As jewelry-lovers with birthdays this month are happy to tell their loved ones, July’s gemstone is the ruby.
It’s quite a beautiful stone, with that rich red color (and also pink; more on that in a moment), and has been beloved for centuries. It is corundum, which is not a riddle but a species of gemstone, and has a well-known family member: the sapphire. In fact, all corundum but ruby is sapphire. So we could actually consider the ruby a sapphire that just happened to turn out red.
It’s always a good practice to buy gemstones from a reputable gemstone dealer or someone who works directly with reputable gemstone dealers (at San Francisco Jewelry Doctor, we work with top-notch gemstone dealers, gemcutters, and gemologists). This is especially important with rubies, as much of the ruby jewelry sold in stores contains stones that have been filled with glass.
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A Love Story
Once upon a time, a young man proposed marriage and his beloved gladly accepted. The ring he chose featured rubies flanking the diamond and, since he was just starting out in his career, the rubies in question were not the famed “pigeon’s blood” but instead their less-expensive but no less beautiful deep pink siblings.
Fast-forward 40 years. By now the man had had a quite a career, including time spent as a diplomat; when he came to the Jewelry Doctor he was the director of a large nonprofit organization. His anniversary was approaching, and he asked to have a ruby-and-diamond brooch made for his wife. That ruby, of course, needed to match her engagement ring, and so I spent three days at the American Gem Trade Association (“AGTA”) pavilion at the Gem Show in Tucson choosing just the right ruby.
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Which takes us back to last month’s theme: choosing what’s right for you (and your loved one). Clearly, the gentleman in question could now afford a “pigeon’s blood” ruby. But that wouldn’t go with her ring. It would have no real meaning. And jewelry, especially when it comes to anniversaries, is all about meaning.
Were you a July baby, or do rubies just make your heart and soul sing? Or perhaps your anniversary is on the horizon? Give us a call at 415/796-3969, and we’ll design something beautiful and meaningful for you or your special someone.
©2015 Laynie Tzena.
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