One of the most precious gemstone is the ruby. Rubies are wonderful red stones that are extremely rare in its natural form. Ruby comes from the Latin word “ruber” meaning red. Rubies come in a variety of brilliant red hues, however it is best known for its deep red and purple hues. The most popular hue is a moderately red toned hue with a hint of blue in it. Rubies are closely related to sapphires. A ruby with an orange or purple tint is usually called a sapphire. Rubies and sapphires along with diamonds and emeralds make up what is considered the precious gems.
Rubies are rated similar to diamonds on cut, clarity, and color. The clarity of a ruby can determine its value. A ruby that is transparent is usually valued more. If a ruby is opaque or translucent is generally valued less and usually cut down and sold for its weight.
Most rubies are faceted just like a diamond making it a great gemstone to use as jewelry. Since rubies are extremely rare, synthetic rubies have been developed. Synthetic rubies sometimes are sold under the moniker of “created”. Synthetic rubies look the same and have the same composition of natural rubies except for the fact that they have no impurities and are perfect. In fact, most jewelers will look to find imperfections in order to tell whether a ruby is natural or not.
Rubies are a great gemstone to use for jewelry due to their striking beauty. Many women are enthralled by their deep red color. One of the most sought after ruby is a star ruby. Star rubies show a reflective star shape when viewed from a certain angle. This optical phenomenon is called asterism, and these rubies are usually the most expensive and sought after. Rubies make a great addition to any ring, bracelet, necklace or earrings. Synthetic rubies are also used as accents on designer dresses handbags and shoes.
