Birthstone of July, Ruby is the red shinyite of the month.
With a Mohs hardness of 9 it is considered one of the hardest stones second only to diamonds! As durable gems, they are commonly used in jewelry settings, but they are also used in watchmaking, medical instruments, and lasers because of their incredible strength and red fluorescence. Who knew?
While this gemstone can be made synthetically, it is not difficult to find natural stones as they are mined in a wide variety of locations around the world from Burma (Also referred to as the
Myanmar Ruby) to Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United States as well Vietnam. Mind you, the Burma Rubies are some of the most rare and fetch prices that are far above my purchasing capacity, but there are equally as beautiful and more affordable options for anyone looking to obtain this gemstone. They just might have a little more pink or purple coloring... and some might be considered more sapphire than ruby. Interestingly enough, rubies are part of the same gem family as sapphires, which is called a corundum. Both contain the chemical formula Al₂O₃. Pretty neat, but it begs the question...
Myanmar Ruby) to Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United States as well Vietnam. Mind you, the Burma Rubies are some of the most rare and fetch prices that are far above my purchasing capacity, but there are equally as beautiful and more affordable options for anyone looking to obtain this gemstone. They just might have a little more pink or purple coloring... and some might be considered more sapphire than ruby. Interestingly enough, rubies are part of the same gem family as sapphires, which is called a corundum. Both contain the chemical formula Al₂O₃. Pretty neat, but it begs the question...So what makes a ruby a ruby?
That's actually a kind of hard question to answer.
(Get it? Hard? As in Mohs Hardness? - I crack myself up!) 😂😂😂
Well, to answer my own question, rubies are inherently red - like Dorothy's slippers in the Wizard of Oz, while sapphires are any other color. However, this being said, rubies by definition can have pink, purple, or orange undertones. The dominance of the undertones is what determines whether the stone is a ruby or a sapphire.
On a spiritual level, these versatile and colorful gems are associated with improved energy and concentration, joy, creativity, loyalty, honor and compassion. They are also thought to be protective of home, possessions and family. Ruby is said to stimulate the heart chakra and bring spiritual wisdom and emotional healing while shielding against psychic attacks, making them a lovely addition to any collection.
Want to learn more about this fascinating stone? Visit us in person or online at https://justwitchys.com. Just Witchy's carries a number of books to increase your understanding of this and many other stones and crystals. They also carry a variety of products containing Ruby to pair with your favorite outfits, use in rituals, and adorn your home. Click on the links below to view a sample of the products available.
That’s all for now from the Shinyite School of Stones
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