What is more expensive: a red diamond or a ruby?

Red gemstones are always the center of attention. Rubin is one of those lucky ones. In Ancient India, it was treated with special honor: it was called the stone of the Sun and the “leader of gems.” Alchemists claimed that this was a clot of dragon blood that endowed the owner with the power of power. Color played a significant role in this. For many peoples, red was considered a symbol of vital energy or love. And the awe of the ruby ​​has not subsided centuries later. This is the color of the strongest emotions: from love to rage, from passion to anger. And in the arms of a precious frame, it fills life with incredible colors. We at Ukrzoloto also cannot resist the shine and color of ruby. Therefore, we will tell you the main thing about jewelry fan favorites!

Ruby: gemstone

• bright red saturated;
• red;
• medium red;
• Dark red;
• light red.

Do you think that diamonds are the most expensive stones in the world? If we consider the cost per carat, then rubies have long held the championship! These are the types of jewelry that claim to have investment value.

Ruby cut has dozens of options: from the classic round with 57 edges to pear-shaped and octagon. Specimens with low transparency or asterism are turned into cabochons. Star rubies made smooth without edges to further reveal their beauty and unusual natural effect. Asterism is obtained due to the inclusion of very thin strips of rutile. In the light they form the rays of a star. But the red ruby ​​looks best in an oval cut, which emphasizes the richness of the color and does not obscure the natural brilliance.

Remember King Solomon’s ring with the inscription “All things pass”? It was the ring with a star ruby ​​that adorned the sage’s index finger.

How much is a ruby ​​worth?

Rubies with subtle inclusions cost between $500 and $8000 per carat, while stones with lots of air bubbles, haze and low shine will average under $300. Heated rubies are cheaper. But stones without any refining are rather an exception at the appropriate price. Therefore, gemologists call this processing method acceptable. Heat removes unwanted purple undertones, blemishes and silky effects. Inclusions are not a death sentence if they do not reduce transparency. This is often evidence of the ruby’s authenticity and natural origin. But the work of a cutter is also important!

Factors influencing cost:

• origin;
• color saturation;
• transparency, purity;
• the weight;
• lack of heat treatment;
• cut.

To heal the mineral from microcracks, it can be treated with molten flux. After all, large crystals can simply crumble without this.

Previously, rubies were called red yachts.

Lead Glass Filling) – about 95% of all rubies on the market can be filled with lead glass to improve transparency. They are marked treated. Sometimes a ruby ​​is filled with glass only in spots, but many stones can consist of 50% glass only. They are several times cheaper than heated ones and are almost equal in cost to synthetic ones. The process occurs in 4 stages:

1. Polishing roughness.
2. Hydrogen fluoride purification.
3. Heat treatment to remove dirt inside cracks.
4. Heating in an electric oven: oiling and coating with orange lead powder, which becomes transparent after cooling.

Rubies that are flawless in color without heat treatment, glass filling or oiling are rare and expensive specimens, reaching a price of 30 thousand dollars per carat.

Where are rubies mined?

Only 1% of mined minerals are suitable for use in jewelry. But finds from Asia are valued more than others. The most expensive – burmese stones with a special glow inside. Specimens from the Mogok deposit at jewelry auctions can bring tens of millions of dollars to their owners. These are real treasures. In May 2015, a Cartier ring with a unique cushion-cut Sunrise ruby ​​weighing 25,59 carats was sold at Sotheby’s. The cost was $30 – more than 335 million per carat!

African rubies from Mozambique. For instances with Thailand characteristic red-brown color. By cost “Siamese” rubies are twice as expensive as deep scarlet stones from Burma: about 15 thousand dollars per carat. Rubies the color of ripe raspberries are mined at Sri lanka, and with an orange tint – in Tanzania. Indian ones are considered to be the cheapest and of lower quality. They are cut into cabochons and made into beads or bracelets. In 2017, the deposit was found in Greenland! The Danish kingdom stored valuable crystals in rock covered with ice. Rubies from the deposit Aappaluttoq have a wide palette from light pink to burgundy.

How to distinguish a garnet from a ruby ​​and not overpay

Once upon a time anyone red gemstone fell under the definition «lal». This was the name given to ruby, garnet, and spinel. But in terms of physical characteristics, these are completely different minerals. How to distinguish a garnet from a ruby? According to what aspects stones are distinguished:

1. The former are classified as silicates, the latter – as corundum.
2. Minerals have different types of crystal lattices.
3. Rubies are harder and more expensivethan grenades.
4. The red color of garnet is formed due to magnesium, ruby ​​- lame.
5. Rubies glow under ultraviolet light orange color, garnets are not characterized by luminescence.
6. Garnets have a more uniform tone, rubies have visible inclusions-needles inside.
7. Rubies have a more pronounced shine, grenades – muted.
8. Garnets are magnetized, rubies are not.

One of the most important differences between stones is the dichroism, which is characteristic of rubies. They change color to darker depending on the viewing angle. But this effect is not typical for garnets.

Why is this important to know? The price of rubies can be several tens of times higher than the cost of garnets, so stones are replaced if they want to deceive the buyer.

Jewelry with artificial ruby

Do synthetic rubies learned back in the 30th century. Auguste Verneuil, a French chemist, created a XNUMX-carat ruby ​​from aluminum oxide. Only a gemologist can identify an artificial red stone. And all the advice how to distinguish a ruby ​​from a fake by eye, they remain only advice. The only way that has the right to life is to see the inclusion using a magnifying glass with tenfold magnification. They usually do not exist in artificial minerals; in natural minerals there is a silk effect due to small inclusions.

