Things to Consider When Buying Ruby Jewellery

If you were born in July, your birthstone is a one-of-a-kind ruby. The gemstone is renowned for its durability and hardness, and it symbolises love, passion and protection, making it a sought-after stone for diamond jewellery. Our article outlines what to consider when buying a mesmerising ruby jewellery piece that stands out.

Consider the Ruby’s Colour and Shade

An aspect to consider is the colour and the shade of the ruby. The country where the ruby was mined can also influence its value. The presence of Chromium gives rubies their distinctive red hue, whereas the iron content can produce orange and pink hues in rubies. Rubies have been mined from various countries, such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Columbia and India to name but a few. When we evaluate the rubies we use for our engagement rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets, we consider:

• The tone – This refers to the depth of a ruby’s colour. While most stones are red, there are various ruby tones available. Purplish-red rubies typically have a medium to dark tone, while a pinkish-red ruby has a light to medium tone. We recommend selecting a ruby with a medium red tone to maximise the stone’s beauty.

• Saturation – The saturation touches on the consistency of the ruby’s colour. Ideally, you want a vivid red ruby with good saturation, allowing light to reflect into the gemstone. Poorly saturated rubies that have orange or brown undertones lack brilliance and sparkle. 
• Hue – The hue alludes to the ruby’s overall colour alongside any visible undertones the stone has. As rubies form, the crystals form new layers of growth, and the colour depends on the conditions and minerals present, which can cause variations in the hue. Therefore, you want to ensure the ruby you select has little to no colour zoning.

Ensure the Ruby is Genuine

When selecting your piece of ruby jewellery, ensure the stone is genuine. Ensure you ask your jeweller for a certificate for the stone from an accredited laboratory body, such as the GIA or IGI. The certificate gives you assurance the ruby on your jewellery is genuine.

You Want a Durable and Long-Lasting Jewellery Piece

When selecting a jewellery piece, many people don’t realise that compared with most gemstones, rubies are almost as hard-wearing as diamonds, which are rated a 9 on the Mohs scale, right behind diamonds, which is a 10. It means it is an ideal gemstone for a daily wear jewellery piece, and it is less likely for damage to occur in manual activities. We would recommend removing any diamond or gemstone jewellery before sports, home DIY and any heavy manual activities.

Look Out for Noticeable Inclusions

Typically, every ruby will have inclusions, it is your reassurance that your ruby is real and natural as it registers as a birthmark of the stone. These can vary from silk inclusions, which appear like small fibres to needle inclusions, which look like long thin tubes or lines, crystal inclusions, which are solid and are of different shapes and sizes and cavity inclusions, which are empty spaces near the stone’s surface, these are the most common inclusions you may see when ruby shopping however there are many more. Therefore, you must ensure the ruby on your ring, earrings, pendant, or necklace is eye-clean. Any inclusions within the ruby which are not visible to the naked eye and only through the assistance of a jeweller’s loupe are more valuable and highly sought after. These rubies are rarer and more valuable if you’re looking to invest in larger carat weight and higher quality ruby, which you may want to pass down to generations as a family heirloom. 

Don’t Underestimate the Cut

How the ruby is cut can determine the stone's brilliance and sparkle. A high-quality cut ruby depends on the inclusion placement and can affect the stones' fire, colour and overall radiance. Many rubies are cut into different shapes, with the most popular being ovals and round cuts, as this shape is designed for its brilliance, allowing the stone to sparkle to its best ability. We recommend viewing various rubies as you may find the more unusual shapes can be very attractive and unique to the loved one you wish to present them to.

Make it a birthday you will never forget with an incredible piece of ruby jewellery from Diamond Heaven. Book an appointment at your local Diamond Heaven showroom today. Our team is here to provide a high-quality experience from start to finish when buying your ruby diamond jewellery online or in-store.