Rubies are one of the most naturally hard gems around and belong to the class of mineral known as corundum, which is second only in its hardness to that of moissanite and diamond. You therefore can be assured that any Ruby Rings, Ruby Earrings or other Ruby Jewellery, should be robust. If corundum is found in any other colour to that of red it is then known as sapphire.
Make up of Ruby
It has a hardness on the Moh's scale of 9.0 and the chemical formula of Al2CO3:Cr
Buying Rubies
It is always advisable (as with all gemstones) just to understand the basics of the four C's. Colour, clarity, weight (in carats), and cut.
Colours of Ruby
Depending upon the amount of the naturally found trace element known as chromium, gives the ruby its colour ranging from rich pink-crimson, to deep blood red.
The hue of ruby is the base colour, whether it be red, slight orange, strong orange, slight purple, or strong purple.
Colour purity and intensity is known as the Saturation. This is basically how much the hue is masked by grey and brown shades.
When considering tone, this just simply indicates a description of its colour from light to dark.
A ruby that has a medium/dark tone and bright hue is known as being "Pigeon Blood" red. These are mainly from the famous mines in Burma, are the most sought after, and therefore command the highest prices. Generally accepted as being the best.
Clarity of Ruby
All naturally occurring rubies should have imperfections, including internal colour impurities and external surface blemishes.
The more expensive rubies will show fewer "needle" or "silk" internal rutile inclusions, and just as with diamonds, the clearer the stone the more expensive it becomes. Only the most expensive of stones will show little inclusions, and this helps jewellers to easily determine if a stone is real or not.
To show off their property greater, some rubies that have a six point star or asterism effect, will be cut in to cabochons.
The clarity of ruby, as with all other gemstones, is officially classified by the GIA system, and ranges from the best VVS (very, very, slightly included), to VS (very, slightly included), SI-S2 (slightly included), and down to I1,I2,13 (included).
Inclusions
Internally - Such as silk rutile which is preferred, needles and cracks, As well as fingerprints, colour zoning, halos, chips and cavities.
Surface - pits, nicks, abrasions and scratches.
Ruby Transparency
This is the degree of visibility that is seen through a ruby and is an often-overlooked characteristic. When discussing rubies transparency is stated as follows:
Transparent - This is when all objects when viewed through the gemstone are clear. These gems will have few inclusions and excellent brilliance.
Semi-transparent - All things viewed through the ruby will look slightly out of focus or "blurry".
Translucent - Light is diffused by the gem thus making objects difficult to see when looking through them gemstone.
Semi-translucent or semi-opaque - only a small portion of light passes through the gemstone.
Opaque - No light passes through the ruby and objects can hardly be seen.
Ruby Carats (weight)
A smaller ruby which has a rich "pigeon blood" red colour will usually demand more money than that of a bigger but paler red coloured stone. This means that size is only important usually after colour and clarity have been taken into account.
Cut of Ruby
Although rounds are more popular in diamonds, because rubies are relatively rarer and more expensive, cutters tend to prefer to shape them more in to ovals and cushions. These latter shapes involve less loss of the ruby density and size by preserving more of the original "rough" shape, but it means that the rounds will be more expensive because more "rough" has to be removed.
Just like all gems, because more light and reflection will produce more sparkle and this is dependent upon the cut, then obviously the better the quality of cut the more sparkle produced, resulting in a more sought after and expensive example.
The best ruby cuts have a normal depth to width ratio usually higher than that of similarly sized diamonds at approx 65-80%. When viewed through their side, good quality rubies should always show good symmetry, which again equates to better and more even reflection of light.
Thank you for reading my article on the make up of Rubies
Make up of Ruby
It has a hardness on the Moh's scale of 9.0 and the chemical formula of Al2CO3:Cr
Buying Rubies
It is always advisable (as with all gemstones) just to understand the basics of the four C's. Colour, clarity, weight (in carats), and cut.
Colours of Ruby
Depending upon the amount of the naturally found trace element known as chromium, gives the ruby its colour ranging from rich pink-crimson, to deep blood red.
The hue of ruby is the base colour, whether it be red, slight orange, strong orange, slight purple, or strong purple.
Colour purity and intensity is known as the Saturation. This is basically how much the hue is masked by grey and brown shades.
When considering tone, this just simply indicates a description of its colour from light to dark.
A ruby that has a medium/dark tone and bright hue is known as being "Pigeon Blood" red. These are mainly from the famous mines in Burma, are the most sought after, and therefore command the highest prices. Generally accepted as being the best.
Clarity of Ruby
All naturally occurring rubies should have imperfections, including internal colour impurities and external surface blemishes.
The more expensive rubies will show fewer "needle" or "silk" internal rutile inclusions, and just as with diamonds, the clearer the stone the more expensive it becomes. Only the most expensive of stones will show little inclusions, and this helps jewellers to easily determine if a stone is real or not.
To show off their property greater, some rubies that have a six point star or asterism effect, will be cut in to cabochons.
The clarity of ruby, as with all other gemstones, is officially classified by the GIA system, and ranges from the best VVS (very, very, slightly included), to VS (very, slightly included), SI-S2 (slightly included), and down to I1,I2,13 (included).
Inclusions
Internally - Such as silk rutile which is preferred, needles and cracks, As well as fingerprints, colour zoning, halos, chips and cavities.
Surface - pits, nicks, abrasions and scratches.
Ruby Transparency
This is the degree of visibility that is seen through a ruby and is an often-overlooked characteristic. When discussing rubies transparency is stated as follows:
Transparent - This is when all objects when viewed through the gemstone are clear. These gems will have few inclusions and excellent brilliance.
Semi-transparent - All things viewed through the ruby will look slightly out of focus or "blurry".
Translucent - Light is diffused by the gem thus making objects difficult to see when looking through them gemstone.
Semi-translucent or semi-opaque - only a small portion of light passes through the gemstone.
Opaque - No light passes through the ruby and objects can hardly be seen.
Ruby Carats (weight)
A smaller ruby which has a rich "pigeon blood" red colour will usually demand more money than that of a bigger but paler red coloured stone. This means that size is only important usually after colour and clarity have been taken into account.
Cut of Ruby
Although rounds are more popular in diamonds, because rubies are relatively rarer and more expensive, cutters tend to prefer to shape them more in to ovals and cushions. These latter shapes involve less loss of the ruby density and size by preserving more of the original "rough" shape, but it means that the rounds will be more expensive because more "rough" has to be removed.
Just like all gems, because more light and reflection will produce more sparkle and this is dependent upon the cut, then obviously the better the quality of cut the more sparkle produced, resulting in a more sought after and expensive example.
The best ruby cuts have a normal depth to width ratio usually higher than that of similarly sized diamonds at approx 65-80%. When viewed through their side, good quality rubies should always show good symmetry, which again equates to better and more even reflection of light.
Thank you for reading my article on the make up of Rubies
About the Author:
If you are looking for Fine Ruby Jewellery,then go to www.GlobeJewellery.co.uk. They have Beautiful Ruby Rings, Ruby Earrings and other great Ruby Jewellery.