Ruby

RUBY

The most expensive colour in nature

'Pigeon's blood' Rubies from Mozambique, Madagascar and Tanzania. Ruby is the most valuable variety of the corundum family commanding the highest price per carat.

 

Throughout history the red ruby is one of the most important and recognisable stones and has been mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating back to 2300 years BC. 

 

Pure corundum is colourless. Slight traces of elements such as chrome, iron, titanium or vanadium are responsible for the beautiful red colour. 

 

Only red corundum is entitled to be called ruby, all other colours being classified as sapphires. 

The close relationship between the ruby and the sapphire has only been known since the beginning of the 19th century as both are from the same corundum family and both consist of aluminium oxide so both could be classified as sapphire.


This was often misleading so experts finally came to their senses and agreed that red corundum coloured by chrome should be called Ruby and all the others that are not red and coloured by chrome as sapphire!




A beautiful cushion Tanzanian Ruby


Up until fairly recently red garnets and spinels were also thought to be rubies. 


This is why the 'Black Ruby' and the 'Timur Ruby', two of the stones in the British Crown Jewels, being so aptly named, were in fact not rubies at all, but spinels.


Stones are available upon request.

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