Ruby is one of the most elegant gemstones in the world. Its enchanting colour fire red attracts everyone’s attention. From ages, people have been using this gemstone for making ornaments. Rubies possess various astrological benefits and metaphysical properties. Ruby does not come from one mine but comes from different mines and each mine produces varying colours and clarities of Ruby. In this blog, we will tell you about the history, properties, and benefits of wearing rubies along with the types and colours of rubies.

A Brief History of Ruby Stone

The name “Ruby” originated from the Latin word “Ruber” which means “Red”. Over time, this name gradually changed to "Ruby". This amazing gemstone is known by various other names such as” Manik, Manikya, “King of gemstones” or “Ratnanayaka.

Ruby was initially found in India around 2000 years ago. However, it gained popularity quickly and became desirable in numerous Asian countries.Indian traders used to sell these gemstones to Chinese men around 200 BC. In China ruby was considered as the “Gemstone of Protection”. They used to believe that this gemstone protected them from physical harm and negative energies.

Properties of Ruby Gemstone

Like various other gemstones, ruby also belongs to the Corundum mineral family. Apart from Ruby, Yellow, and Blue Sapphire are other notable members of this mineral family. The chemical composition of ruby is AI2O3 and it possesses a hardness level of 9 on the Mohs scale.

This marvellous gemstone gets its unique red colour from the Chromium element. However, in its natural form, ruby is colourless, but due to the traces of chromium its colour changes to red. Rubies come in various tones including red. The intensity, brightness, and saturation of the red colour depend on the concentration of the chromium in the stone. Stones with a higher chromium level generally result in a darker and richer saturation of the red shade. This colour could have various shades too which range from pink, deep red, and crimson with a purple tint, that is found in the pigeon blood rubies.

Different Types of Ruby Stone based on their origin

Rubies are found and mined in various countries worldwide and their price depends on their origin. Rubies that belong to a particular mining location could have more worth than the other. For example, the best quality rubies are found in Burma, therefore they also cost more in comparison to various other varieties of this amazing crystal. Here we are going to tell you about the top 8 types of ruby gemstones based on their origin.

  • Burmese Ruby: Myanmar which was earlier known as Burma, produces the best quality of rubies. This is why Burma is also called the” land of the rubies”. Burmese rubies are famous for their hardness, rarity, shine, colour, and beauty. But the most important factor of Burmese rubies, which distinguishes them from the other ones, is their pigeon's blood-red colour. The rubies that are mined in Burma are considered as high quality because they have a more dense and appealing red colour.
  • Mozambique Ruby: Rubies in Mozambique were first found in the year 2008, since then it has become a major supplier of ruby in the international market. Mozambique rubies come in a wide range of colours which includes shades of orange, purple and red. Some of the gems found in this part of the world also have "pigeon blood red" benchmarks. Mozambique rubies are famous for their bright colour, luminescent glow, and great saturation.
  • Madagascar Ruby: Rubies found in Madagascar are known worldwide for their vivid red colour which also has undertones of purple and pink. Madagascar’s ruby mines are emerging as the next best location for the best quality rubies after Mozambique. The geological formation of madagascar rubies is unique and interesting because they are formed like a metamorphic rock. They have a lower presence of iron which provides them a high fluorescence. These rubies have a dark and clear appearance, but sometimes they are huge and have to be heat-treated. Irrespective of this, Madagascar produces the finest quality untreated rubies too.
  • African Ruby: Generally African rubies are found in shades of purple to dark red. These rubies can be opaque, translucent, or transparent in looks. According to the market standards, the fine dark colour of the African rubies is considered as a symbol of high quality. These stones are usually untreated since treatments don’t suit them.
  • Indian Ruby: Indian Rubies are also one of the most sought-after types of this amazing gemstone. These crystals generally have a pinkish-red look and are more opaque than translucent. They come in several shapes such as round, carved, or cabochon. Indian rubies are among the most affordable options available in the market. As per Vedic astrology, they are highly auspicious gems with mystical transforming and healing powers that affect the wearer's fortune.
  • Tanzania Ruby: These glittering rubies are found in the town of “Songea” in Tanzania. Therefore they are also called Songea rubies. Some Tanzanian-origin rubies are also rarer than diamonds. These rubies display a bright red hue with medium saturation and a versatile tone. These rubies look awesome when seen under natural lighting. The amazing structure and look of these rubies are formed due to their high iron and magnesium content. The difference in their colour varies according to the levels of magnesium.
  • Mogok Ruby: Mogok rubies are found in the Mogok Valley in myanmar. They display a dazzling saturated red tint with slight hints of purple too. These stones have a high level of translucency and allow light to easily pass through them which produce an enchanting colour. These gemstones sometimes also have microscopic silk-like inclusions that help in the scattering diffusion of light and produce a unique velvety look. These rubies are also one of a kind and are equivalent to the pigeon blood rubies.

Ruby Stones Based on Their Colour

Apart from their origin Ruby's colour is another important factor that hugely affects its price in the market. The finest quality of rubies normally show a unique vibrance and hue that is slightly purple and red in shade. Stones that have a pure red hue command the highest price in the market. Whereas gemstones that have typical orange or purple undertones have less market worth. An ideal ruby gemstone must display a colour that's neither too dark nor too light.

Here are the different types of ruby crystals based on their colour.

  • Pigeon Blood Ruby: These rubies are considered to be the best in the world, according to industry standards. These rubies comprise a rich shade of red. One of the main producers of this superior hue is Myanmar, which was formerly known as Burma.
  • Pinkish-Red Ruby: Pinkish-red rubies possess a very unique pink undertone, red is the main type of hue in it. If the pink tone overpowers the red, then it transforms into a pink sapphire. The debate over parameters to segregate pinkish-red ruby and pink sapphires is still disputed. Different gemologists have varying parameters to differentiate between these two varieties of gemstones.
  • Purplish Red Ruby: Purplish red rubies sometimes, also have a slight tint of purple in them. This purple hue makes them unique and desirable to gemstone lovers and is a reason for their high market value. This crystal has a soft, glowy, and typical red-coloured fluorescence. These types of stones are very rarely found too.
  • Orangish Red Ruby: Some Rubies also come with a different kind of orangish tint. The red kind of tint comes due to the presence of chromium content. But, when ferric iron enters this composition, rubies can provide a different slight orangish colour. If the orange colour of the ruby starts to dominate the stone, then it can also be classified as orangish-pink Padparadscha.
  • Red Ruby: This is the real and very easily found colour of the rubies. According to the market standards, these rubies are very valuable. This red colour of ruby can vary from deep crimson to pale rose red. These stones have a high refractive index and a vivid glow. This type of colour specimen is generally found in parts of Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
  • Pink Ruby: Some rubies are also found in pink colour too. The chemical fusion of titanium and iron with chromium provides rubies with this unique colour. Some experts also argue that the intensity of the chromium inside a ruby formation is the only factor that classifies a stone as ruby or else it is considered a pink sapphire. But according to some experts, pink rubies too exist and possess subtle peach to vivid red tones.

Conclusion:

Since time immemorial rubies have remained one of the most precious and loved gemstone types of all because of their beauty and durability. These were some of the major and most significant types of rubies, which are found in different regions of the world and are in high demand in the market today. These gemstones are extensively used to make ornaments and various other decorative pieces. If you are also thinking of buying one please read this blog to gather the required information about it.