Red is the color of life. It is associated with love, desire and passion, it symbolizes vitality, enthusiasm, joy and energy. It is a warm, stimulating color that has the ability to give us courage.
The history of red is extensive and interesting. For example, did you know that in prehistoric times, red along with white and black was the first color used in murals? The dye which was made from the mineral hematite was used to represent animal and human figures. In Roman mythology, red was associated with blood and courage and this is why it became the color of armies. But it also belonged to brides, who wore a red scarf symbolizing fertility and love. And in Chinese tradition red is the color of luck.
How to wear red
Unlike green and blue which are soothing colors, red gives energy and stimulates. It tends to be an expression of power and dominance. In the world of fashion and beauty, we associate red primarily with bold and spirited women who like to be the center of attention. Red is a bold color that is guaranteed to attract attention from people.
However it would be a shame not to give red a chance just because you don't feel that you have a flamboyant sense of style. It is possible to choose jewelry that will look very subtle even with a red stone. For instance minimalist studs with rubies or a gold bracelet with a small gemstone are understated accessories that you can wear every day.
Red gemstones in nature and in jewelry
Purely red gemstones are relatively rare in nature and that’s why they are highly valued. It’s because in most cases, there’s a secondary color in the stone associated with the red which most often comes in the form of a touch of purple, pink or orange. In addition, the intensity of the color, which is called saturation, also influences the value of the gemstone. It’s usually the case that the more intense and saturated colors are more attractive and rarer.
The most famous and most valuable beautifully pure red stone is certainly the ruby. It also reigns supreme among KLENOTA jewelry’s range with red gemstones. Other popular stones in jewelry that you’ll also find in our range include almandines and rhodolites (both of these belong to the garnet family) as well as rubellites and spinels. And in our designer Seasons collection you'll also find corals and carnelians.
The ruby: a stone of peace and good relations
Rubies are one of the rarest gemstones in the world. They are the red variety of the mineral corundum, so on the hardness scale they are right behind the diamond, the hardest of them all. Corundums also include sapphires and apart from the red variety of corundums, all the other colors (blue, yellow, etc.) are called sapphires. In some cases, even experts cannot agree whether to call a pink colored corundum a pink sapphire or a light colored ruby.
A brightly colored ruby in larger sizes is truly rare and can be worth more than a diamond of the same weight. Rubies are an excellent alternative to diamonds for engagement rings because of their nobleness. They really stand out when set into yellow and white gold, and make a harmonious combination with rose gold.
In ancient times, people believed that if you put a ruby in water, it could bring the water to boil thanks to its inner fire. Rubies suit the signs of Scorpio, Leo and Aries and would make a great gift for a 40th wedding anniversary, also known as a ruby wedding.
Garnet: the stone of travellers and courage
The name garnet refers to a large group of minerals that can vary greatly in their color and properties. An internationally famous representative is also the Czech garnet which has a history in our country dating back to the time of Rudolf II and which is still even today considered a national treasure. However other members of the garnet family also deserve attention and are rightly becoming increasingly popular in the jewelry industry. In recent years, little-known garnets such as the reddish-purple rhodolites and green tsavorites, have also gained in popularity.
In KLENOTA’s garnet jewelry we use dark red almandines. The timeless, clean design makes its rich color stand out beautifully. It looks best when combined with yellow gold and white diamonds. In the KLENOTA range we have modern garnet earrings, necklaces and rings.
Garnets are the ideal stone for those born in January. They are also suitable as a gift for a 2nd wedding anniversary.
Rhodolite: the stone of inspiration and inner balance
Rhodolites are another gemstone from the garnet family and stand out with their striking shade of red with pinkish-purple undertones. This color gives the stones a cooler and clearer feel as compared to "classic" almandine garnets. Rhodolites were only discovered at the end of the 19th century in North Carolina and they were named after the pink flowers of rhododendrons which grow abundantly in the area.
These gemstones which weren’t as well known until recently are now increasingly popular and this is because they are an attractive alternative to the rarer rubies. In KLENOTA jewelry rhodolites are most often set into rose gold, creating a soft, romantic impression.
Rhodolite is the stone of the month of January and can also be a suitable gift for a 15th wedding anniversary.
The red diamond: a stone of eternity and power
Into this distinguished company of red stones also belong red diamonds. They are the most expensive and rarest gemstones in the world. Diamonds with a natural red color without any secondary shades of color are a rarity and most of them don’t exceed the one carat mark. To date, only 30 purely red diamonds have been mined worldwide and they rarely make it to auction.
The largest red diamond (which is called the Moussaieff Red) was discovered in Brazil in 1989. It weighs 5.11 carats (1.022 grams) and has an estimated value of an incredible $20 million.
Rubelite: the stone of desire and joy
Rubellites are the red version of tourmalines, a lesser-known but enchanting gemstone. Tourmalines stand out because they occur naturally in almost every color and multi-colored pieces are also no exception. Rubellites boast a beautiful red color which can transform into purple to pink and sometimes even into slightly brownish tones.
The gorgeous color of tourmaline rubellites is perfectly accentuated by white gold and white diamonds. A delicate rose gold rubellite ring can be a fantastic and original choice for an engagement ring.
Rubelites are said to have a positive effect on the women who wear them. Thanks to their passionate color, they are said to awaken sensuality and a joy for life. In terms of astrology, rubelites are the designated stone for the signs of Libra, Scorpio and Pisces. They are suitable as a gift for an 8th wedding anniversary.
Spinel: the stone of youth and energy
These gemstones with their interesting red color have been somewhat overlooked in the jewelry industry throughout history. This may be due to the fact that they were not defined by gemologists as spinels until the 16th century. Until then, they were confused with rubies because they are visually very similar to them. Beautiful spinels also adorn the British Imperial State Crown. The typical color of spinels is red but it’s possible to come across pieces in cobalt blue, purple or even black.
Spinels belong to the month of August, so they would delight someone as a summer birthday present. They also benefit people born under the signs of Scorpio and Sagittarius and they are said to promote vitality as well as to protect the wearer.
