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About precious and semiprecious stones

Ruby gemstone properties


The natural Ruby is the most expensive gem in the world. A ruby of perfect quality from Burma will cost more than diamond with the same quality and weight. That's because perfect rubies of large size are rarely found in the nature. But, as in the case of other natural gems, the low-quality ruby crystals, unsuitable for cutting, cost only a few dollars per carat. Generally, these are opaque stones.


The largest sum ever paid was recorded in 2006 on the 15 of February. The famous London jeweler Lawrence Graff paid an incredible record amount of money. 425, 000 pounds sterling for every carat of 8.62 carat ruby. Which in total amount was 3.6 million. The Ruby was set in the Bulgari ring.

Physico-Chemical characteristics of Ruby


  • The Ruby is a variety of corundum.
  • The chemical composition of the ruby - Al2O3.
  • Cleavage - pseudo cleavage or none.
  • Syngony - trigonal.
  • Crystal habit - hexagonal stout tabular, Columnar
  • The ruby color is determined by impurities, isomorphically substituting aluminium (chromium, iron, titanium): Red, pink-red, purple-red, different saturation -less bright, brighter.
  • Transparency - translucent, transparent.
  • The luster - glassy.
  • Hardness on the Mohs scale - 9.
  • Density-3,97 - 4,05.
  • Refractive index - 1,766-1,774.
  • Fracture: conchoidal, uneven, the crystal is fragile.
  • The dense specimens are resistant to mechanical impact.

Quality, color and price of Ruby



The undisputed favorite, the best of the best among rubies, is the Burmese Ruby. Most of them come from Mogok - the mountain region of Myanmar. The deep, saturated color of these stones is their main value. However, not all samples from Mogok are of high quality. Some Burmese rubies may cost $20 per carat, while the best, quality samples can reach in price $5000 per carat or more.

Like others gemstones, ruby’s price is based on the saturation and beauty of the color, level of clarity and the absence of defects. Inclusions can significantly reduce the cost of the ruby, but in some cases it increases it. If, for example, there is smooth soft "silk" in a transparent crystal, this inclusion would be superfluous at all, and would, definitely, increase the value of the stone. However, there should be the moderate quantity of "silk". Excessive impurities subdue the color and transparency of the ruby, affecting its quality. And, of course, it reduces the price.

Besides Burma (Myanmar), there are other deposits. They are in such countries as Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania and other less significant places.

Today natural rubies of high quality are mined in Tanzania, a place called Winza. The crystals that are mined there are not so big. They are rarely bigger than 2-2.5 carats. But they have a fabulous crimson color. Crystals are more transparent than blurry. But not without internal defects. But after the cutting, they glow with a dazzling brilliance. They have the very same fire and sparks that involuntary attract the eye. You want to buy this ruby and never take it off.

We’ d like to tell you a little about star ruby. The most expensive specimens are transparent, with a good color and clear, correct star. Much cheaper, but not cheap at all, rubies that are not transparent, but with the same good color and a clear, recognizable star. Well, the worse the stone's color, the contrast of the star and the main color, proportions, the symmetry, the less it costs. However, there is no clear quality-to-price ratio. Cost estimating of the ruby in this case is purely subjective. Everyone has his own taste and preferences. And this should be taken into account.


Synthetic Ruby


Today, many synthetic rubies, grown by various synthesis techniques, are represented at the gemstones market. Among the synthetic analogues of natural gemstones, ruby occupies a special place. The ruby became the first synthetic crystal which was grown on industrial scale and used extensively instead of natural stones for technical and jewellery purposes. You've probably seen your mothers and grandmothers wore the golden rings with crimson-red inserts. These synthetic rubies were very popular in Soviet Union.

And nowadays jewelry stores are swamped with rubies. But now natural jewels are used much more often than synthetic ones. That’s because people want to buy a real, natural stone, even if it is not so big.

These people's preferences prompted merchants to sell synthetics as natural stones. Modern technologies allow growing the crystals that are very similar in structure to natural crystals. To distinguish a synthetic form from a real ruby is not possible for the majority of people. This can only be done in a special laboratory. So if you get a unique opportunity to acquire a large and pure gem, it is important to remember that pure, densely colored large rubies are very rare in nature. This fact in itself put into question the natural origin of the stone.

Enhancement of the ruby is the normal practice


Nowadays a huge number of rubies undergo heat treatment. This is the simplest and most accessible way to remove extraneous impurities from the crystal and make it more transparent. As a result, the ruby acquires more uniform color. To make it more transparent, the fissures and voids that emerged after the heat treatment are filled with special glass. This type of enhancement is the most common nowadays. Thanks to this technology, nowadays a man of average incomes can afford himself to buy a natural ruby at an accessible price.

Compare the result: Ruby, Burma, 1 carat, clarity: VVS, untreated -$5000. Or the Ruby, Tanzania, 1 carat, clarity-VVS, treated-$500.

But what to do if you do not know where to buy the ruby? Ask your friends jewelers if you have such. If no, search in catalogues of companies, which sell precious stones. If you want to save money on the purchasing the stone, search announcements at the forums. You can find lots of interesting there.

Magic Properties of Ruby


The element of this stone is fire. It helps its owner to be absolutely safe even among the enemies, gives invulnerability, but to do so, the stone needs to be worn under the cloth and better never take it off. The owners of the ruby need to be very careful. If you are intemperate by your nature, it would be better if you don't touch the ruby at all. A kind, good man, this gem indues with the generosity and persistence in achieving the goal, and the wicked person, on the contrary, has spoiled by reinforcing its negative features. Ruby increases responsibility in the person and promotes leadership, setting free the owner from the low self-esteem and lack of self-trust. It begets love and craving for great values, whether it to be art, science, military art, etc., moreover, this stone symbolizes passionate physical love.

Healing properties of Ruby


The ruby rejuvenates, strengthens the heart, normalizes blood pressure. It also helps to restore memory, decrease epilepsy, to stop bleeding, heal the wounds, diseases of the brain, diseases of the spine, bones, and joints; protects against viruses and other infections.

Ruby for Zodiac Signs


The zodiac sign of the ruby is Leo. Apart from Leo, Sagittarius can also wear the ruby. It is not recommended for Virgo and Taurus to wear jewelry with ruby. It’s strongly prohibited for Cancer and emotional Scorpio.



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