Royal Ruby!

Ruby is one of the official Precious stones and a red gemstone variety of Corundum, which also includes sapphire, therefore sapphire which can be any colour, not just the traditional blue is always called a sapphire until it become red and is then known as Ruby.

Ruby is the birth stone for July and is traditionally given for 40th Wedding Anniversary and for 40th Birthdays, if you are very, very lucky!

This beautiful gemstone is often given as a sign of love and devotion, due to its deep red hues, and is seen as the stone of love and passion! Also said to impart courage!
Ruby is one of the hardest gemstones, measuring 9 on the moh scale, Diamonds, which are the hardest measure 10, so Ruby is very hard wearing!
This precious gemstone can be found in a wide variety of locations around the world and are mined in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Greenland. They are most often found in Sri Lanka, Kenya, Madagascar and Thailand, though they have also been found in the U.S. states of Montana and South Carolina.









For those that believe in physical or healing properties of stones Ruby is believed to encourage passion and a zest for life, improve motivation and setting of realistic goals.  Balances the heart and instils confidence.  It is also said that Ruby encourages joy, spontaneity, laughter and courage, which all sounds wonderfully uplifting!
The believed health benefits include that it is said to promote positive dreams, help to overcome exhaustion and lethargy and calms hyperactivity. Those that believe in its romantic qualities, also say that it imparts potency and vigour, so is said to be a good stone to have with you when trying for a baby. 
In more detail the health benefits of Ruby include that it is said to detoxify the body, blood and lymphatic system.  It treats fevers, infectious disease and restricted blood flow, stimulates the adrenals, kidneys, reproductive organs and spleen. So it seems that Ruby is just about good for everything!
I am not personally guaranteeing these properties of Ruby, I just adore the stone and I am not the only one, on Folksy there were some prepared to provide items in this very precious stone, in both polished and facetted state and also where Ruby is still encapsulated within another stone such as in Zoisite, as the final two feature items show.

If you would like a closer look at the wonderful items featured, please click on the pictures to be transported to their locations in their particular Folksy shops. Thank you.

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Once again Thank you to Natalie of Nofkants Curios for this post. Next Tuesday's blog will be all about Onyx.