Ruby and amethyst engagement ring full#

The glow of a ruby mimics the fiery passion of love, and these stones are often associated with romance. Rubies are believed to bring good fortune and prosperity, and are even believed to have healing properties associated with improved blood circulation. Rubies are said to have many strong spiritual properties and can enhance passion, energy, confidence and courage. In fact, rubies are one of the original cardinal gemstones labeled as “precious” gems, along with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. The stones were used to adorn armor, harnesses and weaponry of royalty and nobles in ancient Asia and have been associated with royalty for centuries. Known as the “king of gemstones,” ruby has been prized for millennia, and was traded as long ago as 200 B.C., when it was recorded along the ancient Asian Silk Road route between east and west. In the United States, rubies are mined in Montana, Wyoming and both North and South Carolina. Other countries with good ruby mines include Thailand, Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Scotland and India. Ruby mines have been found throughout the world, though the most historically productive mines with the richest, highest-quality stones are found in southeastern Asia, including Myanmar (Burma).

Ruby and amethyst engagement ring full#

Some inclusions, however, create a cat’s eye or starburst effect in the stone, which can enhance its beauty and value when properly cut and displayed to its full advantage. Rubies are subject to a variety of cracks, inclusions and fissures in the crystal structure, which makes it more challenging to find larger, gem-quality natural rubies. This makes rubies ideal for the daily wear of engagement rings. Rated as a 9.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness, ruby is only slightly less hard than diamond, and is very resistant to scratches, cracks, chips, and other damage. Rubies are also highly sought after for their durability. Because UV light is a natural part of the spectrum, all rubies will glow to some extent, depending on the intensity of the light. In addition to its bold color, ruby also has a natural fluorescence caused by the chromium in its structure, giving it a rich glow when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Older stones, in particular, may be misidentified as rubies, and it is important to have the stones carefully inspected to ensure their authenticity. Ruby is often confused with other red stones, however, such as garnet, tourmaline and red spinel.

Different tones can also occur in ruby colors, giving the stones tinges of brown, orange or purple, with purplish hues being the most desirable. The intensity of the color ranges from lighter red that is nearly pink to a deep, dark red, though the darker shades are considered more valuable. Other colors of chromium, including blue, orange, yellow, green and black, are sapphires, but the red shade is reserved for rubies. Rubies are a form of the natural mineral corundum, or aluminum oxide, that has been colored red by chromium in its crystal lattice structure. In this guide, we will explain the following: