to preserve the mental and physical health of the wearer. The Burmese would sometimes insert the ruby into a cut in a person’s flesh, believing this to make the person invulnerable to spear, sword, or gun.
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