Gem of passion – The ruby! This wine-red precious stone has intoxicated for centuries with its power and beauty

Gem of passion – The ruby!

This wine-red precious stone has intoxicated for centuries with its power and beauty

According to legend Kublai Khan once offered to part with a city in exchange for a ruby in the King of Ceylon’s possession. Gustavus III of Sweden presented one, now in the Russian regalia, to the Empress Catherine, which was apparently the size of a pigeon’s egg. And the Burmese government sent two rubies to London in 1879, one of which, reduced by re-cutting to just over 32 carats, was sold for 10,000 pounds of those days; the other, of about 38.5 carats, was sold for 20,000 pounds. This deep red stone speaks, to most, of the language of passion. Says jewellery designer Queenie Singh, “It is not just the stone of passion but the stone of attraction as well.” One of the four precious stones in the world – the other three being diamonds, emeralds and sapphires – rubies hold properties that according to astrologers and gemologists can assuage doubt and relieve anxieties. Their courage and passion for life deliver energies that can help one to enjoy life’s upside and confront conflicts in any form as well. With rubies, says popular perception, courage is achieved and they inspire one to keep going. Designer Farah Khan Ali, who informs that she will be featuring rubies in her next jewellery collection, says that they are a stone that can be worn at any time of day. “They are basically a feminine stone and can be worn either casually during the daytime, or formally at night. Sometimes on an evening out, soft lighting can accentuate their appeal enormously.” Designer Varuna D Jani says that while she loves both rubies and emeralds, rubies are the more popular stone among her clients. “Rubies can be worn by young and old alike – even 18-year-olds can wear them – unlike emeralds which do not suit everybody,” she affirms. Varuna adds that she sells Burmese rubies at her showroom which are the best in the world but which are also relatively rare now. Generally speaking, naturally occurring rubies are considered the most valuable, though nowadays many rubies are synthetically treated with colour inclusions that makes their colour richer and more vibrant. “The most superior rubies in the marketplace are the ones with the least colour inclusions,” says Varuna. On the other hand, as Queenie rightly adds, colour inclusions often increase a ruby’s buying appeal especially among those looking for more intense and vivid colours. According to the Gregorian calendar, the ruby is generally considered the birthstone of the month of July, while the Hindu calendar considers it as the birthstone of the month of August. In fact, a verse dating to 1870 describes it in an amusing form: “The glowing ruby shall adorn, Those who in July are born; Then they’ll be exempt and free From love’s doubts and anxiety.” Rubies are generally worn, astrologically speaking to enhance the power of the Sun in the birth chart. However, it has to be kept in mind that, when viewed from this astrological dimension, the paramount consideration is the time of birth and the consequent ascendant house of the individual concerned.

ruby necklace

ruby ring

ruby necklace, earrings, ring

ruby sandal

Where rubies come from
Burmese rubies have traditionally been held as the most superior sort in the world, and Burma was considered the primary source for rubies for centuries. However contemporary and the most commonly available rubies come from Thailand and Africa. Farah Khan Ali says that her upcoming collection features rubies from the Mozambique mines in Africa.

The Ruby anniversary
The 40th anniversary of a wedding or an organisation is generally considered the ruby anniversary with the most appropriate gift for the recipient being in that stone. Additional ways to spice up a ruby anniversary are by using ruby red on flowers, cards, wrapping and associated gift items; by setting the table with a ruby red tablecloth or employing tableware with a ruby red trim; using ruby red candles, ruby red colored vases for flowers etc. And last but not the least, toasting with a ruby red drink or even red wine.