Ruby Showdown: Natural vs. Lab Created

Natural Rubies

Natural rubies are those formed over time by elements within the earth’s crust. These gems are found in nature and need only to be cut and polished, making them genuine stones with higher price tags. Their variability comes from natural imperfections and impurities since their formation process is neither controlled nor moderated. In a single dig, you might find different types of gemstones, such as smoky quartz, amethyst, and citrine, each with unique impurities and colors.

Synthetic Rubies

Synthetic rubies are created in laboratories under controlled and monitored conditions, beginning with a “seed” from a natural ruby. The growth and creation processes are meticulously regulated to ensure the gemstones have desired attributes. Laboratory-created rubies lack the irrelevant inclusions and impurities common in natural gems but still maintain the same chemical, physical, and optical characteristics. Their “perfection” often makes them appear almost too flawless. Sapphires and emeralds are other examples of popular lab-created gemstones.

Genuine Rubies

Genuine rubies originate as natural stones but have undergone specific treatments to enhance their appearance. These treatments aim to improve qualities like color or luster. Your choice between natural and lab-created rubies largely hinges on your budget. Natural rubies are more expensive and tend to appreciate over time, making them the preferred option for investors and collectors.

Lab-made Rubies

Lab-made rubies offer a more affordable option for jewelry enthusiasts. Their near-perfect attributes make them particularly appealing and add to the overall beauty of the jewelry.

All About Natural vs. Lab Rubies

Buying gemstones can be challenging, especially from less reputable sellers. So, how do you distinguish a natural ruby from a lab-created one? Ideally, the decision should be made by you, but if you’re unsure, ask the right questions.

A reputable jeweler should be transparent about the stone’s origin. If they don’t know or refuse to disclose this information, consider shopping elsewhere.

Though physical examination may not reveal significant differences, a knowledgeable eye can spot notable distinctions. Your choice between natural and lab-created rubies should align with your preferences and budget. Here are some essential terms to help differentiate between the two:

How to Identify a Natural or Lab-Created Ruby

Lab-created rubies are cultivated in laboratories and are designed to mimic the appearance, properties, and size of natural rubies. Still, they differ in chemical and optical properties. For instance, cubic zirconia, a commonly produced lab gemstone in the United States, looks like a diamond but doesn’t share its hardness or clarity.

Should I Buy a Natural Ruby or a Lab-Created Ruby?

Expensive gemstones like natural rubies are rare and often flawless, hence their high value. With its fiery red color, the ruby is exceptionally rare. When choosing, think about the qualities you desire. If quality and color are paramount, opt for a nearly flawless natural ruby. However, if you’re on a tighter budget but desire a red stone for accessories, a synthetic ruby is a suitable alternative. Only an expert or professional can reliably differentiate between the two types.

For genuine and valuable stones, it’s crucial to deal with a reputable, trustworthy dealer. Contact us if you’re looking for such a dealer!

Types of Rubies

Rubies, renowned for their bright red color, are among the most popular gemstones and serve as the birthstone for July. Their rarity, hardness, durability, and luster make them a favorite for various jewelry types, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. Natural ruby rings can even complement diamond rings.

Value of Rubies

The value of a ruby increases with size and quality. A deep red ruby with high transparency can fetch thousands of dollars per carat. In contrast, synthetic rubies, although less expensive, are often used as substitutes for natural rubies.

A Star Ruby, when polished like a cabochon, can become very valuable. If you find a large, fine deep-red ruby with great transparency, its price could soar. Synthetic rubies, while less expensive, are a cost-effective alternative to natural ones.

Is Ruby a Sapphire?

Rubies and sapphires are both varieties of the corundum mineral. While sapphires come in every color except red, rubies are exclusively red. Despite their chemical and physical similarities, rubies are traditionally regarded as unique gemstones, distinct from sapphires due to their iconic red hue.

Star, Burmese, Pigeon’s Blood Ruby, and More

There are various types of rubies, such as Burmese/Burma, Pigeon’s Blood, Fuchsite ruby, and Zoisite ruby. Indian rubies are noted for their dark red hue, while a green fuchsite matrix is referred to as Fuchsite Ruby. Rubies combined with opaque red in green zoisite are often used as substitutes for smaller gemstones, polished and shaped accordingly.

Star Rubies

The Star Ruby stands out with its six-pointed star pattern and can be polished similarly to cabochons.

Additionally, a clear Star Ruby is highly valuable. A cabochon is defined as a gem that is not faceted but rather shaped and polished.

Burmese and Burma Rubies

A ruby originating from Myanmar is referred to as a Burma Ruby. Rubies with an exceptionally red hue are called Burmese Rubies. These gems often exhibit tiny silk-like inclusions spread across their facets, resulting in a soft color that’s better dispersed across the gem’s surface. These ruby and sapphire deposits were formed around four to five million years ago, extending from Tajikistan through parts of India, China, and Vietnam. Today, Burmese rubies are not available in Myanmar.

Pigeon’s Blood Rubies

Rubies with a deep, bloody-red hue are termed Pigeon’s Blood Rubies. In Myanmar, it’s said that a perfect ruby should match the color of a drop or two of pigeon blood, hence the name. Different cultures have their own explanations for the naming of this gemstone. In ancient times, rubies were believed to enhance stamina and make warriors invincible if placed under the skin.

Most Expensive Rubies

The most precious rubies possess a deep red color with subtle blue undertones. Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has a reputation for producing the finest rubies, hence the name Burmese rubies. While most rubies contain flaws, those that are flawless are exceptionally rare and often more expensive than diamonds of comparable weight or quality.

Difference in What Rubies Are Made Of

Rubies are a type of sapphire, which comes in various colors like golden, white, black, or orange-pink. Naturally formed sapphires have a three-sided prism crystal structure. Other sapphire varieties arise from rutile, an ore of titanium. This causes shapes resembling a six-point star in star sapphires, known as asterism, which is less pure than natural sapphire. All colors within the translucent form of corundum create sapphire. With the correct quantities of chromium and corundum, a ruby is formed.

Natural Rubies

As noted, natural rubies consist of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The precise magnitude is 3.99 to 4.00, with a refractive index range of 1.760-1.768 to 1.770-1.779. They score a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them the second hardest gemstone after diamonds.

Lab Created Rubies

Lab-created rubies contain the same aluminum oxide composition as natural ones. The only difference is their controlled creation environment, allowing for the desired attributes without inclusions. Chemically, optically, and physically, lab-created rubies are almost identical to their natural counterparts.

Tips to Keep in Mind When Buying Natural or Lab Created Rubies

When determining the cost of a ruby, various factors come into play: discerning synthetic from natural rubies, examining growth lines or bubbles under a microscope, and noting chemical traces. Natural rubies usually contain more internal flaws, while lab-created ones offer higher quality at a lower price and can be larger for the same cost. Always request a certificate of authenticity to confirm a ruby’s origin. Prices range from $100 to $15,000 per carat, influenced by color, clarity, origin, and size.

Telling the Difference Between Natural vs Lab Created Ruby

Lab-created rubies are often strengthened with dye. Despite identical chemical compositions, lab-created rubies are cheaper and lack the flaws found in natural rubies.

How to Tell if a Ruby is Real

Synthetic rubies undergo production through high pressure and temperature, making them nearly identical to natural rubies. However, they differ from fake rubies, which have different chemical structures. Analyzing a ruby’s physical and chemical properties can reveal its origin, though sophisticated equipment is often required for accurate identification.