Ruby engagement rings are the perfect alternative to when you want to propose, but diamonds just don’t feel like the way to go. There has been a recent increase in demand for ruby engagement rings, as they’re renowned for their intense red hue.
Art Deco Ruby Ring
Rubies are chemically very similar to sapphires, as both gemstones are the same mineral – corundum, a crystallised form of aluminium oxide. Both rubies and different colour variations of sapphire get their colour from different combinations of chromium, titanium and iron atoms dispersed through the corundum matrix. However, rubies are not classified as sapphires and instead are their own gem variety due to their concentration of chromium making them an intense red.
Are rubies good for engagement rings?
What separates the ruby from other gemstones is its pure red hue. From a psychological standpoint, red is considered one of the most attention grabbing and emotionally evocative colours, which is why it is so prominently used for signage.
Pear Shape Ruby Ring
Rubies come in different shades of red, offering a lot of choice for ruby enthusiasts. Sapphires and rubies both share the 9 out of 10 hardness rating on the Mohs scale, both second only to diamonds. Not only are ruby engagement rings visually striking, they are very durable.
What metal looks best with rubies?
Ruby engagement rings are very versatile, meaning that you can use rubies with any metal and you’ll get aesthetically pleasing results. Whether it is complementary or contrasting towards other colours, red typically retains its eye-catching properties.
Ultimately, because all metals look good with rubies, your ruby engagement rings selection criteria would be better suited for factors such as budget and the personal preference of the person you are proposing to.
Do rubies look better in white or yellow gold?
The best metal for a ruby engagement ring depends on the person receiving the ring. If you suspect they want a more traditional ring, a yellow gold or rose gold band will complement a ruby perfectly, giving the ring an overall warm colour-palette.
Oval Ruby Split Shoulders
If you suspect the recipient of the ring wants something more modern, but no less effective, a less saturated colour of alloy such as white gold will create a contrast that highlights the ruby perfectly, giving the ring an unconventional and sophisticated look.
How much does a ruby engagement ring cost?
At Holdsworth Bros. our price range for ruby engagement rings is ticketed at approximately $1,195-$14,995 AUD. There are many different factors that influence the cost of a ruby engagement ring, such as:
- The shape of the gemstone (i.e. round, cut, etc.)
- The colour and shade of the gemstone
- Any accompanying gemstones
- The alloy of the band
- Any eye visible inclusions that can affect the brilliance
- Whether the gemstone has received “heat treatment” to bring out its colour
Is ruby better than diamond?
The question of whether a ruby engagement ring or a diamond engagement ring is better is reductive, and not likely to help you make the right decision. Diamonds may be more expensive, and they might have been the norm for engagement rings for a longer time, but there is nothing to suggest that they are inherently better.
Keep in mind the reason as to why you are buying a ruby engagement ring in the first place. You are buying it to express your affection, and that means different things for different people. Your priority should be finding the gemstone best suits your partner, not the one that has a higher market value.
Are rubies rarer than diamonds?
It is a common misconception that the high value associated with diamonds is derived from their rarity, but diamonds are actually a fairly common precious stone, and it’s their market demand that makes them so valuable.
By comparison, rubies are found in limited quantities. Commercial-quality rubies are still common, but fine-quality rubies are very rare and subsequently garner a high demand.
What is the best colour for ruby?
Much like with sapphires, rubies come in various shades, from a deep pink to a vivid maroon hue. There are even variants of ruby with overtones of other colours such as orange and purple. Typically, the rubies with the highest market value are those that are not too bright nor too dark, without other colours infused with the red. When selecting a ruby engagement ring, think of the various shades of red as less of a measure of quality and more a variety of options available for your perfect proposal.
Interestingly the chromium concentration in a corundum is not fixed, it can form a continuous level of saturation. Higher saturations of chromium create bright red rubies and lower concentrations create a pinker version. The exact point where a ruby becomes a pink sapphire is not clearly defined, but certainly a ruby is considered more valuable than a pink sapphire which is why many bright pink sapphires may be marketed as ruby.
How can you tell a real ruby from a fake?
The easiest way to determine whether or not your ruby is real is to purchase it from a reputable source, such as Holdsworth Bros. Jewellers.
There are many different types of synthetic, treated and imitation rubies:
- An imitation ruby is a material that is simply designed to look like ruby, it may be glass or even a composite gem with real ruby on the top but glass on the bottom.
- A synthetic, often called created, cultured, lab grown or man made ruby has all the same chemical, optical and physical characteristics as its natural counterpart only is produced in exceptionally high numbers and has almost no commercial value.
- Ruby is treated in many unacceptable ways, one of the most prolific currently is to take very low quality natural ruby filled with cracks and fissures and to dunk it in a bath of molten glass. The cracks and fissures fill up and make the gem look clean and bright however this treatment is unstable and can cause irreparable damage when exposed to something as simple as a hot water cleaning.
Are glass filled rubies worthless?
Glass filled rubies, also known as composite rubies, are treated rubies formed from low quality ruby and glass. While they are commonly purchased due to their low price and their resemblance to a real ruby, they lack durability and can be damaged by most common household cleaning products, including bleach and lemon juice.
Why are rubies so rare?
It is extremely difficult to find high quality rubies that are equal to over 1 carat in weight. The majority of ruby mines are currently mined in Mozambique and to a lesser extent Myanmar, traditionally the highest quality rubies are found in Myanmar.
