OVERVIEW
ABOUT RUBY
Rubies can command the highest per-carat price of any colored stone. This makes ruby one of the most important gems in the colored stone market. In its purest form, the mineral corundum is colorless. Trace elements that become part of the mineral’s crystal structure cause variations in its color. Chromium is the trace element that causes ruby’s red color.
Ruby Description
Birthstones & Anniversaries
Ruby is the birthstone for July and the gem for the 15th and 40th anniversaries.
Ratnaraj
In Sanskrit, ruby is ratnaraj, meaning the king of gems.
Mogok
Myanmar’s legendary valley of rubies; the source of many of the world’s most fabulous gems.
$32.4 million
On May 12, 2015, a 25.59-carat ruby ring sold for $1,266,901 per carat, setting a new record at auction for a colored gemstone.
FACTS
Mineral: Corundum
Chemical composition: Al2O3
Color: Red
Refractive index: 1.762 to 1.770
Birefringence: 0.008 to 0.010
Specific gravity: 4.00 (+/- 0.05)
Mohs Hardness: 9