Great ruby earrings for Christmas gifts

Rubies are the birthstone for people born in July, and are also associated with Leos and Cancers in astrology. The 40th wedding anniversary is a ruby one (a great reason to put up with dirty socks all over the house for just a bit longer – great anniversary gifts ;-). But there is much more to the ruby than just a gorgeous red stone … let us fill you in on some little known facts.

Ruby and diamond pendant

Ruby and diamond pendant gift

The name is supposed to have come from the word Reuben … however exactly what this ‘Reuben’ is, was, or did is a little unclear! According to the Rebbenu Bachya, the stone represents the tribe of Reuben, a Jewish people. Other Hebrew mythology though, tells us that the Reuben that rubies are named after conducted himself shamefully in some way (mysteriously intriguing!), and brought disrepute to his family and father, and his blush is the color of the ruby. Or perhaps we could merge the two different versions, so that the tribe Reuben is made up of his descendants.

Regardless, despite the fact that the stone is named after a mark of shame, it is very highly valued in the Bible as well as at Gillett’s Jewellers! The Bible tells us that ‘a virtuous wife is worth more than rubies’ … and we should certainly hope so!

Asian countries also prize rubies highly – they are laid beneath the foundations of buildings to bring good luck to the enterprises that were carried on there. Presumably this is the reason that they were also used to ornament armor and scabbards – to bring the wearer good luck in battle. Personally I would have thought carrying rubies into battle was bad luck … if your shield looks to be worth looting, that is all the more reason for a barbarian on horseback to target you! But that is only my opinion…

The largest known deposit of rubies in the world is in Myanmar (which also mines the ruby’s parent-stone, the sapphire). In fact, 90% of all of the world’s rubies come from Myanmar. After they are mined there, Thailand buys the majority, either keeping or onselling them.

If you were wondering how to know what rubies are worth, you may be interested in the old-fashioned method of valuing them. However, you might perhaps not want to try this one down at your local jewelers … in 1669 it was written that the coldest and the hardest are the best rubies, and the easiest way to determine which stones have these properties is by mouth!

Rubies are attributed many magical properties, including making the wearer resistant to poison, keeping sadness at bay, driving away nightmares and keeping the body safe!! They are also meant to restrain lust … so it is lucky for all of those that have bought their spouse a ruby gift for Christmas or a birthday that property is not true - if anything, giving a ruby gift is the way to heat up lust!