Ruby: The King of Precious Gems
Photo Courtesy of GIA
Introduction
Who doesn’t love a ruby? Not only is it July’s birthstone, but ruby is traditionally given for 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries. That beautiful reddish hue-the same color of love, passion-objects of power and desire. Ruby is one of the most valuable colored gems.
Rubies have been around for quite some time. Early cultures treasured this gem for their same coloration as the blood that runs through our veins, so appropriately ruby was believed to hold the power of life. In ancient Indian sanskrit, this ravishing beauty was called “ratnaraj” which translates to “the king of precious stones” for its hardness (second only to diamond!). It was seen as a symbol of power and youthful energy. Some even believed rubies could predict misfortune or danger and others claimed it would cure inflammatory disease and soothe anger. Rubies were also popular since the time of the Bible and are mentioned in association with beauty and wisdom. This gem was said to be the most precious of the 12 stones created by God.
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Burmese warriors believed it made them invincible in battle. Medieval Europeans believed that rubies granted wealth, health, wisdom and success in love. Ancient Hindus believed those who offered fine rubies to the god Krishna were granted rebirth as an emperor.
Let’s dive deeper and get to the heart of this gem.
In the 1st Century AD Pliny included rubies in his Natural History which became the editorial model for encyclopedias.
People in India believed that rubies enabled their owners to live in peace with their enemies. In Myanmar (a major fine ruby source we will discuss later) at least 600 AD, warriors obtained rubies to make them invincible in battle. It wasn’t enough to just wear the gems, they had to make them a part of their body by inserting the gem into their flesh!
The ruby maintained its significance with the birth of the western world and became one of the most desired gems of European royalty and the upper class. Medieval Europeans wore rubies as they were believed to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth, and success in love for the wearer.
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To this day, the demand for ruby is still quite high. Seen as a symbol of passion, rubies make the perfect romantic gift!
Ruby Color and Value
The word ruby comes from the Latin word “ruber,” which means red. So where does this stunning red color come from? First, we need to discuss what ruby is. Ruby is considered the most valuable variety of the gem species corundum (same as sapphire). They can command the highest per carat price of any colored gem, making ruby one of the most important gems in the jewelry market. One of the reasons is it’s durability and hardness as mentioned before ( 9 on Mohs scale) making it perfect for everyday wear.
We already know ruby is a corundum but ironically, the corundum is actually colorless. The color comes from the trace element chromium. Colors can range from orangey red to a purplish red. The more chromium, the stronger the red hue. Chromium can also cause fluorescence which adds to the intensity of the color.
Courtesy GIA Gems
Color is the most important factor for determining a ruby’s value. The finest ruby has a pure vibrant red to slightly purplish red hue. As the color becomes more orangey or more purplish, the ruby’s value drops down on the quality scale into good and commercial ranges. There is a fine line between ruby and pink sapphire. As we learned, the word ruby means red and pink is a shade of red, but there is a huge price difference between the two colors.
GIA gem labs use masterstones to determine if a corundum is ruby or if it is pink, purple, or orange sapphire. Red must be the dominant hue before a gem can be considered a ruby.
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Sources of Ruby
It’s very important to be aware of source names, because it may further add value to the ruby. Be sure to have your gemologist ask all the needed questions. How does the dealer know its origin? A certificate of origin might be available, but it’s not always common because of the difficulty to accurately determine a ruby’s origin.
The most widely known sources for rubies, like those from Myanmar, the Himalayas, and northern Vietnam typically grow in metamorphic rocks like marble. The absence of iron in marble creates the pure red color. Myanmar is one of the oldest sources for fine rubies. For more than 5 centuries, the Mogok area in Myanmar has produced some of the most sought after rubies: vibrant red beauties softened by light scattering inclusions and glowing red fluorescence. It is a place of weathered marble and ancient Buddhist temples.
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Other areas of importance for ruby sources are the Luc Yen Region in Northern Vietnam, with vast rainforests overlooking mountains rising over paddy fields, producing rubies of red to purplish color.
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Lastly, Mozambique is an important newer source. This African nation is home to the mines at Montepuez. Rubies found here have been comparable to the gems of Mogok.
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It’s very important to be aware of the below trade terms in regards to describing a ruby’s color.
“Burmese”: rubies from the Mogok region (Myanmar), indicates the finest quality gem
Red to slightly purplish hue with vivid saturation and medium dark tones.
Often displays a glowing red fluorescence and miniscule inclusions that give the color a characteristic softness.
“Pigeon’s Blood”: used to described a vivid pure red color, with minimal purple or orange tones
Burmese Ruby: GIA Gems
“Thai” & “Pailin”: Look similar to gems from sources straddling the border between Thailand and Cambodia
Thai may be pure red in color, generally with a brownish-red to purplish-red hue with medium-dark to very dark tone
Lacks red fluorescence
Tends to appear darker than Burmese gems
“mud stones”: lowest Thai quality
Thai Ruby: GIA Gems
“Ceylon” & “Sri Lanken”:
Color range from purplish-red to pinkish-red and medium to very light in tone.
Light tone absorbs less light
Tends to be brighter than dark toned rubies from Thailand
Looks more like pink sapphires than rubies.
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Clarity
Rubies without inclusions are practically nonexistent and they are expected. The value of the ruby can depend on how visible the inclusions are to the naked eye. Any obvious inclusions or inclusions that reduce transparency or brightness of the gem lowers the value dramatically.
Typically, ruby clarity characteristics include thin mineral inclusions called needles (see the close ups on our Instagram)
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Some inclusions can actually contribute positively to the gems appearance. For example, rutile silk causes light to scatter across the facets enhancing an otherwise dark gem, creating softness to the color while distributing it evenly across the gem.
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Needles that intersect can cause a star effect called asterism when the gem is cut into a cabochon.
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The ruby in rough form is very expensive and cutters try to preserve as much weight as possible.
Fine quality rubies over one carat are quite rare. The price per carat goes up as the size of the ruby increases.
On May 12, 2015 a 25.59 carat ruby sold for $1,266,901.00 per carat, setting a new record at auctions for colored gemstones!
Regardless of color and cut, Therese can help you find what’s in your heart with this gem.