But synthesized does not mean a bad stone. Its characteristics are better than natural ones, it does not fade over time and is more resistant to external influences. And well-cut specimens are more expensive than popular cubic zirconias. One of the most popular synthesis methods are hydrothermal. There are also Nanotechnology, capable of creating a ruby ​​in a few minutes. An honest manufacturer should provide complete information on the tag without any ambiguity. What to choose is up to the buyer.

How to wear ruby ​​jewelry

The rich color of rubies in products warms in winter and adds energy to summer looks. Red gold further emphasizes their rich hue. But although modern fashion is freer in its morals than ever, it is difficult to call the royal stone everyday. Gold earrings with a ruby ​​barely fall into the “universal” category, unlike the same diamonds. For everyday looks, choose a ruby ​​in silver.

The best company for scarlet minerals is clear diamonds, gold, platinum and evening wear. Get inspired by the collection Treasure of Rubies from Van Cleef & Arpels. Wear ruby jewelry better with plain dresses and suits or classic floral prints, but against a calm background. Earrings with rubies and white pearls look unusual. And the combination of red stones, emeralds and sapphires in one piece of jewelry, like BVLGARI, has long been a hallmark of high jewelry fashion. But several shades in one product are the prerogative of the same evening looks. Although white gold with ruby – a better option for daylight.

Jewelry with rubies is usually given as a gift for a ruby ​​wedding – the fortieth anniversary of marriage.

Ruby: energy stone and its properties

The mineral is considered a talisman for those born in July. Astrologers also recommend wearing it to Scorpios, Sagittarius and Capricorns – energetic and active signs. The fire of ruby ​​will support their determination and strength of character. Ruby is a stone of health and vitality, confidence and passion. It brings good luck to life and attracts love. And in Rus’ it was believed that ruby ​​relieves bad dreams, despondency and depression. Who is ruby ​​suitable for? This is the mineral of stubborn people, but ruby ​​will not bring happiness to the vain and narcissistic. How overly irritable and emotional. A gift ring with a ruby ​​will bring self-confidence to the owner and protect him from ill-wishers. To rekindle lost passion and ardor in a relationship, you should wear a ruby ​​pendant in a gold frame.

Touch the beauty and choose yours ruby decoration in the catalog of the online store “Ukrzoloto”. This is a stone for those who are not afraid to be the center of attention. And sometimes it’s worth taking a risk to achieve a wow effect!

This list includes the 10 most valuable and rare stones that have found practical use in jewelry and are also in demand among collectors, jewelers and investors.

Approximate prices of stones are indicated based on data from The Gem Guide magazine, online stores and open auction sales data. The rating is in order of increasing cost.

Tsavorite garnet is a jewelry variety of grossular garnet that is green in color with a slight yellow tint. It was discovered about 50 years ago in Tsavo National Park in Kenya. Typically, the weight of tsavorite does not exceed 3 carats, but the cost of the best representatives of 5 carats can reach $5-000 per carat.

Red spinel – stones of various colors, the most valuable of which are red. The highest prices on the market are bright red stones from Burma and Tanzania. Previously, they were associated with wealth and power, so they were used to decorate the crowns and thrones of monarchs. The price of a 5-carat red spinel specimen ranges from $6 to $000 per carat.

Demantoid garnet is a rather rare and most expensive variety of andradite garnet in green tones. First discovered in the Urals in the mid-19th century, now demantoid mining also takes place in Namibia and Madagascar. The cost of top demantoids from the Urals weighing approximately 5 carats can exceed $10 per carat.

Paraiba Tourmaline – due to its neon blue color, which gives the stone impurities of copper, is considered the most valuable variety of the tourmaline mineral. It was discovered in 1988 in the state of Paraiba in Brazil, and is now found in Mozambique. The price for Mozambican tourmaline is $8-000/carat. Brazilian stones can cost 12 times more. The cost of unique samples weighing more than 000 carats can reach up to 5-5 dollars/carat.

Padparadscha sapphire is the rarest sapphire in delicate pinkish-orange tones. Main places of production: Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania. Stones for true connoisseurs and collectors. A 5-carat Padparadscha sapphire fetches $10-$000/carat.

Emerald is considered the most popular colored stone in the world. The most valuable color is deep green. The amount of an oiled emerald of 5 carats of excellent quality from Zambia reaches 7-000 dollars/carat, unoiled – 9-000 dollars/carat. But the highest cost for emeralds from Colombia is a premium to prices from Zambia of up to 10%.

Blue sapphire – the most valuable representatives have shades of “royal blue” and “cornflower blue”. The highest price per carat went to high-quality unheated sapphires from Kashmir and Burma (Myanmar) – from $30 per carat. Sapphires from Sri Lanka also come to the market – around $000 per carat for an unheated stone and 4 times more expensive for a heated one.

Ruby – the most valuable specimens come in a bright red color, known in the trade as “pigeon’s blood.” Mining takes place in Burma (Myanmar) and Mozambique. The cost of a ruby ​​from Mozambique is $25/carat, but a similar stone from Burma will cost 000-3 times more.

Blue diamond – aka blue diamond after processing. One of the rarest and most expensive stones on the planet due to its unusual color for a diamond, which is caused by the presence of boron atoms in the crystal lattice of the mineral. The best specimens are mined in South Africa and Australia. A stone measuring 3-4 mm and weighing about a quarter of a carat can cost $300-000 per carat!

Red diamond is the most expensive and rarest gemstone in the world. The main source for production is the Australian Argyle mine. The average price per carat for a pure red diamond weighing up to 1 carat starts from $500 to $000 million. However, stones larger than 1 carat are very rarely found on sale.

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