The ruby is the gemstone of the planet Sun and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

The ruby is found in a variety of crimson and scarlet red colors ranging from pink to a deep ruddy violet color. The gemstone is solid and possesses high specific gravity. The red tint in ruby comes from a light combination of iron and chromium. The finest quality ruby has a delicate rose color.

Some Qualities of a Good Ruby

1. smoothness
2. Uniform Colour
3. brilliance
4. hardness

Some tests for Identification of Real Rubies

1. If you place a real ruby on an unopened lotus bud it will open up and become a blossoming lotus in a short time.
2. If you place a real ruby in a glass jar, a red hue of light will be seen to emit from the jar.
3. If pearls are put together with a real ruby in a silver plate and placed in sunlight, the silver plate will appear blackish, the pearls will have a red hue and the ruby will shine like the Sun.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Ruby

A ruby should be bought on a Sunday, Monday or Thursday in the ascending moon cycle. The stone should be mounted in an ring made of five metals including gold. The gemstone should touch the skin of the wearer's finger. The best time to wear a ruby ring is sunrise.

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of the Ruby

Both the oxide as the pishti of Ruby are used for impotence, hearth troubles, loss of blood, tuberculosis, indigestion, prolonged fevers, diabetes, among others.

Chief Sources of Rubies

Ruby mines are found in Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kabul (Afghanistan), Tanganyika, and South India, Africa.