Ruby derives its name from the Latin word for red, “Rufus”. Ruby is July's birthstone, the gemstone for Capricorns and the traditional fortieth anniversary gift.
 

Prized throughout history, many believed that mystical powers lay hidden within this intensely colored red gemstone. Furthermore, the fiery crimson color of Rubies caused many civilizations to associate them with passion, love and romance. Rubies were also thought to bestow wisdom, health and luck in gambling.
 

Mentioned in Sanskrit texts, the ancient Hindus were so enchanted by the color of Rubies that they called them Ratnaraj “The King Of Gems”. The ancient Hindus thought that the colors of Rubies were due to an inextinguishable fire that burned inside the gem, which would endow it’s wearer with long life and even cause water to boil!
 

As in Sanskrit texts, Biblical references to Ruby (all red gemstones were collectively called Carbuncle at this time) refer to it as a most precious gem. Interestingly, the gems called “Rubies” in the Old Testament may have actually been red spinels or garnets. Up until the Eighteenth Century, when chemical testing was improved, most red gems were called Rubies. In the King James Version of the Bible, Ruby (i.e. Carbuncle) is mentioned four times:
 

Exodus 28:17
And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
 

Ezekiel 28:13
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
 

In fact, many of the famous “Rubies” in the crown jewels of Europe have since been identified as red spinels or garnets. For example, the Black Prince Ruby that rests proudly at the center of the British Imperial State Crown is actually a red spinel!
 

Some cultures believed Ruby's blood-like color would protect the wearer from injury. In fact, ancient Burmese warriors believed that when a Ruby was inserted beneath the skin it generated a mystical force, making them unconquerable in battle.
 

In the Thirteenth Century, the renowned explorer Marco Polo wrote that Kublai Kahn, the Mongol Emperor of China, once offered an entire city for a Ruby the size of a man’s finger.
 

In the Middle Ages, Rubies were thought to contain prophetic powers. It was believed that a Ruby could warn its owner of misfortunes by deepening in color.
 

Apart from their color, Rubies are identical to sapphires. Rubies and sapphires are comprised of the mineral known as corundum.
 

Did you know that Rubies are rarer than diamonds? In the last 60 years hardly a month has passed without a new diamond deposit being discovered. In contrast, Rubies are only found in a handful of mines worldwide.
 

Did you know that Rubies are more expensive than diamonds? A 16 Carat Ruby that sold at Sotheby’s in New York in October 1988 fetched a staggering $3,630,000!
 

Second only to diamonds in hardness, Rubies are one of the toughest gemstones and with no cleavage, breakage rarely occurs. This combined with the fact that Rubies come in many different shapes and sizes, makes them perfect for all types of jewelry.
 

Microscopic inclusions, commonly known as “Silk”, are a normal characteristic of Rubies. Evenly distributed small quantities of “Silk” act like fine dust, creating a soft, uniform distribution of light throughout the Ruby, enhancing it’s beauty.
 

Since Rubies come in many different shapes, colors and sizes, ultimately, the wearer’s preference is the primary concern. Traditionally, intensity, uniformity and purity of color are the most important factors, but as with all gemstones, the cutting quality of Rubies is also important.