Description
The ruby (derived from the Latin ruber, "red") is a red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, whose color is primarily due to chromium. Natural rubies are exceptionally rare, while artificially produced specimens are relatively inexpensive. Besides the bright gemstone ruby, there is also the less bright semi-precious stone of the same name. This stone has been prized since antiquity. The oldest written sources on ruby mining mention quarries in Burma. From there, the stones were transported via trade routes to the courts and temples of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. In the Middle Ages, rubies were also prized in Rome. Initially, they were cut into an oval shape. These very large and beautiful stones also have their own names. The ruby was considered the stone of life, which strengthens the heart and restores strength. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, rubies were attributed magical powers. The Bible also recognizes the value of the ruby, although some passages specifically point to the existence of treasures of greater value: wisdom is more precious than rubies (Proverbs 3:15), and the value of a good wife far surpasses that of rubies in the eyes of her husband (Proverbs 31). Job 28 also mentions the ruby as one of the treasures people seek in places where the priceless and unfindable wisdom of the living God cannot be found. It should be noted, however, that what is sometimes identified as a 'ruby' in the Statenvertaling (State Translation), appears under entirely different names in some other translations. This interpretation should take into account what was considered valuable in the culture and time period when the translation in question was written. The ruby also has a mythological significance. The ruby is one of the "nine precious stones" in the Thai Order of the Nine Gems. Rubies are mined in Africa, Asia, and Australia. They are most commonly found in Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, although they have also been found in Montana and South Carolina. Rubies have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and among natural gemstones, they are surpassed only by diamonds. Other varieties of corundum are called sapphires. Ruby-red semi-precious stones are valued according to various characteristics, such as size, color, clarity, and cut. All natural rubies have imperfections, and only artificial rubies can be completely free of imperfections. The fewer and less noticeable the imperfections, the more valuable the ruby, unless there are no imperfections at all (i.e., a "perfect" ruby). In that case, it could be an artificial ruby. Some artificial rubies have additives added to them so they can be identified as artificial, but most require the services of a specialized appraiser to determine their precise value.
Gemstone therapy Ruby in Zoisite
