Are rubies just red sapphires?

Rubies Are Just Red Sapphires

Used extensively in jewelry as well as other forms of art, this gemstone has retained its popularity across the world. It's no wonder these gems are so sought after; transparent rubies of a large size are even rarer than diamonds!

What is the difference between red sapphire and ruby?

Scientifically speaking, rubies and sapphires are the same mineral (corundum). Both are made of alumina and oxygen, but they just differ in color. When a corundum is red, it is classified as a ruby, and when it's blue, it is called a sapphire.

How can you tell a ruby from a red sapphire?

Rubies are inherently red, and sapphires are any other color. However, rubies can have pink, purple, or orange undertones. The dominance of undertones determines whether the stone is a ruby or a pink, orange or purple sapphire.

Are rubies and sapphires in the same family?

Many people don't know that rubies and sapphires belong to the same gem family, which is called corundum.

Are rubies and sapphires the same mineral?

Sapphires and rubies are both gem varieties of the mineral corundum. They have the same chemical composition and structure. Gems generally get their colour because of certain metals or impurities contained in the mineral. The impurities in corundum gems produce the large range of colours found.

Ruby vs Sapphire

Are blue rubies real?

There is a common misconception that all sapphires are blue and all rubies are red. However, there's a lot more to the colour of these stones than one might think. Both of these precious gemstones belong to the same family of stones, called corundum.

Are rubies or sapphires more expensive?

A fine quality ruby is generally more expensive than most sapphires and emeralds, with record prices of up to $1,000,000 per carat. Sapphires can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $11,000 per carat, but you'll find good-quality stones at $450 - $1,200 per carat.

Are all rubies red?

Rubies are exclusively red. However, they can range in tone, saturation and secondary colors, meaning some rubies may display pink, brown, purple or orange coloration.

Why are rubies red?

In its purest form, the mineral corundum is colorless. Trace elements that become part of the mineral's crystal structure cause variations in its color. Chromium is the trace element that causes ruby's red, which ranges from an orangy red to a purplish red.

Are diamonds sapphires?

A sapphire is a mineral but it is not diamond even though a diamond is a mineral as well. They are both different types of minerals. Sapphires are a variety of the mineral corundum,which is an aluminum oxide. Various elements found within the sapphires cause different hues.

How can you tell if its a real ruby?

At a 9 on the Mohs scale, rubies aren't easily scratched unless you use a diamond. Other gemstones and imitations are more fragile. You can scratch the surface of your ruby with a coin, and if it leaves marks, you likely have a fake. Real rubies won't get scratched by keys or coins.

What color are real rubies?

The Color of Ruby

The finest ruby has a pure, vibrant red to slightly purplish red color. In most markets, pure red colors command the highest prices and ruby with overtones of orange and purple are less valued.

Do pink rubies exist?

Pink Rubies:

Stones with low levels of chromium, which is what gives the gemstone its red hue, are called pink sapphires and not rubies.

Are rubies and garnets the same?

Rubies have a deeper and more distinct red color, while garnets, in comparison, appear lighter and paler. In addition, a ruby could perhaps even seem slightly purple, some would even say bluish. But if the hue of the stone leans towards shades such as orange or yellow, you're probably looking at a garnet.

What are pink rubies called?

No discussion of pinkish rubies is complete without mentioning pink sapphires. These two gems are made from the same mineral (corundum) and colored by the same element (chromium). The only difference between the two varieties of corundum is whether they are called ruby or pink sapphire.

Are red sapphires rare?

Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as 'red sapphire', since all red corundum gemstones are referred to as 'ruby' in the gems and jewelry trade. All other other colors of corundum are referred to as sapphire.

Do rubies glow under black light?

Answer: All rubies fluoresce, whether they're mined or created in a lab, since natural and synthetic ruby gemstones have the same chemical composition and physical properties.

Why are rubies so expensive?

In fact, a ruby technically is a sapphire, but its prized color has always separated it from similar gems. Corundum scores a nine on the Mohs hardness scale, which grades the strength of gem minerals. Diamonds are a 10. This is another reason ruby is so highly valued, along with the deep color and gorgeous shine.

How are rubies created?

Like many gemstones, rubies are made under extreme heat and pressure below the earth. When compressed, oxygen and aluminum atoms turn into corundum. This mineral, along with the presence of chromium, creates rubies and their distinct hue. If ferric iron is also present, the ruby will be a shade of orange or pink.

Can rubies be black?

Ruby colors can range from a deep blackish red to an orangish or pinkish red. Regardless of the combinations of other colors that can be a part of the ruby, the primary color is always red. Rubies that are on the shade of too dark can be the color of a wine color.

How much is a real ruby worth?

Rubies can run as little as $1 a carat to $100,000+ a carat, depending on the 4Cs. One of the most expensive rubies ever sold is the Sunrise Ruby, selling for over a million dollars a carat at 25 carats.

How can you tell the difference between a ruby and a garnet?

Rubies are harder, a much more brilliant red, and much more expensive. Examine the color closely. If the stone has hints of orange or other earthy tones — other than red — it's likely a garnet. Rubies are considered best with a vivid redness, but sometimes they have purplish or bluish secondary hues.

Which is rarer ruby or sapphire?

In fact, they are among the rarest colored stone in the world. Ruby: Untreated natural rubies are extremely rare. They are actually significantly rarer than sapphires, which is why they are even more expensive. Emerald: Like sapphires and rubies, emeralds are among the rarest of all gemstones.

What is the most rare gemstone?

Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.

Why are rubies and sapphires different colors?

Both rubies and sapphires owe their intense colors to impurities, ruby to the presence of chromium, and blue sapphire to both titanium and iron. In rubies, the color can be explained by crystal field theory, but in sapphire, a slightly different process, known as charge transfer, produces the color blue.