Ruby gemstones are one of those gems that have been admired due to their enchanting beauty and vibrant colors. Rubies are gemstones that are categories under the mineral group called corundum, and commonly referred to as the red stones, however, their color spectrum is not as limited as most people would think. This article provides vast information on the various ruby gemstone colors, and the various features of colors that make a ruby special, the formation process of rubies and issues to consider when choosing the right ruby.
The Significance of Ruby Color in Value
The general value of ruby correlates solely with the color of gemstone and its shade. Everyone likes the red color of the gems and especially the rubies but little do they know that not all rubies are equal. The most valuable of them is the “pigeon blood red” which is red with slight blue or purple tinge. This color is very much uncommon and relates closely to the Burmese rubies of Myanmar, which are ranked among the world’s best.
The Role of Chromium in Ruby Color
The red in ruby gemstone colors are because of traces of chromium present in the stone. In simple terms, when light comes into contact with the stone, chromium only transmits red with the green and yellow colors being absorbed. This clearly indicates that the higher the chromium content the intensity of the red that is obtained. Nonetheless, the use of huge proportions of chromium may result in the coloring of the stone being too dark, a situation which may be disadvantageous.
Different Shades of Ruby Gemstones
Although rubies are typically thought of as being a deep red tone, they can be found in a range of shades:
Pigeon Blood Red
Pigeon blood red is the color close to the ideal ruby gemstone color range that is deep pure red slightly moving into blue’s color tone. This color is very scarce in the market and its price is considerably very high when the question of gemstones is at stake. Rubies with this color are usually mined in the Mogok area of Myanmar and is regarded as the best due to its amazing quality and clarity.
Pinkish-Red Rubies
Some of the rubies however are slightly lighter and have a pinkish red hue. Despite this, these stones are still labeled as rubies, and there is a degree of fungibility between ruby and pink sapphire. In some regions, there is a need for a higher saturation of red to refer to the stone as ruby while in other regions pink rubies are well accepted.
Purplish-Red Rubies
The most popular among them is those that possess a purplish hue to them, mined from either Madagascar or Thailand. That is why the undertone of the color is purple, which originates from the iron content within the stone. Hence, in spite of less demand than the ruby red colored stones, these gemstones offer excellent jewelry options and are sought for their color range.
Orangey-Red Rubies
While less frequent, there are orangey-red types of rubies and this is more usually seen in Thailand rubies. These rubies are usually less expensive than the ones with what is known as ‘red’ or ‘pigeon blood’ red color, but they are equally as eye-catching and desirable.
Factors Affecting Ruby Gemstone Colors
There are a series of characteristics which cause the difference of the ruby gemstone colors, such as the origin, heat treatment, and inclusions.
Origin of the Ruby
There are differences in color of rubies from different parts of the globe. That is why, Burmese rubies are well-known for their pigeon blood red shade, lighter than Thai rubies, which possess a darker brownish-red tint. The gems from Vietnam and Sri Lanka are not as dark and some are even reddish pink.
Heat Treatment
Among the refinement technologies used in the gemstone industry and especially for the rubies, heat treatment is widely adopted. However, many rubies are heat treated because the natural color is not as impressive as in untreated ones and heat treated rubies make up the majority of stones on the market. This occurs to enhance the redness or eliminate the unwanted brown or purple hues that may be associated with the skin.
Inclusions and its Effect on Color
Internally, inclusions are visible in rubies and may impair the color and even the luminosity of the ruby. Some of them reflect the light in the gem and this makes the color less vivid when compared to the natural ones. However some kinds of inclusion like Rutile needle like formation give the stone an effect called asterism, which is valued in rubies.
Conclusion
Ruby is available in almost all color combinations you can imagine and all of them are amazing in their own way. However, the original pigeon blood red is definitely the most popular at present, while pinkish-red, purplish-red, and orangey-red rubies are less popular among fine jewelry seekers. It is important to remember that color should be the main determinant in selecting the right ruby but the other factors should also be considered including the clarity of the stone, the cut as well as whether the ruby has undergone any treatment.8
