Rubies are quite fascinating and occupy the second place on the Mohs durability scale, right after diamonds. But besides being extremely durable, their main attraction is the color – that blood-red that can take a million shades depending on how the light falls.
As such, if you take a closer look at the trends, rubies are everywhere. You can find them in engagement rings, wedding bands, neckalces, and even crwon jewelry collections. In addition, younger generations seem more interested in rubies and other gemstones than they are in diamonds.
Still, before you jump at the idea, it’s best to make sure you know everything there is to know about them.
Gemstone Quality
The main factor that defines the quality of a ruby is the color. And in evaluating the color, you need to consider three main features:
- Hue – the main hue must be red. While, depending on the light, you may perceive other colors (orange or purple), red must be its main state.
- Tone – a high-quality ruby should have medium darkness – if it’s too dark it will look black and if it’s too light it will have a pinkish color (it will look washed out).
- Saturation – This feature speaks about the intensity of the hue. As such, a ruby that boasts an intense red will be more valuable than one that’s bland.
Another indicator of ruby quality is the origin (which should be revealed by the jeweler). As such, the best quality rubies are from countries like Sri Lanka, Burma, Kenya, Madagascar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
While reputable stores, like Diamondere, will always use only the best gemstones, it’s still good to know when you’re looking at a high-value rock.
Clarity & Cut
Since rubies are natural stones, there will always be some small imperfections (usually not visible with the naked eye). But this is what makes them so unique!
However, a valuable stone must be clear, without any easily distinguishable inclusions. On the other hand, you also need to pay attention to the way the stone is cut. For instance, jewelers will always cut a low clarity ruby as a cabochon while a high-clarity one will almost always be round (but not too deep).
The cut of the stone influences how the light will reflect off of it (its visual aspect) but also its durability. This is why round stones are not very deep and why low quality ones are usually fashioned in a faceted shape.
However, the cut can’t be appreciated according to standard rules since it is free for debate. So, it’s best to look for good proportions and sparkles.
Synthetic Rubies
We now have the technology to create rubies in a laboratory, which is why some high-clarity stones are more affordable than others. While it may not sound like it, synthetic rybies are steal real gemstones, but since they were created in a controlled environment, they don’t have inclusions.
Also, they are more affordable, since they can be produced according to demand. So, if you’re looking for a great piece of jewelry to enhance your autumn outfits, a synthetic stone can be a great option!
Wrap Up
In conclusion, a valuable ruby needs to clear, in a medium-dark tone, with a red hue, and cut to enhance its natural beauty. Also keep in mind that these are natural stones, so you won’t find one with 100% clarity (unless it’s synthetic).
Overall, rubies are so diverse that buyers have plenty of options and can enjoy amazing jewelry without having to save for moths in advance.
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