{"id":6117,"date":"2024-02-12T14:23:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T12:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/ruby-what-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-ruby-jewellery\/"},"modified":"2025-03-06T11:26:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T11:26:21","slug":"ruby-what-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-ruby-jewellery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/ruby-what-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-ruby-jewellery\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruby: What you need to know when choosing ruby jewellery"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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There is hardly a person on earth who has not heard of ruby - this so fascinating gemstone. It is known as the pinkish-red variety of the mineral corundum (Al2O3), whose other colours are all categorised as sapphires. The most expensive ruby, weighing 25.59 carats, was auctioned in 2015 for $32.42 million.<\/p>\n

One of the important quality characteristics of this gemstone is its hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale (up from a maximum of 10, that of a diamond), which makes it very resistant to wear.<\/p>\n

The name ruby comes from the Latin \"Rubeus\", which translates as red. In Sanskrit ruby is \"Ratnaraj\" which literally translated means \"king of gems\". In ancient India, it was believed that if a person offered a ruby in honour of the god Krishna, he would be reborn as an emperor in the next life. Treasured since ancient times, the ruby has been mounted in jewellery and is present in the collections of all aristocratic ladies.<\/p>\n

What will you find in this article?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you too are a fan of this amazing gemstone and are interested in, own or are considering buying a ruby jewel, be sure to check out its features. In today's article, we'll look at its quality characteristics, colors, findings and treatments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Deposits and formation of the gemstone ruby<\/h5>\n

The most famous rubies, such as those from the legendary Mogok Valley in Myanmar (Burma), the Himalayas and northern Vietnam, are usually formed in marble.<\/p>\n

Marble forms as part of the metamorphic process, when heat and pressure from the mountain formation act on existing limestone deposits. Marble has a low iron content. The rubies that form in it therefore also have a low iron content in their chemical composition. This in turn contributes to the deep red colour.<\/p>\n

In addition, rubies found in marble typically fluoresce red under ultraviolet light - even the ultraviolet light of sunlight. Fluorescence can make a ruby's color even more intense, which increases its value.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Raw ruby in marble. Deposit Afghanistan. Copyright GIA.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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In other deposits rubies can be found in basaltic rocks. In these deposits, the iron content of the gemstone chemistry can be significantly higher. This can accordingly result in a darker and less saturated colour. The higher iron content in the chemical composition of ruby can also reduce the red fluorescence.<\/p>\n

Some of the main deposits of the gemstone ruby are found in Myanmar (Burma), Afghanistan, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Thailand.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the only country in continental Europe where natural ruby deposits have been found is the Republic of North Macedonia. The deposits are located near the town of Prilep and the rubies from there have a unique raspberry colour.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Main pricing factors<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Color<\/h5>\n

Color is one of the most important pricing factors for a ruby. The GIA's color grading system for colored gemstones divides this factor into three components - hue, saturation and tone.<\/p>\n

Chromium is the trace element that colors ruby to its characteristic red color. The colour can vary from orange red to purple red. The intensity of the red colour depends on the amount of chromium - the more, the more intense the red colour. This trace element also causes fluorescence, which further enhances the intensity of the red colour in sunlight - this is a desirable effect and further adds to the price of the gemstone.<\/p>\n

Expensive rubies range in colour from a pure deep red to a slightly purplish red. A ruby with orange or purple hues is usually lower in price. To be considered high quality, a ruby's color should be neither too dark nor too light. For one thing, if the stone is too dark in color it can have a negative effect on its brilliance. On the other hand, if the stone is too light in color it can be classified as a pink sapphire. However, there is currently no generally accepted criterion that distinguishes rubies from pink sapphires. It is assumed that if the red hue dominates, then the mineral is a ruby.<\/p>\n

The most desirable and expensive colour is \"Pigeon's Blood\", which is red with slightly violet or pinkish-red hues. The most desirable specimens are those from Burma, and stones over 5 carats are extremely rare and expensive.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A striking 10.05 carat Burmese ruby ring with \"pigeon's blood\" colour and diamonds designed by Faidee. Sold at auction for over $10 million.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Inclusions<\/h5>\n

Traders usually expect ruby to have inclusions. Specimens without inclusions are practically non-existent. The most common inclusions are needle-shaped and when rutile and arranged in parallel are called silky. Other mineral inclusions, zonal coloration, cracks and inclusions resembling fingerprints are also found.<\/p>\n

