Pigeon blood ruby: one of the world's most striking gemstones

The color red is by nature the color that is associated with the most important emotions of the human being, love, hate, passion and at the same time it represents power and blood. The ruby, one of the four most valuable gemstones in the world, since ancient times has been considered a powerful stone that emanates life, highly coveted by the powerful. Today we will talk about one of its most striking variants, the pigeon blood ruby.

What is Pigeon blood ruby?

Pidgeon blood is a well-known term in the jewelry world to refer to rubies that have a deep red color, similar to the blood of pigeons. This intense reddish hue is present in the highest quality and most valuable gems. They are the most prized rubies and are considered the most beautiful in the world. The ruby pigeon blood price is among the highest of all rubies.

Fortunately, no animal dies during its extraction and manufacture. In case there was any doubt about their ethical origin.

The curious origin of the color "pigeon blood"

In ancient times it was believed that the purest red that can be found is the one that comes from the first two drops of freshly slaughtered pigeon blood. But not just any pigeon, but one of the Burmese species. 

Supposedly, this particular blood, in particular, was absolutely red, with no hints of any other color or hue. 

The name pigeon blood, not sure where or how it originated, is certainly associated with Burmese rubies from the Myanmar region, which are the finest and most valuable in the world. It is believed that the term was first used by European jewelry traders in the 19th century, and then spread to the other continents.

Over time, most deep red-hued rubies were named the same.

The importance of the color of a ruby

The value of rubies varies significantly by color. Chromium is responsible for the reddish hue of these gemstones, which can range from an orange-red to a deep purple-red. The intensity of the hue will depend on the amount of chromium embedded in the ruby's crystalline structure. 

The more chromium there is, the more intense the red color and the higher the price of the ruby. Even chromium causes fluorescence in the stone, and this in turn imparts greater depth to the red.

The pigeon's blood rub with its spectacular blood red color, has an extremely high price per carat, as it is considered one of the most beautiful. 

The precious stones, which come from Vietnam and the Himalayas, also have a high value, as they are formed in marble deposits that give them a bright red luster.

Typically, rubies with a more accentuated color tend to be rarer to find.

Special significance of these gems

In the ancient Indo-European language called Sanskrit, the word ruby is translated as King of precious stones or Warlord of gems. This translation already tells us about the special significance of rubies in the history of mankind.

For the Hindu culture, the ruby is considered as the eternal fire that does not extinguish. On the European continent it has historically been called the Stone of the Sun and is especially associated with the protection of life and feelings.

Being the rarest gemstone in nature, the ruby has an important symbolism. 

This gem is also mentioned in the Bible as being associated with prosperity. For the Egyptian and Greek civilizations, it was one of the favorite stones and its captivating red color was always related to the heart and the strength of love.

Tiaras and crowns adorned with rubies were common in the Middle Ages. Soldiers used to decorate the tips of their swords and shields with it to ask for strength and heal blood wounds.

Enhanced rubies: a questioned practice

Treatments are sometimes applied to rubies to improve their clarity, something that is widely known, although not well accepted in the industry in general. 

The most common treatment is with heat, and is a permanent procedure to improve tone and saturation, referred to as heated rubies.

Another technique is to coat them with casting material and then heat treat them. In particular, this way lowers the price of a natural gemstone, as it loses its rarity and unique components. 

Another way is to treat them with beryllium while heating, to enhance the more vivid red. Glass is also used to improve the clarity of the ruby to a lesser degree, once they are bleached a mixture of liquefied glass is added to penetrate the cracks and improve the appearance.

At Albert Hern, we do not work with enhanced or altered rubies of any kind, garments such as these are 100% natural:

Ring Two Tone Gold, Pear Shape Ruby & Diamonds

Synthetic ruby Vs. Natural ruby

Natural rubies have been formed over the years in the earth's crust. They are found in their original habitat and do not need any treatment to be highly valued and marketed, they just need to be extracted and polished to enhance their beauty. 

Synthetic rubies, on the other hand, are created in laboratories under controlled conditions and constant monitoring. This creation starts with a seed that comes from a natural ruby, so it has the same properties and visually looks perfect.

However, natural gems are still more valued in the market for a matter of rarity, tradition and deep symbolism. It is for this reason that at Albert Hern we only work with pieces of certified natural origin.

Pigeon blood ruby engagement rings

A good alternative for engagement rings without diamonds is the Pigeon blood ruby. A unique way to have a ring with a touch of red, symbolizing the love and passion that should exist in a marriage. This trend of looking for rings in striking colors is on the rise in recent years and at Albert Hern you can find beautiful options like these:

Ring Platinum Ruby GIA & Diamonds

Eternity Ring Rubies & Gold

Ring Ruby 18kt White Gold