Name
Ruby

Chemistry
Al2O3, Aluminum Oxide

Uses
As a gemstone and as an abrasive

Color
Ruby red

Hardness
9

Specific gravity
3.99-4

Ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral, one of the hardest minerals on Earth which also includes Sapphire. Pure corundum is colourless. Slight traces of the colour creating elements such as chrome, iron, titanium or vanadium are responsible for the colour. These gemstones show an excellent hardness. On the Moh’s Scale they achieve a hardness of 9, second only to diamonds. And only red corundum may be called Ruby, any other colour is denominate as Sapphires. The close relationship of Ruby and Sapphire has been known since the beginning of the 19th century. Up to that time, also red Garnets or Spinells were thought to be Rubies – and due to this misclassification the so-called "Black Ruby” as well as the "Timur Ruby” decorating the British Crown Jewels are probably actually no Rubies at all, but Spinells.

Ruby, this magnificent red variety of the multi-coloured corundum family, consists of aluminium oxide and chrome as well as smallest proportions of other trace elements - depending on the respective occurrence. In really fine colours and good clarity, however, this gemstone is mined only rarely all over the world. Responsible for this scarcity is in fact the colour-creating element chrome. Millions of years ago, when the gemstones were being created, chrome was the element awarding Ruby its wonderful colour deep inside the core of the Earth. But at the same time it is also responsible for causing a multitude of fissures and tiny irregularities inside the crystals. Only very few ruby crystals could grow undisturbed to considerable sizes and crystallise to form a perfect gemstone. Therefore, then, fine Rubies are quite scarce in sizes above 3 karats. Thus it is no miracle that Rubies with hardly any inclusions are so valuable that in good colours and larger sizes they will achieve top prices at auctions, which surpass even those paid for diamonds.

Some Rubies show a wonderful silky shine, the so-called "silk” of the Ruby. The reason for this phenomenon is finest rutilum needles. And now and then we will come across one of the very scarce Star Rubies. Again the rutilum mineral is involved here: it is embedded asterisk-shaped within the Ruby thus causing the charming light effect which is termed "Asterism” by the experts. If such Rubies are cut as half-dome shaped cabochons, this will result in six-ray stars which seem to magically glide across the surface of the moving stones. Star Rubies are expensive rarities Their value is assessed according to beauty and attractive colour, while transparency is secondary. Fine Star Rubies, however, should always display rays which are completely shaped including the rounding, and the stars should be situated right in the centre.

Ruby occurrences exist also in the neighbouring country of Viet Nam , near the Chinese border. Rubies of Vietnamese origin generally display a slightly purplish hue. Rubies from Thailand , another classical supplier of Rubies, however, produce Rubies which are often dark red tending towards brown. This "Siam colour” - an elegantly modulated deep red - is considered almost as beautiful in Rubies as the Burma-colour, and is especially cherished in the USA. The Ceylon-Rubies, however, which are quite scarce nowadays, were mainly light red, like ripe raspberries.

Other Ruby occurrences are located in Northern Pakistan in the Hunza-Valley, or in Cashmere , Tadchikistan, Laos , Nepal , and Afghanistan . But Rubies are also produced in India , wherein the Federal states of Mysore and Orissa there were discovered occurrences with relatively large Ruby crystals, which are, however, full of inclusions, but nevertheless excellently suited to be cut as Ruby beads or cabochons.

Currently East Africa has become an issue concerning Ruby occurrences. Rubies from Kenya and Tanzania managed ton surprise everybody, including the experts, when they were discovered in the sixties. The reason for this was their remarkably beautiful colour, which may vary from light to dark red. But also in the African mines fine and clear Rubies in good colour and size are rarely found. Usually the qualities mined are more or less simple average.

Colour above (almost) everything.

As stated above: colour is Ruby’s most important feature, and transparency is secondary only. Therefore, then, inclusions do not effect the quality of a Ruby, unless they decrease the transparency of the stone or are located right in the centre of its table. Quite the contrary applies: inclusions within a ruby are something like the gemstones fingerprints, stating its individuality while at the same time proving its genuineness like a certificate provided by Nature. The cut is essential: only a perfect cut will underline the beauty of this valuable and precious stone appropriately to make it really the "King of Gemstones”. But just as true love is rare indeed, so are really perfect Rubies. And if you find one, it is bound to cost a small fortune. Nevertheless: once you found "your” Ruby, do not hesitate: go for it and keep it

General

The Ruby is classified as a precious stone, together with the diamond, but in certain cases, depending on quality it can be more rarer and more expensive than a diamond. The true colour of a Ruby is red; the best quality is called "pigeon blood red".

