A star ruby shows asterism, a six-rayed star that shimmers over the surface of the stone when it is moved. Oriented rutile crystal inclusions cause the desired effect. Ruby is red corundum. All other color varieties of corundum are called sapphire. Corundum is the second hardest substance on the Mohs scale, with a rating of nine. Diamond tops that scale with a ten. That hardness combined with the rich color and silky shine make fine rubies so valuable and secure them a place in the group of so-called "precious" stones along with diamond, emerald and sapphire.
Ruby is named after the Latin word "ruber" for red. The most desirable color is the so-called "pigeon's blood," a pure red with a hint of blue, only found in the mines of Myanmar, the most important ruby deposits.
Ruby is one of the most valuable gems, large rubies being rarer than comparable diamonds.
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