Are Rubies Sapphires

Defining ruby and sapphire.

Are rubies sapphires.

The precious categorization is a reference to value. Big color diamonds are rarer which explains why they are much more expensive. What are rubies and sapphires. Scientifically rubies and sapphires are simply varieties of corundum a crystalline form of aluminum oxide al 2 o 3 with impurities or trace elements such as iron titanium or chromium these impurities create the wide range of colors found in corundum crystals.

Sapphires and rubies can be cut in a number of different ways because the crystals are formed as a hexagonal shape. Until recently only emerald ruby and sapphire were officially called precious gems. The difference between pink sapphire and ruby. The first obvious fact one can notice at first sight is that colored diamonds are always shinier than other colored stones.

A ruby is a pink to blood red coloured gemstone a variety of the mineral corundum aluminium oxide other varieties of gem quality corundum are called sapphires ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems together with amethyst sapphire emerald and diamond. Gray brown yellow green blue purple red and pink. This displays more of the purple red colour rather than the orange red colour. Trace amounts of impurities determine if a gem corundum will be a brilliant red ruby or a beautiful blue sapphire.

The word ruby comes from ruber latin for red. A really fine. Rubies are generally cut with the top perpendicular to the vertical crystal axis. Rubies and sapphires are the most important colored gemstones in the gem trade together accounting for over 50 of global gem production.

So if ruby and sapphire are the same mineral why do we distinguish them. Everything else was called semi precious. Most people don t realize that ruby and sapphire are both gems of the mineral corundum both of these gemstones have the same chemical composition and the same mineral structure. Ultimately the most desirable color of ruby is the one you prefer the most.

That said pink sapphires enjoy a following at a far more competitive prices than rubies. Did you know that ruby and sapphire are actually the same mineral corundum among natural minerals only diamond has a greater hardness not surprisingly when combined with fantastic colors rubies and sapphires are some of the most highly desired gemstones. Ruby sapphire and fancy sapphire. The majority of gems have oval round and cushion cuts.

The value of rubies sapphires. Additionally diamonds are generally smaller than other colored stones. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium. As a rule rubies are valued much higher than sapphire gemstones.

Sapphires are more common than rubies and they are frequently found in carat sizes that exceed the size of most ruby gemstones. Some gem dealers debate the borderline between ruby and pink sapphire.