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What sets ruby ( Manik stone ) apart from other red gemstones is its rich color and profound significance. In the gemstone market, you will find different types of rubies, each carrying a different price tag. That’s why it’s essential to understand the quality factors before choosing a ruby stone .
In this blog, we will talk about how rubies are categorised based on their qualities. Understanding the difference between various ruby qualities ensures you invest in a stone that offers true beauty and long-term value.
The distinguishing characteristics of ruby that help to know the quality of the stone are:
Let's discuss one by one how these factors will affect the standard of the rubies.
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Colour is the most important and significant factor that determines the grade of the rubies. So, more vivid the colour of ruby, with less inclusions and defined cut higher will be its quality. Such high quality ruby will be graded as AAAA (top grade) heirloom stone.
Let's discuss how the color distinguishes the quality of the stone:
A ruby look like red or pink in color at first glance. But the quality differs with other factors such as saturation and tone.
Ruby Colors Chart
Quality Grade | Ruby Colour | Description |
High Quality | Pigeon Blood Red | Vivid red ruby with slight bluish tint, excellent saturation, |
Vivid Red | Intense red hue, good saturation, medium tone are considered the best | |
Medium Quality | Medium Red | Balanced red tone, slightly less vivid, moderate saturation |
Purplish Red | Red with noticeable purple undertones | |
Pinkish Red | Red as primary hue and pink as secondary hue | |
Low Quality | Brownish Red | Brown as secondary tones |
Dark Red | Dark red tone with poor brilliance | |
Orangish Red | Red with strong orange tones |
Clarity is the absence of inclusions in a gemstone; the fewer the flaws, the more the clarity. Inclusions are very common in gemstones; they naturally occur and so are acceptable. Some gems have more inclusions than other.
Ruby Clarity Chart
Clarity Level | Quality Level | Description |
IF – Internally Flawless | High Quality Ruby | No visible inclusions, rare rubies |
VVS (Very Very Slightly Included) | High Quality Ruby stone | Minute inclusions visible under microscope |
VS (Very Slightly Included) | High Quality | Minor Inclusions |
SI (Slightly Included) | Medium quality | Inclusions visible under magnification |
I1 (Included) | Low Quality | High inclusions affecting brilliance of the stone |
The cut of a gemstone will also affect its quality because it affects the brilliance, colour and overall appearance of the ruby.
A well-cut ruby with precision maximises the look of the stone, it enhances the natural beauty of the gem and showcases the colour and clarity better. Such rubies are considered to be of a high standard. Gems of accurate cut have symmetrical facets and proportions.
Medium-quality ruby stones have minor imperfections in the cut. They might have uneven facets, or inclusions are visible in the facet, or there can be slightly off proportions. They will still be attractive, although they might not exhibit the same brilliance as the high-quality Manik stone .
The low-standard rubies will have a poor cut. They will have very unsymmetrical facets, and the proportions will not be good as well. This will lessen their beauty and increase the risk of scratching the stone.
Further Discover - Gemstone Shapes vs Gemstone Cuts
The origin which the gemstones have been sourced from also influences the value and grade of a gem. Rubies from certain locations, like Burma are highly loved for their natural color and clarity.
Because of the different geographical locations, different regions are known to produce some gems of distinct qualities.
Ruby Types and Colors
Ruby Origin | Ruby Stone Color | Characteristic Color |
Myanmar (Burma) | Pigeon Blood Red | Vivid, pure red with a tint of bluish undertone. Pigeon blood red ruby from Burma with such color is the best quality |
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) | Vivid Red | Medium tone with good transparency |
Mozambique | Vivid Red with purplish overtone | Strong saturation, good brilliance |
Thailand | Dark Red | Maroon or deep red hue with brown or yellowish overtone |
Madagascar | Red with pinkish secondary overtone | Good quality. Often termed as pink rubies because of the pinkish overtone |
Tanzania | Purplish Red | Medium saturation with visible purple hues |
Vietnam | Pinkish red color | Lighter saturation, affordable |
The treatments done on the gemstones can also affect the ruby stone price and appearance as well as standards.
High-quality Manik stones are those that are not treated at all or have minimal treatments or enhancements done on them.
Medium standard gems often undergo common treatments for the betterment of their overall appearance, like heat treatment.
Low-grade gemstones are heavily treated as they are pale or very dull in colour. The treatments make them look like they are of very good quality. Mostly, these gems are glass-filled, which makes the gem look very promising. However, these enhancements compromise the value as well as the durability of the gemstone.
Explore More - the treatments done on Ruby gemstone
The best way to identify ruby quality is that you look for an authentic certificate. A certification from a renowned laboratory will confirm the originality and authenticity of the gemstone. Plus, the certification or lab report always mentions the colour, clarity, treatments done on it and quality of the gemstone.
You can even verify your gemstone’s lab certification to make sure it is original, know-how here - How to verify your gemological report?
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