Are rubies unlucky?

[Eddylizard]

I seem to recall hearing many years ago that rubies were considered to be an 'unlucky' gemstone. Has anyone else heard this?

I don't believe in bad/good luck but after a series of unfortunate mishaps involving the former Mrs. L. and a ruby engagement ring given to her by a previous enamorata, I would like to know how justified my quips were.

[Ana Ng]

My ring was a ruby, my marriage didn't last. That was more down to incompatibilty though.

[Lainie]

My mom's engagement ring was set with two rubies that had formerly been a relative's earrings. They were married for more than 40 years, until he died.

The ring is mine now (Mom stopped wearing rings a few years ago because they bothered her hands). I'm planning to have it reset in a more modern setting. So I hope they're not unlucky.

[AniMajor]

I'm wearing one of my grandmother's ruby rings right now, and my luck has been about the same. However, I can tell you about rubies from both my Crystal Bible and my field guide:

From the Simon & Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals:

Corundum's (ruby when it's red, emery when it's grey or brown, and sapphire when it's blue, purple, yellow, green or colorless) chemical composition is Al2O3. It's very hard (9 on the Mohs hardness scale), heavy and has no cleavage, but nearly rectangular parting. Sometimes displays asterism (which is rutile inclusions arranged in such a way that a star is seen in it).

And if you're into the healing and metaphysical properties of rocks (which probably matters more in the "luck" department):

Originally Posted by The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

Ruby is an excellent stone for energy. Imparting vogor to life, it energizes and balances but may sometimes overstimulate in delicate or irritable people. Ruby encourages passion for life but never in a self-destructive way. It improves motivation and setting of realistic goals.

Ruby stimulates the heart chakra and balances the heart. It encourages "following your bliss." This stone is a powerful shield against psychic attack and vampirism of heart energy. It promotes positive dreams and clear visualization, and stimulates the pineal gland. Ruby is one of the stones of abundance and aids retaining wealth and passion.

[Starla]

I have never heard of rubies being unlucky. The old wives' tale I always heard was that opals were unlucky to everyone expect those who were born in October (opal is October's birth stone).

[Chloe]

Opals are unlucky because they look like tears, I've been told.

Eddylizard is unlucky because he spelled "inamorata" wrongly, and I noticed.

[Loyhargil]

And further confusing things, I'd always heard that sapphires are unlucky.

Which I obviously think is bunk since my engagement ring to my current hubby has a sapphire.

Given my previous marriage, I'd say diamonds are far more unlucky.

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by Chloe

Eddylizard is unlucky because he spelled "inamorata" wrongly, and I noticed.

And Eddylizard got the gender wrong too. Innamorato.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Chloe

Opals are unlucky because they look like tears, I've been told.

I've heard that pearls are unlucky to wear on one's wedding day, because they are tears. But now that you mention it, opals look more like tears than pearls do.

[Chloe]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

And Eddylizard got the gender wrong too. Innamorato.

I wondered that, but didn't want to make heterosexist assumptions about your wife's past...

[Mosherette]

Opals' lack of luck is because, as I've heard it, they are brittle and shatter easily.

I've never heard of corundum of any colour being unlucky before.

[BluesScale]

No, gemstones of all sorts are very unlucky indeed. So are gold and silver.

Best to send them all to me so that I can break the curse. It is a hard job but I will do my best.

Blues "Oh, and cursed share certificates too" Scale

[MariaVerde]

Originally Posted by Chloe

Opals are unlucky because they look like tears, I've been told.

That's what I heard as well, because of their fragility.

I don't agree - I think I was very lucky to find a 5 ct oval oval with a milky color and lots of green fire at a gem show 16 years ago...and equally lucky that my mom had it set in a pendant for me the following Christmas. It looks fantastic on a black cashmere sweater.

Actually, I don't think any jewelry is unlucky...I like shiny things.

mrc

[TripleAAA]

Originally Posted by Loyhargil

Given my previous marriage, I'd say diamonds are far more unlucky.

Amen. My next engagement ring, if there is one, will not be diamond. Or atleast not just diamond.

Rubies are my birthstone, but I dont know if they're unlucky. The only thing I've heard about gems and luck is wearing or using citrine is supposed to bring financial luck.

[KKHB]

I hope rubies are not unlucky. I have my ears pierced 10 times (7 on the right and 3 on the left) and in all but the lower holes (into which I put earrings that match my outfit/mood) I often wear my kids' birthstones which means that I almost always have two rubies in my ears.

My engagement ring and wedding band is all diamonds (heirloom diamonds reset) and so far they have proven themselves to be at least neutral if not lucky.

I do have a small pouch of rubies that DH brought home from Sri Lanka (or maybe Bangladesh, I forget) that so far I haven't been able to find the perfect design to have them set into; maybe the bad luck is keeping me from being able to actually wear them?

[k9skippy]

Originally Posted by TripleAAA

... The only thing I've heard about gems and luck is wearing or using citrine is supposed to bring financial luck.

I have a citrine ring and it hasn't brought me financial luck. But it is pretty.

KS

[Barbara]

We do have an article on the site about the purported powers of various gemstones - see here.

This marks the first time I've heard anything about citrines, let alone that they bring wealth.

[Embra]

The only thing I've ever heard about rubies is that if you're looking for a virtuous woman, it's going to cost you more than that!

Otherwise you can probably get what you're after for 50p and a pound of grapes.

[chocolate kisses]

I hope rubies aren't unlucky, it's my birthstone.

I haven't heard any superstitions about rubies but I have heard that wearing an opal if it's not your birthstone is unlucky. I'm not sure what the consequence is, though. I've worn them before with no ill effects.

[BamaRainbow]

Originally Posted by Chloe

I wondered that, but didn't want to make heterosexist assumptions about your wife's past...

Well, if the spelling had been correct, it would have shot down the "rubies are unlucky" theory, wouldn't it?