The fiery red ruby birthstone has been an important part of history for thousands of years and is still sought after today as a symbol of love and passion. Even the Bible mentions rubies four times, linking them with beauty and wisdom. Rubies were also considered the “king of precious stones” in ancient India and believed to be associated with power, blood, and youthful energy. Since at least 600 AD, Burma has been a significant source of rubies. In Medieval Europeans, rubies are assumed to be connected with health, wealth, wisdom, and love. In 1960, the red fluorescence power of rubies was used to build the first working laser.

Origin: Rubies have been mined in many countries, including Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Australia and China. Rubies from Myanmar are generally the most expensive as they have a near-perfect coloring.

Color & Hardness: Rubies are mostly red in color but can also have tints of orange, purple, or pink. The finest rubies are a deep red with a hint of purple, which is known as “pigeon’s blood.” The more chromium a ruby contains, the stronger its red color. If we talk about its hardness, then it contains 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, nearly as hard as a diamond.

Optical Properties: Some rubies exhibit a phenomenon called “cat’s eye” or chatoyancy. This effect is caused by parallel fibrous inclusions that scatter and reflect light, creating a bright, narrow slit that looks like a cat’s eye.