The Ruby Information Guide

The sight of a ruby would make one think of fire, heat, and passion owing to its prominent fiery red color. The color, shine, brilliance, and its other features makes ruby a worthy birthstone of one of the hottest months, July. The hotness of this gem doesn’t end here; it is also one of the most popular universal gems around! Ruby is considered one of the four precious stones. Sapphire, Emerald, and diamond are the other three. What makes Rubies so popular and in demand? Universally red is symbolic for love, passion, fire, and strength; and Rubies are one of the reddest gems out there!

Like Love, a good quality Ruby gemstone requires some time to find. So what makes a good quality Ruby? Similar to diamonds, rubies also follow the 4 C’s. The brighter and redder the color of the ruby the more costly the red beauty is. The brightest and reddest ruby by far is called “pigeon blood red,” which is pure red with a hint of blue. The substance that provides ruby with its bright red color is chromium, and often when there is a bronish tone, iron is present. Heat treatment is often used to improve color.

After color is the clarity of the ruby, the clearer the ruby the more highly it is praised. An indication of ruby treatment is when there is an absence of the rutile needle inclusions. Many use these needles inclusions in differentiating natural rubies from synthetic rubies. The natural rutile needle inclusions give rubies a silky appearance, like the cat’s eye stone appearance. Many famous Rubies such as the Rosser Reeves Star Ruby or the De Long Star Ruby gives off this appearance.

The most desirable cut for a ruby is a cabochon or cabachon, which is a curved top with a flat bottom. This cut brings out the best of rubies. Rubies come in many different cuts and shapes including but not limited to: emerald, heart, diamond, and princess cut.

Last but not least, the carat, which in all cases of gemstones, also helps in determining the quality of the ruby. Natural Large carat rubies are often rare and therefore are frequently praised and not often for sale, but instead are shown in museums.

Many synthetic rubies resemble natural quality gemstones in their chemical, physical and visual assets. As mentioned before, synthetic rubies lack the natural needle inclusions that natural rubies have. Buyers seeking for natural rubies should avoid buying rubies under the false names such as “Balas ruby (spinel), Cape ruby (pyrope), and Siberian ruby (tourmaline).”

*UrJewelry Fashion Suggestion* Missing something red for 4^th of July, but don’t feel comfortable about a red outfit? Perfect time to accessorize that white and blue outfit with some red ruby bling!

The World's Largest Ruby according to Guinness Record (8184 g, Beijing, China)

Timur Ruby

Black Prince Ruby

source: wikipedia, About.com, Gemstones of the world by Walter Schumann

Purchase Jewelry For A Cause!

UrJewelry have decided to donate 50% of every item sold with a blue ribbon that we listed on eBay! 50% of the money will be going to one of the nonprofit organization that we have carefully selected which includes "Love without boundaries" and "save the children." They're both nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to helping and improving the lives of Children and Orphans.

If you're interested in donating or sponsoring an orphan in China or in donating to the China Earthquake Relief Fund Please visit their website at Love without Boundaries
If you're interested in donating to or sponsoring an orphan or donating to the Myanmar Cyclone Disaster Relief Fund please visit their website at savethechildren.org

If You're interested in purchasing Jewelry from UrJewelry for a cause please visit our eBay store and look for the items listed with a blue ribbon. Thank You!
UrJewelry eBay Store

Other Sites That You Can donate To For China Earthquake Relief Fund:
1) http://china-earthquake-relief.com/node/3
2) https://www.chinesechildren.org
3) http://tsinghuafoundation.org
4) http://www.globalgiving.com
5) http://www.cafanc.org/donate/<~~100% will be going to China
6) http://www.google.com/chinaearthquake/

Sites For Myanmar Relief Fund:
1) http://www.google.com/myanmarcyclone/
2) http://www.dec.org.uk
3) http://www.care.org
4) http://cyclonerelief.wordpress.com/

Mother's Day Jewelry Gift Guide!

Having trouble thinking of what to get mom this year for mother's day? Looking for something unique and with meaning? Perhaps you are looking for something that shows how much you appreciate and how much mom means to you? This year for mother's day lets celebrate the meaning behind what mom truly means!

Gift Idea #1: Stackable Rings are in this spring & summer! Add your birthstone and your siblings birthstone to each ring! Or her loved one's birthstone to each ring!
Gift Idea #2: If your mom doesn't like to wear too much, than make it just one ring with the birthstones of all of her children or her loved ones!
Gift Idea #3: Pendant( specifically I think a heart shaped pendant would be best) decorated with the birthstones of all her children!
Gift Idea # 4: Engraved jewelry! with all of her children's name or initials on it! separating each name with a birthstone of that child. Great on Bracelets or Rings! Or Even on a Pendant!
Gift Idea #5: Stackable Bracelets beaded with the birthstone of each child with name tags of each child!
Gift Idea #6: Dangle Earrings containing the birthstones of each child! (contact me if you're interested in making this)

If you are still having trouble of what to get mom this year than I would say the best gift of all of course would be to spend time with mom and make it a very memorable day for her! Nothing can beat that!

How To Clean Your Jewelry At Home!

Is your jewelry not as shiny as it once was when you first brought it? Perhaps there is some debris or dirt that you want to get rid of without damaging your jewelry or spending too much money. Or you simply want to make that bling bling really go bling bling. If you've answered yes to any of the above questions then you are definitely at the right place!

Please note: Don't do the following to pearls or porous stones! Don't ever use an ultrasonic cleaner or a strong solvent on them either!

Required Materials (For Gold, Silver, Platinum, & Gemstones):

1. Dish Washer Detergent (liquid preferred)
   
2. Warm to Hot Water
3. Cup(Styrofoam is preferred, so you won't burn yourself) or small container with cap(make sure its not too small you need to be able to take your jewelry back out!)
4. Toothpick( no paper clips or pins, you might regret it)(optional)
5. Strainer (optional)
   

Instructions:

1. If it is a ring and there happens to be a gemstone set on it, you can use a toothpick to clean out the debris collecting underneath it. It is not necessary to thoroughly remove the debris since it will also be removed in the next following steps. If you're cleaning earrings, you can remove the debris on the push back of your earrings with the toothpick, again it is not necessary for you to thoroughly remove the debris.
   
2. For Earrings I highly recommend you don't leave the push back attached to the earrings while cleaning, instead you should clean them together unattached. If you are afraid that you'll drop the push back into the sink then I suggest you use a strainer while you strain out the water and dirty debris.
   
3. Pour some dish washer detergent(about a small teaspoon) in cup or container
4. Put jewelry into cup or container
5. Pour warm or hot water(1 cup) into cup or container
   
6. Put a cap on the cup or container to maintain the heat
7. Leave till the next day
   
8. Rise and Shine to the brightness of your brand new looking jewelry! But still you have to remove the soap. Pour out dirty water, use strainer if you have to or just use your hand to catch your jewelry.
   
9. Wash cup or container with water, refill container with water and replace jewelry in container to remove the soap
10. Swirl container if there is a lot of soap, remove water
11. Dry jewelry with cloth and now you can wear your brand new look!

Removing Tarnish off of silver (no cemented stones and no pearls):

Put Jewelry together with baking soda, aluminum foil and hot water

For pearls, and porous stones( turquoise, corals, opals and etc.) wipe clean with a lint free soft damp cloth or contact a professional