Stone clarity is determined by the number, size, color, and location of inclusions. Unlike diamonds, clarity is more often observed in colored stones with the naked eye than with a magnifying glass. If inclusions are observed in a ruby that affect its clarity or brilliance, they reduce its value. And of course, the more flawless the stone, the higher its value.<\/p\n\n\n

Star Rubies<\/h6>\n

There are rutile inclusions where the visual effect of a three or six-rayed star (asterism) is observed. These rubies are cut into cabochons so that the effect can be most prominent. Asterisms are best seen with a single light source and move across the stone as the light moves or the stone rotates. Such an effect is produced as light is reflected off the \"silk\" (the structurally oriented rutile needles) in a particular way. This is one example where inclusions increase the value of the gemstone.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Vintage ring with 2.47 carats untreated Burmese ruby with 6-pointed star. Model by Tiffany & Co and priced over 16,000E.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cut<\/h5>\n

Cut refers primarily to the shape (oval, round, marquise, etc.), but also to the style in which the stone is cut (cabochon, brilliant, step, fancy, etc.). Other signs of utmost importance on which experts evaluate are proportion (depth of the stone, thickness of the girdle, etc.), quality of the polish, and symmetry of the facets.<\/p>\n

Experienced artisans can reduce flaws or accentuate the advantages of the stone through proper cutting.<\/p>\n

Weight (Carats)<\/h5>\n

A high-quality ruby weighing more than 1 carat is extremely rare. This predisposes the price of the gemstone to increase progressively as its weight increases. That is, a three carat ruby is worth many times more than three one carats of the same quality.<\/p>\n

Treatment<\/h5>\n

Nowadays, most natural rubies are treated in some way. This may include saturating the color by heating, improving transparency by dissolving rutile inclusions, healing fractures (cracks), or even filling them completely by oiling or dyeing.<\/p>\n

Heating<\/h5>\n

One of the most common treatments for rubies is heat treatment to improve the color of the stone, remove purple tints and blue spots, and break up rutile inclusions. This occurs at temperatures above 1700\u00b0<\/b>C. Unless it is explicitly stated that the stone has not been heated you must assume by presumption that it has.<\/strong> It is generally accepted that heating is an acceptable practice provided that this treatment is not concealed from the dealer. For this reason, heating does not have a radically negative impact on price.<\/p>\n

Filling Cracks with Leaded Glass<\/h5>\n

Filling cracks with leaded glass or other material greatly improves the transparency of the stone. Unlike heating, crack filling is not an accepted practice and it is recommended that this type of treatment be avoided in natural rubies. This type of treatment can be detected with a 10x magnification gemological loupe.<\/p>\n

Always be cautious if the price of a stone is much lower than the market price. This is a suggestive indication that the ruby may be treated or an imitation.<\/p>\n

A natural untreated ruby of high quality is very rare and can be extremely expensive.<\/p>\n

Summary<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In this article we looked at the origin, deposits and quality characteristics - colour, cut, clarity and carat weight of the ruby gemstone. In addition, we have looked at what factors affect its price and some of the treatments it may be subjected to.<\/p>\n

We hope this article will help you make an informed purchase of ruby jewellery or simply enhance your knowledge in this area.<\/p>\n

You can learn more about how to tell a ruby from its imitations and synthetic variants<\/a> in the second part of our series of articles on rubies.<\/p>\n

Efir offers both jewelry from its own collections<\/a> and creation of bespoke gold jewelry with rubies and\/or other gemstones according to a client's design and budget<\/a>. We work only with natural stones and precious metals.<\/p>\n

No matter what you choose our Expert Gemologist will help with your choice of stone and making your dream gold jewellery according to your budget.<\/p>\n

If the exciting moment to propose to your better half is approaching we have prepared a special article about it on our blog how to choose the perfect engagement ring<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also check out the process of ordering a ruby engagement ring or other gemstone<\/a> in our page prepared especially for this. There you can also view some of the work we have made for our clients. We are ready to accept any challenges - from classic designs with an emphasis on the central stone to unusual ones.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is hardly a person on earth who has not heard of ruby – this so fascinating gemstone. It is known as the pinkish-red variety…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5129,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[152,153,152,153],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gemstones","category-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6117"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6118,"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6117\/revisions\/6118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efirgems.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}