Rubies and Sapphires are cut gemstones now to better match with Diamond and Emerald !
Blocks of Ruby and Sapphire power a Beacon.
Shiny!
Craft a Jukebox with a Ruby or a Sapphire and save your precious Diamonds for (potentially) more important things, like an Enchanting Table... or a Firework, maybe?
Another look at the Beacon pyramid
Try using the heat of fire to increase the speed at which you mine with a Ruby Pickaxe
(You wouldn't find Rubies or Sapphires in a Plains biome like this) Traditionally, Rubies will spawn in "hot" biomes and Sapphires will spawn in "ocean" biomes, but you can Configure them to spawn in all of the biome types if you want
Try digging with your head underwater while using a Sapphire tool. You'll find that you break blocks a bit less slow than usual
Ruby and Sapphire Display
Effect readouts for when you are Burning or Drowning
