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Ruby

Ruby, the red variety of corundum (all others are sapphire), is one of the world’s rarest most valuable gemstones. The name ruby comes from the Latin rubeus, "red".  Ruby’s color is due to a trace of chromic oxide; the depth of color is determined by the amount of this substance present.

It wasn't until methods of distinguishing between spinel and ruby had been developed (around 1800) that the famous "Black Prince's ruby" in the English State crown was discovered to actually be red spinel.

Lore

Wearing ruby helps to keep a person warm in cold weather and re-energizes the exhausted.  Dreaming of ruby portends good luck.  "For a general luck or good fortune attractant, set pearls around a ruby and wear"¹

Ruby is a stone of prosperity and love, it bestows a peaceful, harmonious, healthy life.  Carrying ruby will bring romance into your life.  Also thought to be a stone of fertility.  ". . . ruby was crushed into a powder and mixed with wine for the infertile woman to drink,  and even today, infertile women will borrow red stones from the Rabbi's wife to help them conceive"²

When worn as an amulet, ruby, wards off plagues and poisons; enhances circulation.

". . . (According to some schemes, ingesting powdered ruby keeps the body from corruption after death.)  For the living, powdered ruby was said to banish plague and pestilence (possibly typhus), and cure the wearer of vain, foolish fancies  Taking 10 to 40 grains of powdered ruby was also said to 'sweeten the sharpness of the humors' and strengthen the vital organs"³

"The ruby has also been said to demonstrate clairvoyant powers.  The gem reportedly changes color when misfortune is about to over take its owner." ⁴

Ruby is one of the birthstones for June.

1)  Scott Cunningham  "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic"

2)  Rosalind Franklin  "Baby Lore "  pg 22

3)  Diane Morgan  "Fire and Blood: Rubies in Myth, Magic, and History "  pg 128

4)  Bruce G. Knuth "Gems in Myth, Legend and Lore Revised Edition" pg. 187