Rubies belong to the family of corundum minerals as well and for centuries they have been at the forefront of the coloured gemstones as the most priced gemstone! Since ancient times the red coloured gemstone has been commonly referred to the King’s Gem and symbolizes power and authority.
Some gemstones that are popularly or historically called rubies, such as the Black Prince’s Ruby in the British Imperial State Crown, are actually spinels. These were once known as “Balas rubies”.
India was classically regarded as the Ruby’s country of origin for more than two thousand years. Recently, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have exposed substantial Ruby deposits. In Southeast Asia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam have also been long regarded as sources of fine Rubies. The production of the Burmese rubies are nearly exhausted and thus Burmese Rubies are highly sought after by collectors all around the world.
Thai Rubies are beautiful ‘Royal Red’ gemstones from Bo Rai, the former ‘King of Thai Ruby’, in Thailand’s Trat province. First referenced in 1408, Thai Ruby once fulfilled 95 percent of the world’s demand for this extremely rare and highly coveted gemstone. Ostensibly depleted since 2009, Thai Ruby is impossibly rare, making it incredibly collectable.
A ruby is a pink to blood-red coloured gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. Ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems, together with amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond. The word ruby comes from ruby, Latin for red.
The red coloration present is caused by the trace element chromium found within the gemstone. The higher the content of the chromium the more red the ruby will be. The rubies from Burma have been noted to contain high levels of vanadium which causes strong fluorescence in UV light. As with all gemstones the Hue, Tone and the Saturation commands the price of the ruby. The highest priced Hue for the Ruby is the Pigeon Blood colour.
The colours of the ruby ranges from violetish red (‘pigeon blood’ or vivid red) to pinkish red ruby. ‘Pigeon blood’ ruby is the most sought-after colour variety of ruby gemstone, which displays bright red hue with a slight tint of purple that appears deep red when seen in light and is regarded as the finest colour for a ruby. Priced according to their beauty, durability and rarity, the colour of the ruby is the key in determining the value of the ruby.
The lustrous red colour is unparalleled and finding an untreated and unheated natural ruby is extremely rare! The world’s finest rubies are mostly from Burma and Mozambique. The colours of the ruby ranges from violetish red (‘pigeon blood’ or vivid red) to pinkish red ruby.
‘Pigeon blood’ ruby is the most sought-after colour variety of ruby gemstone, which displays bright red hue with a slight tint of purple that appears deep red when seen in light and is regarded as the finest colour for a ruby. Priced according to their beauty, durability and rarity, the colour of the ruby is the key in determining the value of the ruby.
Rubies almost always have inclusions within them. Thus many rubies in the market have been subjected to heat treatment to enhance their clarity and it’s extremely rare to find a loupe clean ruby.
Famous Rubies
The colours of the ruby ranges from violetish red (‘pigeon blood’ or vivid red) to pinkish red ruby. ‘Pigeon blood’ ruby is the most sought-after colour variety of ruby gemstone, which displays bright red hue with a slight tint of purple that appears deep red when seen in light and is regarded as the finest colour for a ruby. Priced according to their beauty, durability and rarity, the colour of the ruby is the key in determining the value of the ruby.
The lustrous red colour is unparalleled and finding an untreated and unheated natural ruby is extremely rare! The world’s finest rubies are mostly from Burma and Mozambique. The colours of the ruby ranges from violetish red (‘pigeon blood’ or vivid red) to pinkish red ruby.
‘Pigeon blood’ ruby is the most sought-after colour variety of ruby gemstone, which displays bright red hue with a slight tint of purple that appears deep red when seen in light and is regarded as the finest colour for a ruby. Priced according to their beauty, durability and rarity, the colour of the ruby is the key in determining the value of the ruby.
Rubies almost always have inclusions within them. Thus many rubies in the market have been subjected to heat treatment to enhance their clarity and it’s extremely rare to find a loupe clean ruby.
Did you know that the Ruby is the birthstone for July babies and traditionally a gift for those celebrating 15th or 40th anniversaries.
