Rubies are known for their vivid and deep velvet hue. Vibrant and effervescent, these gemstones are always breathtaking.
Not only is ruby one of the four cardinal gemstones, but it's also recognised as a precious gemstone, alongside diamond, emerald, and sapphire. Beyond its unique colour, ruby has a lustre, hardness, and sense of rarity that also makes it incredibly sought after. Curious to find out more? Read on!
Early cultures treasured rubies for their similarity to the redness of blood that flowed through their veins, believing they held the power of life. Mentioned four times in the Christian Bible, rubies are one of the most historically significant coloured stones, attached symbolically to concepts of beauty and wisdom. It is considered one of the twelve most precious stones created by God, and was once thought to bestow health and prosperity onto those who wear it.
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The colour is one of the most unique and enchanting features of this gemstone, having accumulated a host of legends over the centuries. In South Asia, some believe that rubies have enabled their owners to live in peace with enemies, and Burmese warriors possessed rubies for military success.
Since then, rubies have become one of the most sought-after gemstones for European royalty, with medieval nobility wearing rubies to guarantee health, wealth, wisdom and love.
Today, rubies are recognised as the official birthstone of July and the traditional gift recommendation for a 15th or 40th wedding anniversary. While they are adored for their colour, rubies are also incredibly strong, registering a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness. This makes ruby a fantastic choice for jewellery and gifting.
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Much like diamonds, rubies are graded using criteria known as the Four C’s - colour, cut, clarity, and carat weight. This criteria means we can identify which rubies possess desirable qualities. Many of these rubies come from Myanmar and Mozambique, but can also be found in Australia, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and beyond! In fact, the geographical source of a ruby weighs heavily on its attributes and shape.
At Gerard McCabe, we love accenting rubies with diamonds. Many of our ruby designs feature diamond accents, drawing attention to the lush colour of the red stone. This sparkling touch adds a hint of romance to our designs and truly makes the scarlet hues pop!
Over the years, Gerard McCabe Jewellers have also developed an extensive range of antique and period jewellery. Due to the popularity of ruby over the past 200 years, many of our antique and vintage pieces feature the red gem.
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Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, birthday, or special occasion, why not choose a ruby? The rarity of this gemstone is truly magnificent and an eternal romantic gesture.
Explore the full range of breathtaking ruby jewellery today, or come in-store and discover them for yourself!