Ruby July Birthstone

So since July’s birthstone is Ruby it gives us a great excuse to explain a little bit about this beautiful gem.

First of all a little bit of geology and then some of our current favourites….

I hope you enjoy

When it is totally pure, the mineral Corundum is colourless. It’s the trace elements that become part of the mineral’s crystal structure that give it colour. Ruby’s distinctive red and pink shades are caused by the trace element Chromium.

Ruby is the most valuable variety of the Corundum mineral family, which also includes Sapphire.

The strength and intensity of the Ruby is determined by how much Chromium is present.  The more there is, the stronger the colour.  Chromium can also cause fluorescence, which adds to the intensity of the red colour.   Some of the most famous Rubies have come from Myanmar (previously Burma), the Himalayas and northern Vietnam. These Rubies are generally formed in Marble which is a metamorphic rock created under heat and pressure acting on limestone.

Because of Marble’s low iron content the Rubies formed within it lack iron, giving them their very beautiful and desirable intense red colour known as ‘Pigeon Blood’. These Rubies command the highest price per carat of any coloured gemstone.

And now for some of our current favourite pieces with Rubies...