Guide To Rubies

What they symbolise

Due to their extreme rarity, rubies are by far the most coveted coloured gemstones of all. Their vibrant red colour has inspired countless stories and legends, spanning both centuries and cultures. In Sanskrit, rubies are called ‘Ratnaraj’, which translates to ‘king of precious gemstones.’

A symbol of passion, strength and power, rubies have long been associated with the life-sustaining force of blood. In fact, Burmese soldiers were known to use rubies in battle for protection, sometimes inserting the gems under their skin to achieve greater courage and fearlessness.

Today, the captivating red of these gemstones continues to fascinate many. Rubies are the July birthstone and are given to celebrate 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.

Timeless designs

Rubies are nearly as hard as diamonds, which means they can be worn on a daily basis without incurring much damage. They can be a good option if you are looking to create an engagement ring that is both distinctive and personal to you. The bold, daring fire of rubies elevates any jewellery creation and adds vibrant flashes of colour to any outfit.

One of the most notable examples of fine ruby jewellery is the Queen Elizabeth II’s Burmese Ruby tiara. This striking piece is composed of 96 vivid red rubies, forming floral motifs and intertwined with diamonds. This contemporary piece was created in 1973 by Garrard.

What to remember

Cost and carat
The final price of your ruby will be determined by many factors, including colour, carat, cut, clarity, treatment and origin. The right combination of these will ensure your gem’s long-term value remains steady and perhaps even increases over time.

Large rubies are extremely rare and in limited supply. For this reason, carat weight will make the price of your gem increase exponentially. The price of a 10-carat ruby is usually 100 times that of a one-carat stone.

Colour intensity
Colour is the most significant factor when it comes to valuing a ruby. Unlike diamonds, there is no internationally accepted colour grading system for this gemstone. Dazzle Diamonds have adopted the ICL’s seven levels of colour intensity, which range from Dark to Medium Intense.

Rubies that are a shade above Medium Intense are called pink sapphires, as both these gemstones are part of the same mineral variety, corundum.

The most sought-after colour in rubies is Vivid. Referred to as ‘pigeon blood’ in the trade, this colour seems to have an almost fluorescent quality, lending intense fire to your jewellery. Our rubies are classified in four different shades: pure, purplish, orangey and pinkish red. The intense saturation of pure red rubies make them significantly more expensive. If your ruby has strong orange, purple and pink overtones, this will affect long-term value.

Clarity
Unlike diamonds, inclusions in rubies are common, well-accepted and often serve to indicate the origin of the stone. There are three levels of clarity:

• “Eye Clean” (EC1 – EC2) — inclusions are invisible to the unaided eye.
• “Visible inclusions” (VI1 – VI2) — inclusions are only slightly visible to the unaided eye.
• “Included” (I1 – I2) — inclusions are obvious to the unaided eye.

Cut and shape
Usually, rubies are both brilliant and step cut. A brilliant cut ensures an even display of light reflections throughout the gem, while a step cut lends intense fire to the piece. Some rubies may also be cabochon cut, giving them a smooth and rounded finish. Cut quality influences the overall price.

Shape is personal preference. The most common are round and oval, with marquise or pear also seen.

Treatment
Rubies are most commonly enhanced through heat treatment to intensify colour and clarity — used since Roman times. This is widely accepted and typically does not affect longevity.

At Dazzle Diamonds, we provide two forms: heated (H) and heated with flux (Hf). These are stable, permanent and require no special care. We do not sell rubies treated with beryllium or lead-glass, as these methods significantly weaken the gem.

Only the finest and rarest rubies are unearthed perfect without treatment — these command significant premiums.

Origin
Although some rubies may look similar, their prices differ by origin. The most expensive rubies come from Myanmar (Burma), mined for thousands of years. The second finest origins are often considered Mozambique and Thailand, followed by Tanzania and Madagascar. Rubies from regions such as Vietnam are typically valued lower for origin.