Rubies are one of the rarest gemstones. The rarest rubies come from Burma (Myanmar), due to their high quality and exceptional color. Good quality rubies larger than one carat are also extremely rare—and expensive.
Gem-quality rubies are significantly rarer than diamonds, though there are certain types of diamonds that are very rare too. If we weigh the most spectacular examples of rubies and diamonds against one another, diamonds that show color are even rarer.
Ruby: Untreated natural rubies are extremely rare. They are actually significantly rarer than sapphires, which is why they are even more expensive. Emerald: Like sapphires and rubies, emeralds are among the rarest of all gemstones. They are rarer than sapphires but not quite as rare as rubies.
Ruby prices can range from a few hundred dollars a carat to thousands of dollars per carat depending on the size, color, origin, and treatment.
The Rarest Types of Rubies
Rubies need a lot of chromium to be red, but only a little bit of iron and titanium to alter the color undesirably. Chromium is also a much rarer element than iron and titanium, making the pure red that much rarer.
Ruby is found at various sites in New South Wales, including the Macquarie and Cudgegong Rivers, Tumbarumba and the New England area. The most significant occurrence is near Gloucester, in the drainage of the Barrington volcano. The Barrington/Gloucester area has been fossicked and mined for gold, ruby and sapphire.
Astrologers say that Ruby should not be worn in Virgo, Capricorn, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius ascendant because there is a feeling of enmity of the Sun with the owners of their zodiac signs.
A real ruby stone will fluoresce, or glow, when exposed to light. The fluorescence will be a bright red or orange color. Fake rubies will not fluoresce, or will fluoresce a different color. To perform the ruby light test, you will need a flashlight or other bright light and a ruby.
Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.
The decision ultimately comes down to the colour you wish to be present on your ring - if it's the romantic red shade then rubies are the way to go, whereas if you have an eye for any other hue, we recommend looking at a sapphire engagement ring.
Scientifically speaking, rubies and sapphires are the same mineral (corundum). Both are made of alumina and oxygen, but they just differ in color. When a corundum is red, it is classified as a ruby, and when it's blue, it is called a sapphire.
Value. A fine quality ruby is generally more expensive than most sapphires and emeralds, with record prices of up to $1,000,000 per carat. Sapphires can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $11,000 per carat, but you'll find good-quality stones at $450 - $1,200 per carat. Emeralds range from $525 to $1,125 per carat.
The Rarest Birthstones
For example, April's diamond, though pricey, is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite. While on the topic of alexandrite, this is currently the rarest gemstone on the birthstone list and can come at quite a cost. Black opals are also incredibly rare.
How Rare is Amethyst? Not very rare, it is plentiful, but with all gemstones, the better the color the more rare it is.
Based on what is available in our inventory, the vast majority of rubies that weigh around 1 carat are at least $1,000 per carat. This amount easily doubles if the ruby has not been heat-treated and will increase steeply for rubies that show good color, even if they have been heated.
The rub test includes rubbing your ruby across a smooth (but hard) surface, like glass, and seeing if the gem leaves any color behind. Glass only has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, so it's much softer than actual rubies. Real rubies and some gems shouldn't leave any color behind, but cheap fakes or imitations can.
Both natural and synthetic rubies fluoresce under UV light. Learn how slight differences in fluorescence patterns can help gemologists distinguish them. Home Learning Center Gemology Questions About Gems and Jewelry.
As we mentioned earlier, Ruby is one of the hardest gemstones, therefore it should not be easily scratched: With a damp of cloth or a toothbrush clean the ruby, in order to remove any debris or marks. Then dig your fingernail into the gemstone to see if you can leave a scratch. If you can, it's not a real ruby.
Many medieval Europeans wore rubies to guarantee health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love. Desire for ruby is just as great today as it always has been. As a symbol of passion, ruby makes an ideal romantic gift. Consumers are drawn to the lush color because it also signifies wealth and success.
Check your jewelry often to make sure the stones are not loose and the mountings look secure. Avoid wearing jewelry when you are doing housework, gardening, playing sports, or around drains like when showering, doing dishes, or washing hands. Use appropriate cleaning methods and materials.
Rubies are one of the more durable gems, making them perfect for everyday wear. As a gift for a special someone who likes to stay active, they're a great choice, too. Here are 5 tips to take care of a ruby ring in Plantation or other ruby jewelry to keep it looking its best.
While diamonds are measured in carat weight, rubies are usually compared by size. A 1.00 carat ruby measured about 6 mm across while the same weight diamond measures about 6.4 mm.
Therefore, a ruby gemstone ring is a suitable pick for proposals, engagements as well as wedding ceremonies. Sapphire is undoubtedly the most expensive option of the three boasting an even higher starting price for an heirloom-quality 1-carat piece.
The value of gold, rubies, diamonds, and pearls can vary depending on factors such as their quality, rarity, and market demand at the time of sale. However, in general, diamonds are typically considered to be the most valuable of the four, followed by rubies, gold, and pearls.