At a glance
- What it is: Corundum, the red variety, colored by chromium
- Hardness: 9 on the Mohs scale
- Traditionally linked to: Passion, courage, vitality
- Birthstone: July
- Ours: Natural, heat-treated
Red is the first color most of us reach for when we want to feel something. Ruby has been doing that job for centuries: worn for love, for courage, for the will to begin.
A red with a recipe
Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the same mineral that gives us sapphire. Its famous red comes from traces of chromium. At 9 on the Mohs scale, it's one of the hardest gemstones there is, behind only diamond and moissanite.
Where the red came from
Historically, the most prized rubies came from Burma (Myanmar). Beautiful stones are also found in Mozambique, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
What it has meant
In Sanskrit, ruby is ratnaraj, the king of gems. Legend has it that Burmese warriors wore rubies in the belief that they'd be invincible in battle. The details change from place to place, but the idea doesn't: ruby is the stone of vitality, of choosing to be brave.
Ruby is the stone you reach for when you want to feel everything: louder, brighter, fully yours.
Ruby, our way
Our rubies are natural and heat-treated, and we'd rather tell you that up front. Every one is a little different in shade, so yours will be its own. You'll find them as the stone on the DOT Bracelet and the DOT Cuff, and clustered into the pomegranate of the Rimon pendant. We named the brand for a dog, not a gem, but we'll admit the coincidence is convenient.
