Featured Stone: Ruby
Ruby comes from the Latin word "ruber" which means red. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral species corundum. All other colors of corundum are sapphire. In Sanskrit, an Ancient language of India, ruby was called ratnaraj, which means "King of Gems" to describe this beautiful stone. Rubies were once thought to bring health, wealth, wisdom and outstanding success in affairs of the heart to those who wore them. According to an ancient verse of uncertain origin, "The gleaming ruby should adorn, All those who in July are born, For thus they'll be exempt and free, From lover's doubts and anxiety." Today, ruby is the birthstone for the month of July. Ruby is also designated for the 40th wedding anniversary.

Burma and Sri Lanka are the oldest sources for rubies. Burmese rubies have long been considered the world's finest by ruby connoisseurs.

Rubies are routinely enhanced by heat treatment to drive out purple and brown overtones and improve clarity by reducing cloudiness caused by rutile needles.

Other colored stones: