Ruby is one of two minerals in the Corundum family of minerals, the other is Sapphire. Ruby is rarer and more valuable than Sapphire, the rarity can be in part attributed to the need for chromium to produce the red colour, which is a rare element in nature. Ruby is the birthstone for July and used as the anniversary gemstone for the 15th and 40th years.
The name Ruby has its origin in the Latin word for red. In Sanskrit, the ancient language of Hindus the Ruby is called Ratnaraj – “The King of precious gems”. Since humans have used Ruby to adorn themselves, and as talismans, it has been endowed with powers, it is believed to make you invincible in battle, in fact Burmese warriors used to insert Rubies under their skin such was the belief in them. Rubies are associated with passion, with love, with romance and make them an ideal gift in jewellery.
To be classed as Ruby a Corundum must be red, if it is pink it is a Sapphire, however determining what is red and what is pink can cause controversy even within experienced traders. Rubies range from pinkish red through to deep dark red, sometimes with tones of blue, yellow, orange or brown. The most prized colour is an intense, clear and vibrant red, sometimes known in the trade as “Pigeon’s blood”. Rubies are not simply red in colour, the best quality Rubies also have a phenomenon known as fluorescence, where they emit red light when illuminated with UV light, this can even be from sunlight, so the very best Rubies glow red with an intense and beautiful colour. Rubies can also display the phenomena called asterism, they are then called Star Rubies, this is when cut as cabochon stones they display three bands of reflected light creating a star that moves across the surface of the stone.
As with most coloured gemstones the main value factor of Ruby is colour, but they are also assessed in terms of how free from inclusions or internal features they are, it is common for Ruby to contain eye visible inclusions, in fact natural Rubies that do not are remarkably rare. Fine Rubies will be cut with care to retain as much weight in the stone, because it is so valuable whilst showcasing the colour. Rubies above 3.00ct are rare and so prices can increase dramatically as size increases. Traditionally the finest quality Ruby has always been associated with Burma, now called Myanmar, but many localities produce fine and beautiful stones, what is important is choosing the stone that is right for you.
Generally, prices in Ruby far exceed that of other red gemstones. They can range from a few pounds per carat for lower clarity included beads or carvings, to the record of over $1.25m per ct for the record-breaking stone. Rubies are an ideal gemstone, they are remarkably durable, being very hard, quite tough and resistant to a lot of heat and chemicals. Usual care must be taken to store them separately from other jewels to avoid scratching, and it is wise to remove jewellery before carrying out any manual tasks.
Ruby is rarely untreated, it is routinely heated to improve the colour of the stones and has been carried out for centuries. Unless otherwise stated all our Ruby, as with the majority on sale in the UK, will be enhanced in this way. Rubies can also be treated in other ways, such as oiling or filling with other substances, as well as dyed, and even colour diffused into the stone. We will always disclose any treatment you need to know about as well as letting you know how best to care for your stone.
