Ruby
About Ruby
The king of gems in ancient Sanskrit (ratnaraj). Their red color comes from chromium - the more chromium, the more intense the red. A 1-carat ruby is rarer than a 1-carat diamond. Pigeon blood red is the most valuable color. They can command $1 million+ per carat for top quality. The Sunrise Ruby sold for $30.42 million in 2015. They fluoresce under UV light, making them glow. Star rubies display a six-rayed asterism caused by rutile needle inclusions. Myanmar (Burma) produces the finest specimens. They are the same mineral as sapphire (corundum).
Related Gemstones
Sapphire
They are corundum in any color except red (which is ruby). Blue sapphires get their color ...
Alexandrite
One of the rarest and most expensive gemstones - fine quality can exceed $70,000 per carat...
Spinel
For centuries, spinels were mistaken for rubies and sapphires. The Black Princes Ruby in t...
Bloodstone
Also called heliotrope. The red spots are caused by iron oxide inclusions. Ancient Babylon...