Ruby

Ruby

Is distinguished and known by all for its fiery red color. Beside for its color, it is a most desirable gem due to its hardness, durability, luster, and rarity. Transparent rubies of large sizes are even rarer than diamonds. Transparent, flawless rubies exceed all other gems in value. (except for deeply colored "fancy diamonds"). Rubies must be transparent to possess gem value.Opaque or semi-opaque rubies have little value, even if they display asterism.Ruby is a red variety of the mineral corundum. Sapphire, the other gem variety of corundum, encompasses all colors of corundum aside from red. In essence, ruby is a red sapphire, since ruby and sapphire are identical in all properties except for color. The color of ruby ranges from bright red to dark reddish-brown. The most preferred color is a deep blood red with a slightly bluish hue. Such ruby is known as "Burmese Ruby" or "Pigeon's Blood Ruby". Ruby from Burma is famous for its exceptional coloring. However, Burmese ruby rarely exceeds several carats; large flawless Burmese rubies can be worth millions of dollars. Most rubies on the market are from Thailand, and these rubies have a brownish hue. They can be heat-treatmed to improve color. Heat-treating a ruby can also increase its transparency by removing tiny internal flaws.

VARIETIES

Star Ruby - Ruby displaying

asterism

Cat's Eye Ruby - Ruby exhibiting cat's eye effect

Verneuil

Burmese Ruby - Ruby with
exceptional color (usually but not necessarily from Burma)

Burma Ruby - Synonym of Burma ruby (above)

Pigeon's Blood Ruby - Blood-red ruby with a hint of blue