Corundum (Ruby & Sapphire)

Corundum is a crystalline form of Aluminium Oxide with a hardness of 9 and growing in the hexagonal crystal system. Its name comes from Sanskrit word Kurundam which means Ruby-Sapphire, being both highly valuable gems in the jewelry market. 

The red Corundum is called Ruby. Its name derived from the Latin Rubrum meaning red. This gemstone symbolizes love, passion, vitality, power and protection. The color varies from fiery red to violet red or pinkish red. It also has a marked fluorescence which is stimulated by uv light. Rubies of the finest quality come from Myanmar, Cambodia Tanzania and neighbor countries. Good quality Rubies are also found in India and Pakistan.  

The blue Corundum is called Sapphire and it symbolizes truth, insight, wisdom, mental agility and focus. Many times this gemstone contains traces of Iron, Titanium, Vanadium and Chromium, giving different colors. We can find Sapphires in blue, pink, violet, yellow, green or white colors. One of the rarest form of Corundum is the orange-pink colored Sapphire called Padparadscha. 

The best Sapphires were discovered in small deposits in Kashmir, India, but they are less available now. Very fine Sapphires are found in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In Australia we find widely available Sapphires but of a lesser quality. 

The gem quality Rubies we have available right now come from Channapatna mines in Karnataka, India. And the Sapphires are from our travels in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.