Rubies are some of the most beautiful gemstones in existence.
Do rubies really have special properties as some people say?
Is there any basis for believing that rubies can bring good luck to their owners?
It’s time to set the record straight.
That means that they’re completely different stones, right?
Well, not quite.
As noted byPBS Nova, both rubies and sapphires are varieties of a mineral called corundum.
Corundum in its purest form actually has no color, theGemological Institute of America(GIA) explained.
When mixed with other elements, however, corundum give us beautifully colored gemstones.
Rubies get their red color from a trace element called chromium whereas sapphires gettheir blue huefrom iron and titanium.
It’s only the red varieties of corundum (rubies) that get their own name.
Some people believe that they can.
Mandeville also alleged that a ruby would guard a person’s property from storms.
There is, however, no definitive proof that rubies have any sort of protective abilities.
Myth: Rubies have healing powers
Centuries ago, people began attributing healing properties to rubies.
While getting a beautiful ruby can certainly lift one’s spirits, can it actually cure people of ailments?
None of these treatments, however, seem to be advocated by any mainstream, contemporary medical doctors.
The institute dubbed this gemstone “the great imposter.”
TheTimur rubyis another “ruby” featured in England’s Imperial State Crown that happens to be a spinel.
What’s that mean?
The organization explained that “the scientific definition of hardness is the ability to resist scratching.”
And, as it turns out, rubies are not as tough as nails they’retougher.
One of the big myths about rubies is that they actually get you in the mood.
It wasn’t just rubies that were thought to have an aphrodisiac effect, though.
Other stones, including sapphires, diamonds, emeralds, and topaz were also consumed asaphrodisiacs.
In reality, though, diamonds aren’t all that rare.
As noted byPriceonomics, diamondengagement ringsonly became popular in the 1940s as the result of a massive marketing campaign.
TheInternational Gem Societynoted that rubies are not only rarer than diamonds but also rarer than sapphires.
The rarity of rubies makes them quite expensive.
However, it’s a myth that all rubies are of thesamerich red hue.
Rubies come inmanyshades of red and can range from light to dark.
And, in fact, few rubies are a pure red.
Most have a secondary color typically orange, purple, or pink.
Many rubies even start off as a brownish color and are turned red through heat treatments.
The way a stone is set in jewelry can also affect its color.
For example, rubies with purple undertones appear to be pure red when set in yellow gold.
Myth: Rubies are not from this planet
Rubies are stunning, but are they out-of-this-world beautiful?
That’s what people of the past believed.
The real origins of the ruby are far less mystical but no less fascinating.
Well, except make you look incredibly glamorous.
Don’t break out the rubies just yet, though.
Morgan also said that this theory about rubies has “unimpressive results when actually tested.”
So, you could argue that a ruby roller would have a similar effectiveness to that of jade.
However, a loose ruby itself wouldn’t do anything special.
Rubies don’t, however, typically change color.
However, theycanshine more brightly under ultraviolet light, according to theGemological Institute of America.
A ruby may also look different over time as it can dull through damage and regular wear and tear.
So, you be the judge.
BBC Futurenoted that the color has been “linked with power, aggression, and sex.”
