Fyne Gems : RUBY

Raw Ruby (Natural State)

Heart Cut Ruby

Marquise Cut Ruby

General Gemstone Details

The gemstone ruby has enjoyed a most regal position in myth, legend and lore for thousands and thousands of years. It has for quite a long time been a favored talisman among royalty worldwide. Catherine of Aragon wore an infamous ruby, that was told had turned dark and dull the day before Henry VII announced he was divorcing her. King Henry V wore The Black Prince Ruby in his helmet as he fought the French at Agincourt in 1415. Later, it was discovered to his dismay that the gem was merely a spinel. Still now that spinel is set in the Imperial State Crown in London.

Engraved gemstone rubies were quite popular for attracting wealth and enhancing magical energies. Dragons and snakes were quite favored as engraving. As well, a ruby was considered to be one of the more important gifts to honor Buddha and Krishna with. The Hindu people believed that the gemstone's red glow came from an internal flame that no human could possibly extinguish.

Ruby, the name given to red, gem-quality corundum - is one of the best gemstone for jewelry settings. Rubies may be any shade of red, from pinkish to purplish or brownish red, depending on the chromium and iron content of the stone.

Frequent twinning of the crystals makes the material liable to fracture, yet ruby is a tough mineral, second only to diamond in hardness. In 1902, a Frenchman, Auguest Verneuil, produced a synthetic ruby crystal by exposing powdered aluminum oxide and coloring material to the flame of the blowtorch.

Still today, this member of the corundum mineral family, is up to ten times more valuable than a Diamond of equal carat and clarity. A perfectly translucent Ruby is rare. Stones larger than five carats and of perfect clarity are extremely rare and can fetch a quarter of a million dollars per carat at auction.

Scientific Properties:

Mohs Hardness of 9 with a trigonal crystal structure.

Corundums are aluminum oxide silicates that are colored by chromium, iron and/or titanium. A perfect corundum crystal is clear. Crystals that are pinkish red to plum get their color from chromium and are classified as Ruby. All others (pinks, blues, greens etc.) are cataloged as Sapphire. Gem wholesalers get into some very lively debates on where to cut-off the pinks and purples, as everyone wants their stones to be designated as Ruby.

Synthetic Ruby stones are quite common and very difficult to tell from natural stones. Only a trained eye can detect the differences in crystalline structures, all other elements are identical. When purchasing jewelry set with Rubies, be sure to ask if they have been heat treated or are lab grown.

Burmese Ruby are the most celebrated and sought after in the world, but beautiful crystals have been found elsewhere. Some of the mines in India and Sri Lanka are almost as old as the Burma mines.

Amazingly, new deposits of Ruby are still being found. In 1992 a brand new deposit of Ruby was discovered in North Vietnam. Some of the specimens so closely resemble the Burmese crystals that some scientists believe the crystals were formed by the same geological event.

It was at least 100 million years ago, during the Upper Carboniferous Age, when a huge mass of molten magma assaulted an ancient limestone bed during the mountain building process. The resulting "thermo-metamorphism" caused the calcium carbonate in the Limestone to re-crystallize as Calcite, while the left over aluminum and silicates crystallized into Rubies and Sapphires, often in a Marble matrix. Perfect trigonal Ruby crystals are found embedded in this Marble. The Patkoi Mountain range in this area is almost completely made of up these thermo-morphed stones.

Corundum of varying quality has been found in Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States. Some specimens mined in North Carolina, though small in size, rival the Burmese crystals in clarity and color.

Mystical Properties:

The ruby is quite certainly a wonderful gemstone for bringing fire into your life. For if you like to live your life intensely, but often find it difficult to keep focus, a ruby can help bring clarity and wisdom to your world. Instead of flitting from idea to idea, this gemstone will very well help you choose your most productive paths. With it's power, this gem will then fire your passions and keep you motivated. You'll be stronger when resisting self-destructive pattern that have crippled you in the past!

The ruby provides and incredibly power shield against harmful intentions. If you are caught up in a sticky legal dispute or personal conflict of some kind, this gemstone can aid you in manifesting the correct outcome. This gemstone can also guard you against psychic or physical attack.

One ancient tradition suggests that a 'ruby blessing' will protect your garden from violet spring storms, as well as blessing the four corners of your garden with the ruby should prevent damage from wind, rain, hail and blowing debris.

Sleeping with a ruby will help promote lucid dreaming, allowing your conscious mind to interact with your subconscious mind. Together, you can confront your demons and uncover the means to defeat them.

On the other hand, dreaming of rubies, may be a sign of an opportunity or money coming your way!

Healing Properties:

The oldest healing uses for rubies have been found to be the cleansing the blood of toxins and protection from the plague. It has also been told that rubies may prevent starvation.
The ruby may be most beneficial in stimulating the adrenal gland, as well as improving circulation and fighting internal infections.

Magical Properties:

Energy: Projective

Element: Fire

Deities: Buddha, Krishna (not to be confused with the modern expression of the Krishna-centered reverence)

Powers: Wealth, protection, power, joy, anti-nightmare

Working with this stone can remove all sense of limitation. Strengthens courage, selfless work, all spiritual endeavors, joy and many leadership qualities. Ruby helps to reduce resentment when you are required to care for others.

The ruby can create a strong sense and means of power within a person; this power should be handled responsibly or it may turn into anger and possessive thoughts.

Ruled by Mars, the gemstone ruby is worn during magical rituals to increase the inherent energies that are available to the magician, or it is placed on the altar beside a red candle to lend energy when feeling depleted or drained.

In a similar line of magical influence, wearing a ruby is said to increase the warmth of the body.

Zodiac:

Associations: Mars

Traditional Birthstone for the Month of July.

Stone of Aries, the stone symbolizes love and passion, and is associated with vitality and strong feelings.

Chakra Classification:

Meditating with a ruby will activate your 1st, Root or Base Chakra, sending a rejuvenating energy through all of your chakras. Legend tells us to use this gemstone's fire to light the way through our darkest fears. It is also quite beneficial to the 4th, Heart Chakra.

Information Sources:

The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall, 2003

Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, PhD, 2000

Crystal Enchantments by D.J. Conway, 1999

Smithsonian Handbooks Gemstones by Cally Hall, 1994

Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham, 2002

Chakra Healing & Karmic Awareness by Keith Sherwood, 2005

The Illustrated Directory of Crystal Healing by Cassandra Eason, 2003

Healing Crystals and Gemstones by Dr. Flora Peschek-Bohmer, Gisela Schrieber, 2002

The information here is presented to you to use as you see fit, but is not to take the place of professional medical advice. Crystals, Gemstones and Metal can accent, help, negate, protect, encourage, strengthen, and balance and thereby promote healing. Their effects can be extraordinary, but use in addition to medical advice, and not as a substitute for proper care. If you are ill, we beseech you to seek professional medical attention from a qualified physician.

Information extracted, with courtsey from Shimerling Inc.