Rubies have been well cherished for the rich red color and today these have emerged to be one of the most demanded gemstones in the whole world. As aesthetics, as symbolic or as investment many people wish to buy ruby gemstone pieces for personal ornaments. But getting a ruby may not be as easy as the case seems. But before you part with that amount of capital, here are some several important criteria to look at. Here, you will learn all about ruby gemstone so that you are well equipped when it comes to purchasing pieces that you prefer and at an affordable price.
Understanding Ruby Gemstones: What Makes Them Special?
There are two main types of rubies the one which is a single crystal and the other one is made of raw material which is referred to as corundum and it is also used to make sapphire gemstones. These two types of rubies are the main types and the difference between the two is the color which is red due to chromium. The best rubies have this kind of intensify red hue with very little of a purple tinge into it. Rubies have had a permanent place in the hearts of people even in the ancient ages and they are known as the “king of gemstones”. Ruby gemstone jewelry is more than a work of art and a Ruby gemstone symbolizes more than jewel when buying ruby gemstone jewelry.
Rubies are relatively hard and measure at a Mohs hardness of 9 just a shade below diamonds. For this reason, they are worn as personal accessories in rings, necklaces, and bracelets for day to day wear. They are also said to represent passion, love and protection, hence, people usually use diamonds in engagement ceremonies and their accessories such as rings.
Natural vs. Treated Rubies
What one should know is that most of the ruby gems in circulation today have undergone some sort of treatment to make them look better in terms of color and clarity. Heat treatment is also widely used and considered to be legal in the gem industry and through heat treatment the appearance of a ruby can significantly be enhanced without compromising the value. Nevertheless, some of the natural rubies have gone through enhanced treatments such as fracture filling or dyeing whose effects can distort the beauty of the stone over a long period of time. As you purchase ruby gemstones, always request for a disclosure of the treatments that the stone has undergone.
In its natural state and unheated form, rubies are very scarce and, therefore, cost more in the market. As personally discussed, an untreated ruby is one of the best investments or an extraordinary individual stone. But if you are finite on money then you can still opt for a treated ruby and that too will look quite good on you.
Where to Buy Ruby Gemstone
Basically there are several ways by which you can get a ruby, Here is the list: Ruby gemstone pieces are available at the nearby jewelry stores, through the internet purchase or through a gemstone auction. Again, no matter the source you obtain your ruby, the seller should offer you a certification of the same from a credible gemological laboratory like GIA or AGS. The certificate will either indicate the authenticity of the stone, its source, the treatments it has undergone and its quality.
To prevent the risk of acquiring a synthetic or an imitation ruby, one has to ensure that he or she buys it from a rightful source. Sure there are synthetic rubies in the market that are far more cheaper but they don’t have the same value or beauty when compared to the genuine buy ruby gemstone.
Final Thoughts
While rubies are colorless, what the buyer is paying for is beauty, history and emotion to become associated with the dream ruby. There are few general characteristics, which have to be paid attention in case, it is necessary to buy ruby gemstone for oneself or as a gift: color, clarity, cut, carat weight and origin. In this case it is always better to go for quality rather than quantity when selecting the gemstones. The one is supposed to make sure that he or she obtains the gemstone from a credible dealer who will give him or her a certified gemstone.