Learn About Ruby
Did you know ruby and sapphire are cousins? They come from the same mineral family, which is corundum!
Ruby
- Corundum
- 9 Mohs
- Cancer Leo
- Love, Power, Passion
- July Birthstone
Round
Heart
Emerald
Round
Heart
EmeraldOverview
The word ruby comes from the Latin ruber, which means red. In Sanskrit texts, the ruby is referred to as the ‘king of gems’. This magnificent gemstone is available in different hues of red – from pinkish to bluish red. Like sapphire, ruby is also a variety of corundum, one of the hardest minerals on the earth.
From the beginning of civilization, rubies were prized possessions of many kings and queens. In the middle ages, the royals and the aristocrats in Europe coveted rubies more than any other gemstone.
1. Key Origin
- For centuries, Burma (Myanmar) has been the key source for the finest rubies.
- The Montepuez mine in Mozambique, which was discovered in 2009, is the world’s largest known ruby deposit.
2. Associations
- Medieval Europeans wore rubies for health, wealth, wisdom and love.
- Ruby is the birthstone for July and is known to bring the harmony of life to its wearer.
- It is also the anniversary stone for the 40th anniversary, which is rightly termed as the ruby jubilee.
Properties
Rated 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
01Hardness & Strength
The red variety of the mineral corundum, rubies exude remarkable luster and sparkle. Corundum is mainly composed of aluminum and oxygen. It also contains traces of other elements such as iron, chromium and titanium. Rated 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, rubies are the second hardest substance on the earth, after diamonds.
02Treatment
Rubies exposed to heat treatment have enhanced color. Heat treatment provides a stable and permanent result. Rubies with fractures and a lot of inclusions are filled with lead glass for improved clarity and transparency. However, this makes them no longer natural and greatly reduces their value as compared to natural rubies
Know About Other Gems
Ruby
“Did you know ruby and sapphire are cousins? They come from the same mineral family, which is corundum!”
- Corundum
- Red
- 9 Mohs
- Cancer Leo
- Love, Power, Passion
- July
- Round
Heart
Emerald
Know About Other Gems
Amethyst
Amethyst is love in a gem! St. Valentine too is believed to have worn an amethyst ring with Cupid’s image.
- Quartz
- Purple, Pale lilac, Deep reddish purple
- 7 Mohs
-
Aquarius Pisces
- Wisdom, Peace, Good fortune
- February
Aquamarine
From its hue to its name, everything about aquamarine swirls around water. No wonder the mermaids called it their own!
- Beryl
- Pale blue, Greenish blue, Pastel blue
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Aries Pisces
- Serenity, Clarity, Harmony
- March
Citrine
In the middle ages, citrine was also called the ‘merchant's stone’ as it was believed to bring success and prosperity.
- Quartz
- Yellow-orange, Pale yellow
- 7 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Positivity, Optimism
- November
Emerald
Cleopatra was crazy about emeralds! She even took over a few Greek mines, hoping to keep all the jewels for herself.
- Beryl
- Green, Bluish green, Deep green
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Taurus Gemini
- Good fortune, Balance, Growth
- May
Garnet
Don't garnets remind you of pomegranate seeds? Well, turns out their name actually comes from a Latin word that means pomegranate!
- Silicate
- Primarily red
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Capricorn Aquarius
- Love, Friendship, Passion
- January
Moonstone
Moonstone was declared the state gem of Florida in 1970 to honor NASA’s lunar landing and the Kennedy Space Center.
- Feldspar
- Colorless, White
- 6 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Gemini Cancer
- Good fortune, Luck
- June
Morganite
Morganites were named after J.P. Morgan, who wasn't just a genius in all things finance, but a gem enthusiast too.
- Beryl
- Pale pink, Peach
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Romance, Love, Harmony
Onyx
Many cultures believed onyx could absorb negativity. In fact, the more negativity it absorbed, the darker it became!
- Silicate
- Primarily black
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Courage, Power, Good fortune
Opal
Ancient legends suggest opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. That probably explains why this gem is so magical!
- Hydrated Silica
- All colors
- 5 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Hope, Purity, Truth
- October
Peridot
Unlike most gemstones that come in different colors, peridot is found only in olive green. It's a special gem, for sure!
- Olivine
- Yellowish green, Deep dark olive, Yellow-green
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
-
Leo Virgo
- Prosperity, Good fortune
- August
Rhodolite
Rhodolite gets its name from the Greek word ‘rhodon’ which means ‘rose.’ Such an apt name for this pretty stone!
- Garnet group of minerals
- Rose pink - deep purple
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
- Positivity
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz isn't just a pretty gem. It's believed to attract love and bring in peace and tenderness to your life.
- Quartz
- Shades of pink
- 7 Mohs
- Love, Harmony
Sapphire
The most obsessed-over sapphire in the world is the 12-carat stunner on Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.
- Corundum
- Every color but red
- 9 Mohs
-
Libra Virgo
- Truth, Sincerity, Loyalty
- September
Swiss Blue Topaz
Wear a topaz and it could make you invisible in times of emergency. Farfetched? Well, that's what the Ancient Greeks believed!
