There are lots of things you can learn about rubies, from how they are processed, found and distributed, to how they are geologically formed. All of this is important when you are considering how to use them in jewellery.
Rubies are found in lots of locations, but they have been found most commonly, now and in the past, in Burma. They’ve also been found more recently throughout the orient and eastern Asia, and small pockets found in USA and Africa as well.
They are formed from a mineral called corundum, which is actually aluminium oxide. They form in natural processes, where the aluminium oxide is deposited in gaps in geological features, where pressure is exerted, and over millennia, the gems are formed.
Often times, rubies are treated heavily in order to remove imperfections and improve colour. This is mainly done on lower quality stones so that they can be used in jewellery.