Premium Rubies

What are these premium rubies?  How do they differ from other rubies?  The word premium comes from Latin Premium, which means "what one has got better than others".  These are rubies of the best quality available, and are truly those gemstones that you want for their exclusivity.

Rubies are characterized by hardness and are only outdone by diamonds.  This is one quality they share with sapphires.  Both belong to the family of mineral corundum.  It is for this that rubies find such a prominent featuring in jewelry.  A premium ruby is essentially the best in rubies that you can buy.

Ruby is the July birthstone, and the 15th and the 40th anniversary gift, and quite popular these days, irrespective of birth month.  Perhaps it has to do with the age old romance of a ruby, to say nothing of the color of passion and warmth being red.  Rubies also have associations with romantic love, representing devotion.  They are also said to improve one's relationships, and to keep emotions warm and passionate.  Besides this, rubies have always enjoyed high popularity among royalty, celebrities and gem aficionados alike.

For the evaluation of a ruby, whether blue, or colored, the factors taken into consideration are: color, size, cut and clarity.  Rubies, like Sapphires, are valued also by the source of origin.  For instance, a Kanchanaburi Ruby has a higher value than a Ceylon ruby of equal quality.  Color is most relevant when choosing a ruby.  If the ruby is dark and dull, its valuation is lower.  Too light hues also lower the value of a ruby.  So ruby red is not just any color, it is that pure, hot, passionate, powerful color.  Like no other gemstone, ruby is the perfect way to express powerful feelings.  Instead of symbolizing a calm, controlled affection, a jewelry piece with a precious ruby attests that passionate, unbridled love that a person can feel for another.  Cut and clarity have their respective valuations, but the first two supersede these.  When it comes to premium rubies, these are in a different class altogether for their color, clarity, brilliance and luster.  Brilliance is the reflection of light from inside a gemstone, and enhances visual appeal.  Luster is the surface appearance of a gem, and once again, is used for describing the appeal of a gem.  Premium rubies are of the best quality in these characteristics, among all rubies available in the industry.

There are a number of places in the world that rubies are sourced from, some of the earliest rubies coming from Burma.  However, there is a ban on Burmese rubies in US now.  We do have a limited stock of Burmese rubies, but it is from times before the ban was imposed.  As such, rubies are found in Thailand, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam.  Of Thai rubies, Kanchnaburi rubies are the best and are available at a premium.

It is now that people are more aware of the investment potential of rubies.  Apart from the beauty quotient in jewelry, rubies' value is added over a period of time.  From that perspective also, premium rubies are sound investments.  If you can afford it, choose the best premium ruby that you can buy.