Beliefs

The ruby is said to be the most valued of all gemstones. Gold placed "the lord of gems" on Aaron's neck. The bible says that "wisdom is more precious than rubies", that is to say - very valuable!

Astrology

Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July, and both 15 & 40 year wedding anniversaries.

Symbolism

Ruby is a symbol of happiness and good fortune.

Classification

The ruby is derived from the mineral corundum and the crystalline group of oxides same as the sapphires. All colours of corundum, except red, are known as sapphires, this created a controversy about which corundum's are rubies and which are pink sapphires. In 1991 the International Gemstone Association ruled that all corundum that is red and lighter tones of red be known as rubies and the rest as sapphires.
Ruby has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, therefore extremely tough and the density of 4.0 -4.1

Treatment

The natural ruby is usually heat treated to improve colour and appearance.

Origin

The most famous source of rubies are in Burma - here Stone & Bronze Age mining tools have been found, also rubies from this mine have the "pigeon blood" colour.
Another important ruby trading center is Thailand - where approximately 80% of the world's ruby goes through the cutting factories.
In 1992, a new ruby mine was discovered in Vietnam - that produces rubies similar to those from Burma.
Rubies from Sri Lanka -are often pinkish in hue.
In the 1960's rubies where discovered in Tanzania & Kenya - this surprised the world as the colour is one of the best but unfortunately they often have inclusions, which lacks transparency, therefore ideal for cabochon cuts.

GEMSTONES

Gemstone Colour Codes

amethyst	purple
aquamarine	blue light
chalcedony	blue light
citrene	yellow
diamond	clear
emerald	green
garnet	red, orange
iolite	blue darkish
moonstone	pale whitish
peridot	green light
quartz crystal	clear
rose quartz	rose
ruby	red
sapphire	blue
tanzanite	blue
blue topaz	blue
tourmaline	Green, blue, red, pink
Cubic zirconia	clear

SAPPHIRES

Sapphire is often considered to be synonymous with the color blue: you can easily picture sapphire seas. However, sapphire is beautiful beyond blue, in every color but red, because red is called ruby.

The other colors of sapphire can be just as beautiful and rare - or even rarer - than the blue but they are usually priced less. Yellow, orange, lavender, and other pastel shades are especially affordable.

Since our ancestors did not realize that ruby and sapphire are actually the same mineral, they left us with a dilemma: where should pink shades be classified? Long ago, people decided to call all gemstones of the mineral corundum as sapphire, except the red color, which was called ruby. But pink is really just light red. The International Colored Gemstone Association has passed a resolution that the light shades of the red hue should be included in the category ruby since it was too difficult to legislate where red ended and pink began. In practice, pink shades are now known either as pink ruby or pink sapphire. Either way, these gems are among the most beautiful of the corundum family.

The most valuable other fancy sapphire is a orange-pink or pinkish-orange called "padparadscha" after the lotus blossom. Padparadscha sapphires are very rare and the exact definition has always been a matter of debate: different dealers and different laboratories around the world disagree on the exact color described by this term. Some dealers even argue that the term should not be limited to the pastel shades of Sri Lankan sapphires but should also include the more firey shades of reddish-orange from the Umba Valley in Tanzania . Padparadscha sapphires sell at a premium, nearing the price for a fine blue sapphire. Although the exact description is debated, the beauty of these rare gemstones is not, with their delicate blended shades the color of fresh salmon and sunsets.

Other very popular shades of fancy sapphires are yellows, bright oranges, lavender and purples, and a bluish green color.

Generally, the more clear and vivid the color, the more valuable the fancy sapphire. If the color is in the pastel range, the clarity should be good: because in lighter tones inclusions are more noticeable, the trade usually prefers the gemstones to be cleaner with fewer visible inclusions. In a lighter colored gemstone, the cut is also more important: it should reflect light back evenly across the face of the stone, making it lively and brilliant. With darker more intense colors, the cut is not as critical because the color creates its own impact.

No matter what the color, sapphires combine durability and beauty for generations of pleasure.