“If I had rubies, riches, and crowns, I’d buy the whole world and change things around“.
These lyrics are from Bob Dylan’s famous song, “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” (Warner |Brothers Inc., 1963, 1965), yet another of Bob Dylan’s songs yearning for peace and the end of wars.
The ruby’s beautiful rich red colour makes it one of the most sought after and coveted gems. The deep red colour “Ruber” in Latin screams love and passion and is even referred to as the “Pigeon’s Blood” in the industry!
Rubies, like all other gems, have a rich history that goes back a few centuries. In ancient India, the ruby gem was known as the king of precious stones (GIA). To the Indians, rubies were a symbol of power and youthful energy. The Burmese fighters believed that rubies made them invincible in battle and medieval Europeans believed that rubies bestowed health, wisdom, wealth, and success in love.
The two most important sources of rubies are Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Vietnam. Over the years, Myanmar has produced some of the most sought-after rubies. However, many other countries such as Mozambique, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar and the border area between Thailand and Cambodia produce rubies but not at the quantities and quality of Myanmar and Vietnam.
Quite often, jewellers heat-treat rubies to create a purer red. This treatment causes the ruby to appear lighter in tone and is a perfectly standard and accepted industry practice.
But beware, if a ruby was subjected to lattice diffusion treatment and dyeing, it would make the ruby more vulnerable to damage during normal wear and care. So before you buy a ruby, always ask whether your ruby was treated and by what method.
Give Razi a call to see beautiful rubies set in stunning pieces.
