The Ruby Ring, a Sought-After Jewel with the most Precious Gemstone
Once reserved for nobles and princes, the ruby ring is one of the most refined and elegant jewels, as well as precious, thanks to a stone with a regal color and great value.
The Ruby, the Rarest and most Precious Stone
The ruby is the most prized variety of corundum, a mineral that in its pure state is colorless, but takes on various colorations depending on its composition, giving rise to different precious stones (including sapphire). Chromium is the element that determines the color of the ruby, whose name derives from the Latin rubeus (“red”): the greater the amount of chromium, the more intense the red tone of the stone will be.
For centuries the most sought-after rubies were extracted in Burma (present-day Myanmar), particularly in the mines of Mogok, a city in the north of the country. Since the end of 1900, other important deposits are those in Vietnam, Thailand and more recently in the African state of Mozambique.
The ruby is rarer than diamond and is therefore the most precious gem, with a price per carat that exceeds that of any other stone. This is the reason behind the symbolic meanings associated with the ruby ring, both in Eastern culture and in Western tradition.
The Ruby Ring on the Fingers of Nobles and Popes
This jewel has always been a symbol of royalty. In Sanskrit, the language of Indian sacred texts, the ruby is called ratnaraj, which means “king of gems,” because it was destined for members of nobility and royal families.
In Western culture too, the ruby ring is associated with power and wealth: it often appears, in fact, in Renaissance works that portray aristocratic figures. An example are the two portraits painted in 1504 by Raphael for the wealthy Florentine merchant Agnolo Doni and his wife, the noblewoman Maddalena Strozzi: both wear several ruby rings.
The same jewel also appears on the fingers of a pope, Julius II, in the portrait created again by Raphael, in 1512: in this case the ruby ring symbolizes the indissoluble bond of the pontiff with the Catholic Church.
In addition to the meaning of wealth and royalty, this ring also represents lasting love: it was used, as in the case of the portraits of the Doni spouses, also to indicate matrimonial union. It is still the traditional gift for the 45th wedding anniversary.
How to Choose a Ruby Ring: the 4 Cs
When purchasing a ruby ring, it is also important to know how to evaluate the “4 Cs” of the stone, the same ones used to establish the value of diamonds and emeralds.
The four parameters to analyze are colour, clarity, cut and carat (carat weight).
- Color: this is the main quality parameter for a ruby. The most prized are intense red with a touch of violet, the so-called “pigeon’s blood” tone.
- Clarity: inclusions are present in almost all stones. In quality rubies, however, they are not very evident and do not affect the transparency and brightness of the gem.
- Cut: depends on the shape of the ruby crystal. The most common cuts are flat hexagonal or oval.
- Carat: determines the value and price of the ruby; stones over one carat are rare.
A Sought-After and Elegant Jewel: the Ruby and Diamond Ring
The ruby, as we have seen, is the rarest stone and therefore jewelry with rubies is equally precious. The ruby ring is an important jewel, not always easy to wear, but certainly with great charm. For its meaning, linked to love and passion, and for its red color, it can also be a perfect engagement ring.
In the most classic version, the ring is in white gold, with an oval-cut central ruby surrounded by brilliants. The ruby also pairs well with rose gold, as in this ring that features diamonds, not only around the stone, but also on both sides of the band. An original proposal instead sees the ruby paired with brown diamonds, in a version that almost resembles a wedding band, with the central stone set by prongs with black rhodium-plated tips and brown diamonds, brilliant cut, arranged up to half of the rose gold band.
It is essential to remember that, especially when rubies are of significant carat weight, a trusted jeweler with gemological expertise can help choose the stone and jewel most suitable for the wearer.
Ring with ruby
Model available upon request. Estimated delivery time: 25 days.
Ring with Burmese Ruby and Diamonds
Model available upon request. Estimated delivery time: 25 days.
