Rubies are one of the most beautiful and popular gemstones in the world. They are also prized for their rarity.
But what exactly are rubies made of?
Where are they found?
Rubies are a type of corundum, which is an aluminum oxide. The vast majority of rubies have impurities in them, which is what gives them their red color. Rubies are found all over the world, but the most prized rubies come from Myanmar. Other notable sources of rubies include Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.
When shopping for rubies, it is important to keep in mind that not all rubies are created equal.
The best rubies are typically those with the deepest red color and fewest inclusions.
In this article, we will explore the origins of rubies and discuss what makes them so special. Stay tuned to learn more!
Table of Contents
Where Are Rubies Found?
Rubies are found in many locations. Some of these are Myanmar (Burma), Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Madagascar. There are many more locations around the world.
Rubies are formed in an environment of superheated mineral rich waters with low silica and low iron.
Both of these elements are the most common elements on earth so there is no surprise that rubies are found in so many locations globally.
Rubies, like sapphires, are made of corundum and the only difference between a red ruby and a blue sapphire is another element that gives the ruby color called chromium.
This is a much rarer element which is why rubies are considered more rare than their blue sapphire counterpart.
Indian Ocean
Most countries around the Indian Ocean have rubies like the east coast of Africa, parts of the middle east, most south Asian countries and parts of south China.
Asia & Africa
Wherever the geological conditions are favorable, you will likely find rubies. The two main providers of rubies in the world are Mozambique and Myanmar.
These, due to the long standing ruby mining are considered to be the standard of finer quality rubies even though no mining source produces a specific range in color.
It is this range of colors and inclusions that can make it difficult to determine where a ruby comes from unless there is documentation.
How Rubies Are Formed
Rubies are formed under extreme heat and pressure below the earth like many other gemstones. Oxygen and aluminum atoms turn into corundum when highly compressed.
Corundum, when in the presence of chromium, creates the red color that ruby gets the red color from. If there is also ferric iron present, the ruby will have a shade of orange or pink.
The Different Types of Rubies
Believe it or not, there are different types of rubies.
While the vast majority of rubies have impurities that give them their red color, some rubies may exhibit other colors which would indicate the different parts of the world they come from.
Here are 6 main types of rubies which we will touch on:
| Type of Ruby | Description |
|---|---|
| Burmese | They are considered by the trade to be an excellent type of ruby due to the deep red color which is due to the presence of chromium. These are found in Myanmar. If someone wants to recognize a natural ruby gemstone, then it should be inspected for a blemish “smudge” mark because a Burma ruby always has a smudge on its body. |
| African | African rubies are usually purplish to dark red in color. They originate from Mozambique and Kenya. These rubies are found in a wide variety of quality and sizes and as a result, their price structure makes them most affordable. |
| Thai | Thai rubies are found in the southeast of Bangkok. They are dark in color due to the combination of iron and chromium. |
| Tanzania | Tanzania rubies are less expensive due to the fact that the larger the ruby, the more the color starts to fade. Origin is Songea. |
| Madagascar | These are a source for a top of the line ruby, although the quality of these can be very different depending on which of the two regions that they are mined from. These rubies have a red-orange and natural red color. The quality of ruby gemstones found in these areas are different from each other. The two different mines that these are sourced from are Andilamena and Vatomandry. |
| Afghanistan | The mines of the Afghanistan rubies are in the Badakhshan and Jagdalek regions. The Jagdalek rubies have qualities that are not found anywhere else in the world and they produce a ruby that ranges from a faint to deep red in color. |
How Much Rubies Cost
If you’ve ever wondered how much rubies cost, then you’re not alone. The answer, unfortunately, is not as straightforward as you might think and depends on a variety of factors. Here are a few of them:
Marketing Strategies
Prices are not fixed, but they do have a range that appears to be dependent on the region that they are mined from, all other qualities and considerations set aside.
Marketing can suppress the value of rubies and other rare colored gemstones, and indeed, marketing has managed to do this quite well in favor of the diamond trade regardless of the rarity of rubies.
Size of Stone
Rubies are priced, as are all other gemstones, by the carat size of the stones.
The larger they are, the more difficult it is to cut a stone that does not have a significant amount of inclusions which will affect translucency.
This factor suggests that if you find a small stone of 1 carat that has good color and great translucency, that it will be worth considerably more than a ruby which is 4 times the size and is opaque.
Finding a 2 carat ruby (or larger) that has all the desirable characteristics can often cost more than a diamond of the same size.
Color and Translucency of the Ruby
These two factors will either make or break the value of an earth mined ruby.
Without a vivid red color predominating, and without a desirable translucency, rubies will be made into beads for stringing and for other inexpensive uses. Rubies should not be opaque.
If they are so full of inclusions, they will not allow light to travel through the stone and will be dull, only reflecting on the surface of the stone.
Also, if a ruby is pinkish in color, it will be far less desirable unless it is a true pink, at which point it will be dubbed as a “pink sapphire” and the value will rise as long as the translucency is good.
Treatment
The cost of a ruby will depend on what, if any kind of treatment(s) it has undergone after mining.
If a ruby has been heated to deepen the color, it is considered acceptable in the trade because this has not altered the chemical composition or characteristics of the stone other than color.
However, if a ruby has been heated, it is still far less valuable than one that has had no treatments at all.
If a ruby has been glass-filled to remove inclusions, this will alter the chemical composition and characteristics of the stone and will devalue the stone considerably.
It would be better to buy a lab grown ruby, which has had no treatment other than being grown at a rapid rate, than a stone that has been altered so much that it is no longer considered as a ruby.
FAQ’s About Rubies
Where is the best place to find rubies?
Probably the best place to find rubies is your local jewelry store.
Why?
Because a jewelry store is in the business to know where to source the best rubies along with the exact qualities that you are looking for.
If you do your research and then determine the qualities that you want to have, a jewelry store will take the responsibility for finding it for you as opposed to you making mistakes by dealing with less than scrupulous dealers yourself.
A jewelry store will know that if they order a ruby that may not be to your standards, you will not have any commitment to buy it.
What kind of rocks are rubies found in?
Rubies, as well as sapphires, are found in metamorphic rocks, such as those in the Harts Range in the Northern Territory.
More translucent rubies that are gemstone quality come from a few areas in eastern Australia where it is brought up by volcanic action.
Are rubies hard to find?
Rubies are not hard to find at all if you simply go to your local jewelry store or have connections to ruby dealers.
If you are thinking about mining rubies however, you will have to educate yourself extensively in order to know where to go and what to look for. Rubies do not pop out of the ground already exposed, faceted and cut to shape.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, rubies, like all other gemstones are mined all over the world.
The particular characteristics that you would like to find in the stone will be determined by where it comes from and the price that you will likely be charged to buy one.
Depending on marketing, this price can vary wildly even though the quality may not be up to par.
Shop wisely!