The ancient Sinhalese people called Ruby, "Ratnaraj", the King of Gems.
It was not until about 1800 that Ruby as well as Sapphire was recognized as belonging to the corundum group. Before that date Red Spinel and Garnet were also designated as Ruby.

The host rock of Ruby is mainly a dolmite type marble which has been formed from limestone. Rubies are mainly panned from river gravels and then picked out by hand.
Production methods are still as primitive as they were hundreds of years ago.

Important Ruby deposits are in Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Tanzania, the most important being in upper Burma near Magok. The Ruby bearing layer runs several meters under the surface and is worked by means of pits and shafts. Apparently only 1% of the production is of gem quality.
Today Rubies are often cut in countries where they are found, they are not always satisfactory and have to be recut in European lapidary workshops.

The most desirable color is "pigeon's blood", pure red with a hint of blue. The distribution of color is often uneven.
As a rough stone, Ruby appears dull and greasy but, when cut the luster can approach that od a Diamond.

Ruby is the birthstone for July

Love
Many people associate its brilliant crimson colors with passion and love, making Ruby an ideal choice for an engagement ring

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