“The ancient Romans prized the ruby above the diamond, calling this gem ‘a flower among stones.’ For the Greeks it was the ‘mother of all gems.’ And back in 1560 Benvenuto Cellini declared that the price of ruby was eight times that of diamond. Of course, that was before the brilliant cut was developed for the diamond, which significantly enhanced its looks.
    The ruby has always been, and remains today, the world’s most precious gemstone. . . . A flawless ruby, for instance, is worth more than a flawless diamond of equal weight.”

—Diane Morgan, Fire and Blood; Rubies in Myth, Magic, and History, 2008.