Ruby

**Where does the name "ruby" come from?**

One of the oldest names for ruby is in Sanskrit: "ratnaraj", which translates to "King of Gems".

The etymological root of the word "ruby" comes from the Latin "rubeus" which means "red".

However, this name was only definitively and certainly attributed to it in the 1800s with the development of scientific gemology.

What are the color and characteristics of ruby?

The color of a natural ruby encompasses all shades of red, but its most sought-after hue is a pure red with a hint of blue, known as "pigeon's blood." True products of nature, natural rubies are elegant and refined stones.

Naturally, inclusions that are too large or too numerous affect the color and appearance of the ruby, which generally depreciates the value of the stone, with the exception of rutile inclusions which enhance it. Indeed, inclusions of rutile needles give the ruby, like sappires, soft reflections called "silks." Depending on their orientation within the stone, these inclusions produce either a chatoyancy, a luminous phenomenon reminiscent of a cat's eye slit pupil (the ruby is then called a "cat's eye"), or an asterism effect, a luminous phenomenon that forms a star or a cross on the surface of the stone (the ruby is then called a "star ruby").

Finally, while a few small inclusions do not impact the price of natural rubies, fractures that may be present within the stone affect its durability and therefore its value.

The Ruby, What Is Its Symbolism?

Reputed to be the king of gems, the ruby was for a long time the most precious stone, even before the white diamond.

Today, the stone is synonymous with courage, passionate love, vitality, modesty, charity, loyalty, and compassion, as well as power, wealth, and success. It symbolizes July birthdays and 35 years of marriage.

Where are the main ruby deposits found?

Among the places of origin of natural ruby, two stand out throughout history: Sri Lanka and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Indeed, the mines of Myanmar are particularly well-known, especially those in the Mogok Valley. Rubies were extracted there 3,500 years ago, and although the deposits in the valley are now exhausted, some of the world's most beautiful "Pigeon Blood" rubies were extracted from there.

Similarly, Sri Lanka is one of the oldest sources of the gemstone, with evidence of extractions dating back more than 2,500 years. These rubies were known to the Greeks and Romans as early as the 5th century BC.

Today, 90% of rubies are extracted from mines in Myanmar. They can also come from Mozambique or Sri Lanka for the most important mines.

However, other extraction countries include Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Australia.

At Bäumer Vendôme, your stone is certified. Indeed, the stone certificate provided by the supplier certifies your ruby by attesting to its traceability, authenticity, and properties: carat weight, cut (oval, round, etc.), dimensions, weight, estimate, etc. A certified stone helps avoid any authenticity issues and provides you with complete transparency.

How to care for ruby-set jewelry?

You can clean your ruby using steam or ultrasonic cleaners.

However, natural rubies whose fractures, gaps, or fissures have been filled are more fragile and sensitive to heat; therefore, steam and ultrasonic cleaning are not recommended for these. It is thus advisable to entrust your jewelry to a jeweler.

How to Choose Your Ruby Jewelry

As one of the precious stones along with emeralds and sapphires, it is clear that the estimated price of a good-sized ruby with a significant number of carats (cts) will be high. If you want to turn to jewelry set with rubies, we advise you first to look at specific characteristics such as its cut: is it an oval, round, or pear-cut ruby? Indeed, the more a natural ruby has a significant number of carats, an irreproachable purity, a precise cut, and a high quality, the higher the estimated final price of jewelry with the ruby will be. The ruby can be set in white gold but harmonizes better with rose gold.

If you are interested in high-jewelry pieces (earrings, rings, necklaces, etc.), we advise you to choose a piece of jewelry where the gem will be more imposing. For this, the color of your ruby should not lean towards pink but rather towards blood red. In addition, monitor its dimensions and its number of carats: as with sapphires, oval or pear-cut rubies should be preferred as they allow the red colors to stand out more deeply. Also, stones with fewer inclusions are the preferred choice but will necessarily increase the estimated price of your jewelry. For this estimation, be sure to take into account the number of carats of your stone. Finally, as with diamonds, it is necessary that your gems be certified. In this sense, your gems (diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, etc.) must be certified: never lose this certificate, which is unique and testifies to the characteristics present in the heart of your stone: colors, dimensions, weight, number of carats (cts), inclusions, purity, cut (oval, pear, round, etc.) are all listed.

Ruby collection

How the House of Bäumer Works with Rubies

This stone, which has captivated people for centuries, is a true energetic jewel. Indeed, this luminous red stone is full of meaning and accompanies its owner in their success. As one of the precious stones alongside sapphire and emerald, ruby, with its flamboyant colors and reflections, symbolizes "ardent fire" due to its deep red, and is often used in jewelry in France, Burma, Italy, and the rest of Europe and the world (among African and Eastern peoples for its characteristics and qualities as a precious stone).

When raw, almost all rubies do not immediately have this "blood red" color. Instead, they are initially pink and opaque. However, rubies that naturally emerge from the earth with a red and transparent color are extremely rare precious stones and command a high price, whose estimation never deceives. To obtain a high-quality stone with the fewest possible inclusions and an intense "blood red" color, many producers work the gem to improve its characteristics, including its purity and quality. First, the gem is heated to eliminate inclusions, improve its purity, and increase color intensity. This technique, which significantly increases the price of these precious stones, is natural and requires no treatment that alters the quality of the gems. However, it must be stated on the stone's certificate, just like for a diamond, sapphire, or other precious stone, which attests to their traceability in France, Europe, and worldwide.

In France and the rest of the world, as with diamonds and other precious stones, the price of rubies has been steadily increasing in recent years, leading stone producers to modify the quality of these red gems. Maison Bäumer only works with suppliers whose production is controlled, with production methods that respect the stone, people, and the environment. Each precious stone chosen to set our jewelry is certified by the largest laboratories and has its certificate, which we carefully keep: a meticulous and important choice. Earrings, rings, necklaces, this natural and certified stone can be found on some of our jewelry.