The stone of the month for July: the ruby

Particularly popular in the world of jewellery, the ruby is a historic gemstone with a particularly incredible colour. Let's find out more about the history and origins of this exceptional stone.

The ruby story

Rubies were introduced to Europe by the Etruscans and Greeks around 500 BC. Considered one of the most precious stones since antiquity, it was first named « Ratnaraj » which means – queens of the precious stones – in Sanskrit. It has long been mentioned in religious writings and, in the Middle Ages, represented the blood of Christ. This precious stone was also worn on the crowns of kings as a sign of their faith. It is even said that rubies crossed the centuries, from the Roman Emperor Augustus, whose seal it was, to the kings of France...

The ruby plays an important role in many religions. Very early on, it was credited with spiritual and medical virtues. Among the Hindus, it was one of the nine stones representing the planets that influenced the world and was linked to the sun. In ancient India, the discovery of a beautiful ruby gave rise to imposing ceremonies and the stone was dedicated to Krishna. The first rubies were mined in Sri Lanka in the 8th century BC.

Today, 90% of rubies come from Burma, and are of incredible shades. Other deposits exist in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Africa and America.

The characteristics of ruby

Ruby, is part of thecorundum family, just like sapphire. It has three characteristics :

Ruby is extremely hard

Listed as the hardest and toughest jewels in the world after diamond on the Mohs scale (index 9), ruby is recognisable thanks to its rich, vibrant red colour. Ruby is one of the top three hardest minerals on the planet. Only a diamond or moissanite can scratch it.

Ruby is highly resistant to heat

Of rare beauty, this gem, part of the precious stone family, is coveted the world over and blends easily with all types of metals such as white or yellow gold, which intensify its colour all the more. Unlike emeralds, rubies are not affected by high temperatures or scratches. So there's no risk of it being damaged by prolonged exposure to the sun or the heat of your oven. It can therefore easily be used to adorn a piece of jewellery intended to be worn every day, without any risk of damage, whether it be a LEPAGE ring, bracelet or pendant for exemple.

Ruby has a unique colour

Ruby has a rare and unique characteristic, as it exists in one and only one colour: red. This colour results from the presence of chromium oxide - up to 2%. Its name, comes from the Latin word "rubeus" meaning "red". Rubies are famous for their bright red colour nevertheless, they can exist in shades of purple, brownish red and deep pink. The most esteemed shade is often the deeper red mingled with a slight hint of blue known as "pigeon's blood", a stone that is in fact clothed in our exceptional jewelry creation: LE SIAM.

It may be magmatic or, more often, metamorphic in origin, i.e. the result of modifications to pre-existing rocks under the effect of heat and high pressure.

Did you know?

All natural rubies have inclusions, which appear naturally in the stone as the stone forms. This is simply an external element that has slipped inside the stone during its formation. Today, it is very difficult to find this stone without any inclusions.

However, the rarer and more flawed they are, the more valuable the ruby will be. Along with diamonds, rubies are the most valuable coloured gemstones. They are often typical of their origin. For example, Burmese rubies are characterised by a "white veil" effect inside the stone that is not found on other stones, particularly those of a different origin. These inclusions are stigmata of their geological formation in a particular area, like a signature ...

A stone with many virtues

Medicinal properties

Ruby is said to help heal wounds, but is also ideal for intellectuals and heart patients. Considered a royal stone, worn by the likes of Marie-Antoinette and Czarina Alexandra Fedorovna, it is ideal for ambitious people and signifies happiness and fire.

Spiritual virtues

The ruby is said to bring joy and prosperity, while giving you all the energy and health you need to face life's trials. Possession of a ruby is a Promesse for a happy life. At the same time, the ruby protects against poison, presides over reconciliations and distracts from evil thoughts. A divinatory stone par excellence, it is said to herald misfortune when its colour changes and dulls in the event of serious illness.

LEPAGE rubies: hand-picked stones

Ruby is therefore the perfect stone to wear every day, as it guarantees a certain resistance over time. It is particularly suitable as engagement ring, for example. All our rubies come mainly from Thailand and Burma, and can have different shades of red even if they come from the same deposit. This in no way detracts from the quality of the stone, as our gemologists take great care to unearth the most incredible and exceptional of them all. Each of our rubies is scrupulously examined by our experts to ensure that it meets all our criteria of excellence.

Unlike diamonds, coloured stones do not have a standardised and internationally recognised system for comparing each stone one by one. However, we draw our inspiration from the universal 4Cs to select the most brilliant, flawless ruby. From colour to weight to size, each stone selected to become your jewel must meet strict criteria of perfection.

To discover the most flamboyant of our rubies, we invite you to visit our shops and our website. notre e-shop. And to keep up to date with all the latest jewellery news from our Maison, sign up to our Instagram account !