Buying a Ruby - Things You Should Know

What is a Ruby?

A ruby is a deep-red variety of corundum or a very hard mineral used as an abrasive. It is also a very popular gemstone in jewelries. The element called chromium is the primary cause of the vivid-red characteristic of this gem. The name ruby comes from the Latin word "ruber", meaning red. It is regarded as one of the 4 precious stones (diamond, emerald, sapphire & ruby). Other varieties of precious gems corundum are called sapphires.

Factors Affecting Cost of Ruby

The price of a ruby gem is dictated by its color. The most valuable and most prized of which is the pigeon blood-red ruby.
The next factor that determines the price of this gemstone is its clarity. The clearer the ruby, the more expensive or premium it becomes. This is also true with diamonds. Absence of needle-like inclusions tells that the gemstone has been treated.
The last remaining factors are its cut and size (carat).

Like the diamond, the ruby can be graded based on the criteria popularly known as the four Cs; its color, cut, clarity and carat weight. Its geographic origin can also play a role in determining its grade.

Ruby and its Color

For gemstones like the ruby, color is regarded as one of the most important factor. The three components of color are:

Hue,
Saturation and
Tone

The hue is just a more technical term for what we may refer to as "color". Transparent gemstones may have the hue of purple, violet, green, red, pink, orange and yellow. These are called the spectral hues. The purple and pink are modified spectral hues. Purple falls halfway between blue and red while pink is the lighter shade of red.

Pure hues are hard to find in nature so the hues of gemstones are categorized to primary, secondary or even tertiary hues. It is important that the primary hue of a ruby must be red although the exhibition of secondary hues is possible.

Which are the Best Ruby Stones?

The most highly graded rubies are those that are vivid, medium to dark or crimson-toned red. Secondary hues can add extra complications. Common secondary hues are pink, purple and orange. Of these three, the purple is more preferred because of its ability to make the red appear richer. Purple is also opted because it is a combination of blue and red, making it closer to red than the other two hues.

In Burma where pigeon blood-red first originated, rubies are typically set in pure gold. Because gold is a highly saturated yellow, it neutralizes the complement blue to make the ruby appear as pure red.

Want to check whether the ruby you bought is real or not? Simply browse to the website at "Gemstone Buzz" and find all the information you require regarding Ruby Gemstone.

If you don't find the answer, you can post your question in the Gemstone Forum. You will surely get support from other forum members.

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