Rubies have been the gemstone of choice for royalty ever since their appearance along China's North Silk Road as early as 200 BC...
Yet some of the most exquisite rubies in royal history were worn by none other than Queen Victoria.
Known for her love of jewelry and blessed with a husband who loved to design pieces for her adornment, Queen Victoria carefully documented her jewelry in her journals.
In July of 1849, she writes:
Much pleased with a beautiful necklace, earrings & a brooch of rubies & diamonds, which dearest Albert had arranged for me, out of stones of own, with the addition of new ones I purchased with money inherited from Aunt Augusta and Aunt Sophia. The parure is really beautiful, & Albert has such wonderful taste…
Records from The House of Garrard (the first-ever Crown Jeweller appointed to the position by Queen Victoria in 1843) suggest that Albert was likely responsible for arranging her legendary ruby tiara to match the set of 1849 - and that the Queen regarded it as his design integral to the parure!
Endlessly versatile, boldly radiant, and long believed to be symbolic of passion, protection, and prosperity, rubies remain a coveted gem whose popularity goes well beyond its reputation as July's birthstone.
Whether you're shopping for rubies or have your eye on another piece from our collection...
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Julie Walton Garland
