How to Inspect Rubies

The exquisite ruby is called the "king of the gemstones."

One of the rarest and most desired gemstones in the world and throughout history, rubies are called "the king of the gemstones" and known for their intense red color. Along with emeralds and blue sapphires, rubies are traditional gemstones that are considered more valuable than others. Investing in a ruby should be approached with knowledge about the gem and what components need to be examined. A handheld jewelers loupe magnification device is an excellent aid in ruby inspection.

Things You'll Need

• Rubies
• Jewelers loupe

Instructions

1. Consider color the most important feature in determining the worth of a ruby. Evaluate its hue, or actual color; its saturation, or color intensity; and its tone, which is the amount of color it contains and can range from very light to very dark. Nature has provided a large bouquet of ruby reds, and different people prefer different colors. For those reasons, there is not a ruby grading system that determines any one hue, saturation and tone to be superior. However, the closer a ruby is to a vivid blood red, the more valuable it is.

2. Examine the ruby's clarity. It is extremely rare to find a ruby that is perfectly clear. Most natural rubies have some imperfections and cloudiness, but better quality ones are still transparent and not opaque. A ruby that has been made into a cabochon or bead is one that had very poor clarity. Almost 100 percent of rubies are heat-treated to enhance clarity. This practice is standard in the jewelry industry and accepted by the American Gem Trade Association.

3. Distinguish between an inclusion and a blemish. The latter is an imperfection on the surface of the ruby. Inclusions are flaws within the gem and it is unusual to discover a ruby that does not have inclusions. Deposits of rutile, a mineral composed mainly of titanium dioxide, is the most common inclusion found in rubies. Beware of any ruby that is free of inclusions; it is likely synthetic. Inclusions may be the fingerprints that distinguish between natural and synthetic gemstones.

4. Observe a ruby's sparkle to help determine the quality of its cut. The better the sparkle, the better the cut is the usual rule of thumb. Avoid poor quality cuts such as the "fish eye," which creates a ruby that is almost see-through instead of one that reflects a sparkle of light back towards you. Seeing a dark patch or faded appearance in the middle of the stone means its cut is too shallow or too deep. The most common cuts seen in rubies are round, oval and cushion, but many others are available.

Tips & Warnings

• A ruby's weight is measured in carats. Typically, the greater the carat weight, the rarer and more valuable a ruby is.

• The ruby is the traditional birthstone for the month of July and associated with devotion, integrity, courage and happiness. It is also associated with love and passion and is sometimes the preferred gem in engagement rings.

References

• Gem Nation: Understanding Rubies
• The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom: The Precious Gemstone Ruby
• Gemstone Shoppers: Ruby
• International Colored Gemstone Association: Ruby
• Jewelry Auctioned: How to Buy A Ruby For Your Ring or Pendant