Hobbies And Interests
Natural Colors of the Ruby
A ruby is a red sapphire. They are both varieties of the mineral corundum. Natural colors for ruby include shades of pink, purple, orange and brown. The color of the ruby is influenced by the content of chromium and iron in the stone. In some cases, pink rubies are referred to as pink sapphires. The Gem Society points out that there is no exact guideline when it comes to identifying stones within the corundum family.
Enhanced Rubies
The most common method of enhancing rubies is to expose them to high temperatures. Heating and cooling natural stones may improve the saturation of their color and overall tone. It is nearly impossible to detect heat enhancement in a clean stone since nature herself heats and cools stones during their formation. Enhancing is common and does not necessarily lower the monetary value of a ruby, but it should be disclosed to a potential buyer.
Synthesized Rubies
The Gem Society reports that the first artificial rubies were synthesized in the early 1900s by the method of flame fusion. Synthesized rubies can easily pass for the genuine article. Their colors and inclusions look so natural even some professionals cannot identify a synthetic ruby. For beauty and affordability, a man-made ruby can be a good choice, but not if you believe you are paying for stone that nature made.
Value
The rarity of richly colored, flawless rubies drives their price high. Large rubies of high quality can be more valuable than similarly sized diamonds. Burmese rubies are considered the most desirable. The Gem Society reports that purplish-red Burmese rubies that have only light inclusions and range between ½ and 1 carat in size can sell for up to $3,000. Clean stones, those with no inclusions, can retail for $1,000 to $3,000 per carat.
Myth and Lore
Perhaps no other gem stone is as shrouded in myth and legend as the ruby. The gemstone website, Gehna Bazaar, states that in Hindu theology, ruby is a "navagraha" stone, and represents the planets that have influence over our lives. Perhaps because of their red color, they are thought to be related to the heart, passion, love and romance. One bit of lore that may make rubies even more desirable is the belief that those who possess the ruby will live a peaceful and harmonious life.