Ruby Color Chart: Different Ruby Stone Colors and Their Value

What makes rubies beautiful is their outstanding red color. But you will be surprised to know that not all rubies are the same. Ruby stone occur in a variety of shades ranging from purplish or pinkish red to deep red. These color differences play a major role in determining a ruby's beauty, quality, and value. 

If you are planning to buy a ruby gemstone, understanding its color variation is important. This will help you make informed decisions. In this guide, we will explore different ruby colors along with their price range. 

Why Is Color Important in Ruby? 

Not only for ruby but for every gemstone, color is considered an important factor. It's the color that plays an important role in determining the gemstone’s price. Even if the stone is of high carat weight or shows high clarity, but its color is dull or uneven, it is of no value. Ruby colour is evaluated based on three factors:

• Hue: It means the basic color of the stone. It is classified into primary and secondary colors. The primary ruby colour is red, whereas secondary colours like orange, purple, pink, brown, and even black may also be present. A lower percentage of secondary colors is important for a ruby to have a good quality. 
• Tone: It states the lightness and darkness of a stone. So your ruby can be very light or very dark. 
• Saturation: It is the purity of the stone. Rubies with higher saturation are considered good quality. 

An ideal ruby colour is classified as a vivid red hue with medium tone and high saturation. 

Read More: Understanding The 4 C's of Ruby Gemstone  

Burma Natural Ruby - 3.01 Carat

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Burma Ruby - 7.45 Carat

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Natural Ruby - 3.04 Carat

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Burma Pigeon blood Natural Ruby - 1.03 Carat

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Ruby Color Chart: Common Ruby Colors 

Ruby comes from the Latin word “Ruber,” which means “red”; thus, by definition, all rubies are red. However, in natural conditions, it's not always red; the ruby shade may differ from pink to purplish red. 

Pigeon Blood Ruby 

It is the finest and most valuable ruby color. The primary color is intense red, like pigeon blood, hence termed a pigeon blood ruby. A slight bluish tint marks the identity of this stone. This exceptional color is rare and commands a higher price. The pigeon blood ruby price starts from INR 50,000 to INR 5 lakhs and more. 

Vivid Red Ruby 

It is another finest ruby colour that features a vibrant red color. These rubies do not feature exclusive pigeon blood red color but come with excellent color saturation. The vivid red ruby stone price ranges from INR 2,000 to 50,000 based on quality. 

Deep Red Ruby 

These rubies feature a darker red hue. Though saturation is high, darker hues can impact the brilliance. Highly dark shades may even look black in color. The deep red ruby price starts from INR 2,000 to 10,000 based on quality. 

Purplish Red Ruby 

These rubies feature red as the primary color with a purplish tint. This color is because of chromium and titanium. Mozambique, Madagascar, and Burma are primary sources of purple red rubies. These gems are less valuable, and the price ranges from INR 2,000 to 10,000 based on quality. 

Orangish Red Ruby 

The primary hue being red, the secondary color is orange. Since rubies are pleochroic, you can see different colors at different angles. So you can see purplish red color at one end and orange red color at the other end. The orangish red ruby is less valuable compared to a pigeon blood ruby. The price of these gems starts from INR 2,000 to 10,000 based on quality. 

Ruby Stone Colour Chart

What Color Ruby Is Most Valuable? 

Pigeon blood ruby is most valuable. The credit goes to its explicit pigeon blood red hue with a bluish tint. It has a medium tone and strong saturation. Pigeon blood red rubies are highly desirable stones that are loved by fashion enthusiasts and astrology benefit seekers. If you are someone looking to overcome Surya's ill effects, then this is the best ruby type you can have. 

The finest pigeon blood ruby comes from Burma (Myanmar). They are high in saturation, exuding brilliance you can't take your eyes off. 

The color of the stone determines 90% of ruby's worth. Other factors like clarity, cut, carat weight, origin, and treatment also contribute to Burma ruby value. 

Read More in our blog: What Color Ruby Is Most Valuable?   

How Ruby Color Affects Price 

Color is the major factor that affects ruby price. The distribution of price depends upon these factors: 

• Hue: Vivid red hue, especially the pigeon blood red, is considered rare and most expensive. 
• Saturation: Highly saturated gemstones are desirable. Too dark and too light intensity of color impacts the ruby gemstone price. 
• Tone: The primary tone should be only red. The secondary overtones like orange, black, purple, or pink, when high in percentage, degrade the value of the stone. 

Read More: How To Determine Ruby Stone Price? Complete Guide  

The inclusion-free ruby stone is challenging to find and is priced higher. When buying ruby stones online, it is essential to consider these factors. Can rubies be of different colors? Yes they can be. For instance, the stones with pink overtones and a tint of red are priced low. Similarly, the stones with a high pink hue overshadowing the stone's primary hue are sometimes misled. These pink-colored stones are not ruby; instead, they are pink sapphires. Thus, the gemstones must be purchased from an authentic gem dealer. 

The stones should be certified, and one should ask for the same before buying the stone. At Navaratan, the premium quality gemstones come with an appraisal form focusing more on authenticity.

Read More : Gemstone Certifications: The Ultimate Guide

To conclude, the ruby stone is precious and comes with the magic of the most lively color-’red’. It is evident from the above discussion that this valuable stone is the wonder of nature. These precious gems are known for their intense red hue and are priced accordingly. Shop for the certified ruby stone from Navratan now.