Rubies are the red members of the corundum family of minerals and are considered to be the "Queen of All Gems". Corundum of any other color is called "sapphire". The word "ruby" comes from the Latin word rubeus, meaning "red".
Rubies range in color from a vivid, intense red to red with yellowish to orange tones to red with blue to purple tones.
Rubies may be found in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Thailand, Vietnam, Kenya, Afghanistan and the United States.