Ruby

Ruby is one of the finest gemstones for jewelry and adornment. It can occur in every shade of red, from pink to purple or brownish red. Their color comes from the chromium and iron content in the stone.
The king of gemstones is not the diamond but the ruby. Not because it is harder or more expensive - the diamond often beats it in both categories. But because it is the favorite gemstone of kings and queens. There is hardly a scepter or crown, tiara or royal necklace without a ruby.
It was valued most highly in ancient India, where it was considered a stone of the sun, but it was also called “the tears of Buddha”. In the East it embodies love, health, strength and vital energy. In Greece and ancient Rome it was also honored as one of the most costly and beautiful gemstones.
In Europe it has been considered from time immemorial a symbol of strength, beauty, devotion to faith, dignity and courage. Ruby is thought to have been known to man as far back as the Bronze Age. In the Middle Ages in Russia it was used as a talisman against nightmares. It is also said that ruby gives reliable protection against false friends, illness and black magic.
Ruby is a transparent kind of corundum - in that respect it is a twin of sapphire. Their chemical composition is Al2O3, and the color of ruby comes from chromium impurities, which is the composition of rubies from Burma and Sri Lanka. Thai rubies also contain iron, which gives them a darker red color with a brown or purple tint.
All other colors of transparent corundum – from pale yellow to blue, are sapphire. Corundum is one of the hardest minerals and by definition has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale (diamond is a 10). This means it can scratch almost every other mineral, while it is itself scratched only by diamond.
Ruby deposits are found on every continent except Antarctica. In Bulgaria, gemstone hunters pull rubies out of the riverbeds in the Rhodopes. But the most valuable rubies are mined in Asia. The Burmese one is the rarest and the most valuable. Its colors range from pink-red to "pigeon blood" - the most expensive kind of ruby. The main suppliers of red corundum are Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Stones from Tajikistan, Kenya and Tanzania are valued too.
Crystals are often prone to breaking, but ruby is a very tough mineral and only diamond is tougher.
The mineral helps us restore our trust, especially when it comes to love and loss. If it feels as though an old wound or a story from the past is keeping us from learning to love again, let red corundum be your guide.
Ruby is a stone of Fire, ruled by Mars, very well suited to the signs Leo, Aries and Scorpio. Since ancient times it has been believed that ruby drives away fears and insecurity and helps with depression, by unlocking its owner's inner energy, courage and determination.
This stone has strong healing vibrations and can push out the obstructing lumps in the throat, in the heart and in any space that may hinder the flow of energy in the body. It is also an earthly wealth, one connected with luck and happiness. For those who want to grow their empire, the mineral can help you play your cards right. It is a stone of leadership, which means it may simply encourage us to step out of our comfort zone and set off in search of more. Even so, ruby is not for risky business, so for those making financial decisions this gemstone can guide without putting finances at risk
Ruby is a noble stone. Its energy is intense and bright. This stone encourages a person to follow their bliss. It also acts as a “plug” for holes in the energy field. A wonderful stone for the 1st chakra, since it stimulates our basic instinct for survival. It strengthens the heart both physically and emotionally.
This is a great stone for the root chakra – it grounds us, it makes us certain and steady, so that we are not shaken by the winds of change. It also helps the sacral chakra and the solar plexus chakra. These lower chakras are not only about stability and safety. Passion and creativity live in them too. By switching on an energy flow that connects the base with the creative center, you can walk through this world feeling more connected to your authentic self.

Encyclopedia

Ruby

A piece from Lucky Stones on the meaning, the feel and the use of the stone.

Ruby is one of the finest gemstones for jewelry and adornment. It can occur in every shade of red, from pink to purple or brownish red. Their color comes from the chromium and iron content in the stone.
The king of gemstones is not the diamond but the ruby. Not because it is harder or more expensive - the diamond often beats it in both categories. But because it is the favorite gemstone of kings and queens. There is hardly a scepter or crown, tiara or royal necklace without a ruby.
It was valued most highly in ancient India, where it was considered a stone of the sun, but it was also called “the tears of Buddha”. In the East it embodies love, health, strength and vital energy. In Greece and ancient Rome it was also honored as one of the most costly and beautiful gemstones.
In Europe it has been considered from time immemorial a symbol of strength, beauty, devotion to faith, dignity and courage. Ruby is thought to have been known to man as far back as the Bronze Age. In the Middle Ages in Russia it was used as a talisman against nightmares. It is also said that ruby gives reliable protection against false friends, illness and black magic.
Ruby is a transparent kind of corundum - in that respect it is a twin of sapphire. Their chemical composition is Al2O3, and the color of ruby comes from chromium impurities, which is the composition of rubies from Burma and Sri Lanka. Thai rubies also contain iron, which gives them a darker red color with a brown or purple tint.
All other colors of transparent corundum – from pale yellow to blue, are sapphire. Corundum is one of the hardest minerals and by definition has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale (diamond is a 10). This means it can scratch almost every other mineral, while it is itself scratched only by diamond.
Ruby deposits are found on every continent except Antarctica. In Bulgaria, gemstone hunters pull rubies out of the riverbeds in the Rhodopes. But the most valuable rubies are mined in Asia. The Burmese one is the rarest and the most valuable. Its colors range from pink-red to "pigeon blood" - the most expensive kind of ruby. The main suppliers of red corundum are Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Stones from Tajikistan, Kenya and Tanzania are valued too.
Crystals are often prone to breaking, but ruby is a very tough mineral and only diamond is tougher.
The mineral helps us restore our trust, especially when it comes to love and loss. If it feels as though an old wound or a story from the past is keeping us from learning to love again, let red corundum be your guide.
Ruby is a stone of Fire, ruled by Mars, very well suited to the signs Leo, Aries and Scorpio. Since ancient times it has been believed that ruby drives away fears and insecurity and helps with depression, by unlocking its owner's inner energy, courage and determination.
This stone has strong healing vibrations and can push out the obstructing lumps in the throat, in the heart and in any space that may hinder the flow of energy in the body. It is also an earthly wealth, one connected with luck and happiness. For those who want to grow their empire, the mineral can help you play your cards right. It is a stone of leadership, which means it may simply encourage us to step out of our comfort zone and set off in search of more. Even so, ruby is not for risky business, so for those making financial decisions this gemstone can guide without putting finances at risk
Ruby is a noble stone. Its energy is intense and bright. This stone encourages a person to follow their bliss. It also acts as a “plug” for holes in the energy field. A wonderful stone for the 1st chakra, since it stimulates our basic instinct for survival. It strengthens the heart both physically and emotionally.
This is a great stone for the root chakra – it grounds us, it makes us certain and steady, so that we are not shaken by the winds of change. It also helps the sacral chakra and the solar plexus chakra. These lower chakras are not only about stability and safety. Passion and creativity live in them too. By switching on an energy flow that connects the base with the creative center, you can walk through this world feeling more connected to your authentic self.