Understanding This Piece
About Ruby
Ruby is corundum (the same mineral family as sapphire) colored red by trace chromium — the rarer the chromium concentration, the more vivid the red. Top-quality 'pigeon's blood' rubies from Myanmar and Mozambique command per-carat prices that exceed even premium diamonds. Ruby scores 9 on Mohs, making it well-suited for daily-wear jewelry. It's the July birthstone, the 40th-anniversary gem, and historically associated with passion, vitality, and protection in cultures from ancient India to modern Western tradition.
About Platinum
Platinum is naturally white, hypoallergenic, and the densest precious metal used in fine jewelry — typically 95% pure (versus gold's 58.3% for 14K or 75% for 18K). It holds diamonds more securely than any gold alloy, never tarnishes, and develops a soft patina over years of wear that many buyers prize. Platinum costs roughly 1.5–2x equivalent 14K white gold but eliminates the rhodium-replating cycle and carries the strongest long-term durability of any setting metal. It is the standard for premium engagement rings and eternity bands.