RUBY
Composition
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Rubies can command the highest per-carat price of any coloured stone. This makes ruby one of the most important gems in the coloured stone market. In its purest form, the mineral corundum is colourless. Trace elements that become part of the mineral’s crystal structure cause variations in its colour. Chromium is the trace element that causes ruby’s red colour.
Colours
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The finest ruby has a pure, vibrant red to slightly purplish red colour. As the colour becomes too orangey or more purplish, the ruby moves down the quality scale. The highest-quality rubies have vivid colour saturation.
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If the colour is too dark it has a negative effect on the stone’s brightness. At the other extreme, if the colour is too light, the stone is considered pink sapphire
Modern Birthstones lists
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Marks the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries
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Modern birthstone for the month of July, the zodiac sign Cancer and the Chinese year of the Pig
CURE - HEAL - PROTECT - AID
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HEART
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BLOOD FLOW
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CIRCULATION
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MENSTRUATION
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SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS
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INFERTILITY
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EATING DISORDERS
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KIDNEY
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DETOXIFY
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FEVER
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INFECTIONS
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POISONING
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A ruby, crushed and mixed into a drink
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A ruby worn as an amulet