
Like diamonds, rubies are assessed based on the 4Cs color, clarity, cut, and carat. That is why there is much controversy surrounding the topic. The differentiation between the two types, rubies and pink sapphires, is a relatively new concept, having only been established sometime in the 20th century. It must meet certain standards in order to fall into the ruby category, otherwise it is labeled a pink sapphire. In the United States there are specific requirements regarding the saturation of a ruby. That being said, there are a few high quality rubies that have not been treated, which of course demand very high prices.Ĭorundum that is considered gemstone quality and displays any shade of red or pink is considered a ruby. It is conducted prior to the cutting of the stone. Almost every ruby undergoes some sort of treatment, heat treatment being the most common. Heat treatments are very common among most rubies today.

Additional imperfections are inclusions of rutile needles referred to as “silk.” These imperfections play an important role in detecting artificial rubies. Natural rubies contain imperfections, including color impurities. It ranks 9.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, placing it directly under the diamond and moissanite (a diamond ranks 10.0 on the scale and moissanite falls in between diamonds and rubies).

Ruby Gemstones: Color, Value, and Grade Physical Traits:Ī ruby is an extremely strong stone. Rubies are mentioned in the Bible and have been used and appreciated in some of the most ancient cultures.

It was told that rubies grew on trees, starting out as white buds and then blossoming into ripe red rubies ready to be picked.

Some cultures even have a fable regarding the source of the stone. Rubies have always been favored by those in roles of power as well as by those in love and are therefore considered a gemstone that involves a lot of emotion. The word “ruby” derives from the Latin word “ruber,” which means red. For more interesting information about these popular gems click through now. Natural ruby gemstones are known for their magnificent red color and beauty.
