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Ruby Jewelry
Ruby jewelry has been prized throughout history. In ancient times, ruby was considered the most valuable of gemstones, and large rubies today still sell for more than diamonds. Why? Aside from its undeniable beauty, supply is a big factor. Hardly a month goes by without a new diamond mine being discovered. Yet there are only a handful of ruby mines in the world. Rubies were often mistaken for garnet and red spinels. In fact, the Black Prince Ruby, which is at the center of the British Imperial State Crown, is a red spinel! Also there are, and have been, many imitation rubies on the market. Only an expert can differentiate between the two. Ruby was the first gemstone to be manmade, with imitations dating as far back as 1880. Many people have brought their antique ruby jewelry to a jeweler, only to find out that their “ruby” was a fake! Did you know that a ruby is really a red sapphire? Both gemstones are a variety of Corundum, with the red variety being a ruby (due to chromium impurities) and the non-red variety a sapphire, with blue as the most valuable (sapphires come in other colors, too). Ruby and Sapphire are the second hardest natural mineral, and with no cleavage (i.e., a hard knock) breakage rarely occurs. This makes ruby jewelry among the best and most durable of all jewelry. The name "ruby" comes from the Latin word “rufus”, which means red. If you’d like more information on rubies,
the International Colored Gemstone Association’s website
is excellent. (A new window will open.) Did you find this information helpful? Would you like to receive more tips like these? Be sure to sign up for the Quality Handmade Jewelry newsletter containing information on handmade jewelry, gemstones, jewelry care, answers to questions, the newest designs, and coupons for Chester Crafts and Collectibles, in historic Chester, NJ. Return from Ruby Jewelry to How to Clean Jewelry
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