Ruby Gemstone Colors

Gems of perfect saturation are rare and therefore more expensive.

Ruby gemstone colors.

The tone is the amount of color in a ruby. The redder the better. Okay so we know rubies are red but which red is best. Jan goodman co ruby can command the highest prices of any colored gemstone.

Though there are many other gemstones that display a red color including red diamonds there are properties that are exclusive to rubies. To begin with a ruby is essentially a red sapphire a gemstone of the corundum mineral variety. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum. For example this 1 04 carat ruby engagement ring has an impressive halo setting that attracts attention to the beautiful center stone all while giving the ring an elegant classic appearance.

The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium. Too much color and the ruby can appear dark opaque and lifeless. This makes ruby one of the most important gems in the colored stone market. Natural b this category accounts for over 50 of natural gemstones.

The hue specifies how red the gemstone is are there any hints of yellow blue or brown for example. Fine color large and eye clean lacking visible inclusions rubies like this 11 01carat ct stone from myanmar formerly known as burma are extremely rare and valuable. Too little color and the ruby can appear to be flat glassy and not like the red color you expect. Medium tone is the most desirable for a ruby as it is the best balance.

Like other colored gemstones they also look great in halo settings which emphasize the rich color of the ruby center stone. Trace elements that become part of the mineral s crystal structure cause variations in its color. Stones lighter than this are called pink sapphire. Ruby history and lore.

Ruby gemstones color range. When determining the quality of ruby based on its color the hue saturation and tone must always be taken into account. The word ruby comes from ruber latin for red. Chromium is the trace element that causes ruby s red color.

The name ruby is derived from the latin word ruber which means red. Ruby is gem quality red corundum. A ruby is what most often comes to mind when one thinks of a red gemstone. The color comes from traces of chromium.

All other color varieties of gem quality corundum are referred to as sapphire. Sapphire the other gem variety of corundum encompasses all colors of corundum. Most gemological authorities expect a medium to medium dark red color tone in a ruby. In its purest form the mineral corundum is colorless.

We need to break down the color of rubies into three parts the hue the tone and the saturation.