- Silicate
- Yellow, Orange, Brown
- 8 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Love, Loyalty
- November
Tanzanite
Though a new discovery, tanzanites could quickly become extinct! It's because they're mined in only one place on Earth.
- Zoisite
- Violet purple, Bluish violet
- 6 to 7 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Abundance, New beginnings
- December
Tourmaline
Self-love is the best kind of love and tourmaline is considered to be the best gem to help you in this journey.
- Silicate
- All colors
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Friendship, Compassion
- October
Tsavorite
Tsavorites may look like emeralds, but in reality, they are roughly 200 times rarer than emeralds.
- Garnet group of minerals
- Green
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Strength, Vitality, Positivity
Turquoise
Would you believe us if we told you that the gorgeous turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in the world?
- Turquoise
- Blue, Greenish blue
- 5 to 6 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Positivity, Happiness
- December
The 4C’s
There are several factors that determine the quality and the price of a ruby. The highest quality stones are decided by overview of 4C’s:
- Color
- Carat
- Clarity
- Cuts
01Color
- The color of a ruby is one of the most important distinguishing characteristics of its value.
- Slight differences in color can make a huge difference. The most coveted color is pure, vibrant red with a hint of blue.
- If the color is too light, the stone is considered a pink sapphire. As the shade moves towards orange or purple, the ruby moves down the quality scale.
02Carat
- The per-carat price of ruby can also increase drastically as its size increases.
- Fine-quality natural rubies over one carat are very rare, which makes them extremely valuable.
- Commercial-quality rubies are commonly available in a wide range of sizes.
03Clarity
- Rubies with absolutely no inclusions are nonexistent. The value of a ruby depends on how visible these inclusions are.
- Major inclusions and ones that reduce the transparency or brightness of the stone lower its value. Rubies typically include thin mineral inclusions called needles. These needles are called silk when present in intersecting groups.
- Ruby inclusions appear in the form of small crystals, patches of varied color or ones that resemble fingerprints.
04Cuts
- The ruby crystal’s shape decides its suitability for certain cuts. The most common shape a ruby comes in is a flat tabular hexagonal shape.
- Commonly, rubies are cut in oval and cushion shapes, with brilliant-cut crowns and step-cut pavilions. Round, triangular, emerald, pear and marquise rubies are also available, but are rare in larger sizes.
Quality & Grading
Rubies are one of the most exotic gemstones in the world. Among coloured stones, they demand the highest prices in the market. There are several factors that determine the quality and the price of a ruby
| Gem Quality | Color | Clarity | Brilliance | Rareness | Shop Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heirloom (AAAA) |  Deep Rich Red | Moderately to Very Slightly Included | Very High | Top 1% |
Heart-Shaped Ruby Infinity Pendant with Diamond Accents$2379 |
| Best (AAA) |  Medium Red | Moderately Included | High | Top 10% |
Prong-Set Ruby Teardrop V-Bale Pendant with Diamond$939 |
| Better (AA) |  Medium Pinkish Red | Heavily Included | Medium | Top 33% |
Classic Prong-Set Round Ruby Solitaire Pendant$809 |
| Good (A) |  Dark Red | Opaque | Low | Top 75% |
V-Bale Pear-Shaped Ruby Solitaire Pendant$439 |
Latest Pick from Ruby Jewelry
Rings
Earrings
Bracelets
Necklaces
Solitaire Oval Ruby Criss Cross Ring with Diamonds
$8789
Emerald-Cut Ruby and Diamond Three Stone Ring
$8629
Princess Diana Inspired Ruby Ring with Diamond Halo
$2359
Emerald-Cut Ruby Criss Cross Solitaire Engagement Ring
$4909
Channel-Set Square Ruby and Diamond Half Eternity Band
$3299
Care Instructions
Like any other gemstone, a ruby might chip or crack on high impact, especially when set in a ring or bracelet. It is also likely that foreign materials might accumulate on the surface of this bright gem rendering it dull over time. To ensure the long life of your glowing rubies, here are some tips that you can follow:
FAQs
1. Are rubies valuable?
Yes, rubies are highly valuable, especially those with vivid red hues, excellent clarity and larger carat sizes. The rarity of high-quality rubies significantly adds to their value.
2. Are rubies naturally red?
Yes, rubies are naturally red due to the presence of chromium. However, the intensity of the red can vary based on the amount of chromium in the gemstone's composition.
3. Are rubies treated to enhance their color?
Yes, heat treatment is commonly used on rubies to enhance their color and clarity. This is a widely accepted practice in the gemstone industry.
4. How do you differentiate between a natural and synthetic ruby?
Natural rubies form over millions of years under natural geological conditions, while synthetic rubies are created in laboratories. Both have identical physical and chemical properties, but natural rubies often have inclusions that synthetic ones lack.
5. What makes rubies red compared to other corundum gemstones?
Rubies get their red color from chromium, which replaces some aluminum in the corundum structure. This trace element absorbs light to produce the vivid red hue. Other corundum gemstones, like sapphires, owe their colors to different trace elements such as iron and titanium.
6. Can rubies change color?
Natural rubies typically do not change color. However, some may show slight variations in appearance under different lighting conditions, a phenomenon called pleochroism.
