According to oriental legend, the earth rested on a giant sapphire, whose blue color was reflected in the bowl of the sky. A variety of corundum colored with aluminum oxide, sapphire is one of the four gems called “precious” today. In hue, it ranges from dark to pale blue, to black. Its rarity contributed to its reputation as a magic stone of immense and all-encompassing power. It is said to ward off infectious disease, to dispel confusion, and enhance clarity of mind. The sapphire has also been thought since antiquity to bring good fortune to those who wear it. Anyone adorned with this richly romantic gem will feel very lucky indeed. The ruby was considered in the ancient east to be the luckiest of gems, able to confer protection from all misfortunes man-made or natural. A member of the corundum family, ruby is primarily found in India, Burma and Ceylon. Sanskrit writing refers to it as “the king of gems”. Because of its rich red color, ruby is thought to avert diseases of the blood and stomach. In eastern philosophy, ruby promotes peace and prosperity for its owner, and grants invulnerability from evil. Its warm glow casts a spell over the heart of all who behold it.