What Do the Hogwarts Hourglass Gems Really Mean?

The Gryffindor hourglass fills each year with hundreds of red rubies. For these rubies to be the right color for Gryffindor House, they have to be of fine quality so they don't appear pink. Known as the king of gems - similar to Gryffindor's mascot, the king of the jungle - rubies are one of the oldest and most revered gemstones in the world. Rubies themselves are rare, and stones without inclusions - internal flaws - are even rarer and can sometimes fetch higher prices at auction than even a diamond. This crimson stone is the birthstone of those born in July, as well as those born under the star sign of Aries, linking it to two zodiac fire signs; since Gryffindor represents fire, this link is perfectly fitting. Rubies are symbols of passion and love, both of which are traits commonly found among members of Gryffindor House.

Emeralds are magnificently fascinating stones with their vibrant, exotic hue. Emeralds tend to be highly included, so stones that are eye-clean - near or completely free of inclusions visible to the naked human eye - can fetch impressively high sums. Emeralds have long been worshiped by many ancient civilizations, so their illustrious history makes them perfectly suited for Slytherin House. Emeralds are bestowed upon those born in May or under the zodiac sign Virgo, both of which are linked to the element of earth, so unlike rubies, emeralds don't correlate to the element of their House. However, as a symbol of beauty, they are easily the best choice to represent Slytherin House.

Unlike the other Houses, Hufflepuff's hourglass doesn't hold color gemstones. Hufflepuff's hourglass fills with diamonds. The quality and value of a diamond are based on "the Four Cs" - cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The whiter, clearer, cleaner, and heavier the diamond, the higher the value. If Helga Hufflepuff chose to use the best, the cost of a few hundred House points could be well into the millions, however, it's entirely possible that the hourglass is filled with yellow diamonds. Natural fancy yellow diamonds are diamonds that formed with a high concentration of nitrogen, and while they're generally less expensive than colorless diamonds, they are still highly sought. Diamonds are symbols of success, fearlessness, and invincibility, all of which can be attributed to the hard work and dedication in Hufflepuff House. Those born in April are lucky enough to have diamonds as their birthstone, and the star sign Taurus, which covers the second half of the month, is associated with earth, the same element associated with Hufflepuff House.

Sapphires have long been revered for their intense, beautiful hues, the most valuable of which is this mid-toned cornflower shade. Bestowed upon those of the sign Aquarius and the month September, sapphires align with two air signs, the element of Ravenclaw House. These beautiful blue stones might match Ravenclaw House in color and element, but they miss the mark when it comes to meaning. Sapphires have long been associated with loyalty and trust, and while those are traits Ravenclaws can have, they're more likely to be associated with Hufflepuff House instead. Despite their lack of meaning for Ravenclaws, the color is still one of fascination, something with which Ravenclaws are very familiar.