Ruby Qualities: What Color Ruby is Most Valuable?

Rubies are among the most valuable gemstones in the world, renowned for their gorgeous red hue, timeless elegance, and everlasting value. Rubies have inspired innumerable works of art and literature for ages, and their eternal beauty continues to capture the hearts of collectors and enthusiasts alike. In Hindu culture, the ruby gem is regarded as "the king of precious stones” and is the birthstone for the month of July.

Believed to nurture passion and strengthen marriages, rubies were once considered fiery heart igniters. Ruby jewellery has been revered throughout history, especially ruby engagement rings. Throughout history, such ruby engagement rings and other ruby jewelry has held a prominent place in various cultures and civilizations. These exquisite pieces of jewelry adorned with rubies have been revered for their deep red hue and exceptional beauty. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used rubies extensively in their jewelry, believing them to symbolize love, passion, and vitality. The allure of ruby jewelry has transcended time, making it a cherished choice for both royal crowns and everyday adornment. Today, ruby jewelry continues to captivate with its timeless elegance and enduring charm, showcasing the enduring appeal of these precious gemstones.

In this article, we will explore the various colors of rubies and determine which one holds the highest value. But before delving into the specifics, let's begin by understanding what a ruby gemstone is.

What Is a Ruby?

The birthstone for July, ruby is a precious gemstone composed of the mineral Corundum, known for its vibrant red color. It is one of the 4 recognized precious gemstones, along with sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. Also known as the manik stone in India, the ruby is particularly valued for its intense red, ranging from a deep crimson to a slightly purplish orangish red. The color of ruby results from trace amounts of the element chromium present in the corundum crystals, from which rubies are derived.

Corundum is composed primarily of aluminium oxide (Al2O3), the same mineral family that all other sapphires belong to. The critical distinction between rubies and all other sapphires lies solely in their color. All Corundum gems are sapphires, but rubies are distinguished by their intense red color. A red-coloured corundum crystal is called a ruby, while a corundum crystal with a lighter red or pinkish-red maybe classified as a pink sapphire.

Rough ruby (Corundum) crystals

Factors Influencing Ruby Gemstone Color

Now that we have understood what a natural ruby or real manik stone is, let us look at the factors that influence the ruby stone color. The red hues in corundum crystals primarily originate from trace amounts of chromium impurities. The intensity and depth of this red coloration, however, are influenced by various additional factors. The following factors in general, determine the shades, range, and intensity of reds in a ruby:

• Chemical Composition & Impurities: The vibrant red shades of ruby stones occur due to the presence of trace amounts of chromium within their corundum crystal structures. The intensity of the red color is directly proportional to the amount of chromium present. Iron and titanium can also influence the ruby's color, with iron imparting a subtle blue or green undertone and titanium contributing to a brownish tint.
• Hue: Hue is the primary shade of colour, with red being the dominant hue, accompanied by secondary tones. Exceptional rubies display a strong, uniform hue, while color zoning arises from uneven color distribution, creating contrasting areas within the gem.
• Color Tone: Color tone in a ruby gemstone refers to the depth or darkness of the gem's color. It indicates the stone's overall color, ranging from very light to very dark. Although rubies are primarily associated with red, the tone can exhibit a wide spectrum. The finest quality rubies typically fall within the medium to medium-dark range of red tones.
• Color Saturation: It refers to the purity and intensity of color. A ruby stone with vivid, pure red is considered to have excellent saturation, whereas a ruby with strong brown or orange overtones is deemed to have poor saturation. Generally, rubies with higher red color saturation command higher prices.
• Treatments: The color of ruby can be transformed through treatments like heat and glass filling. Heat treatment intensifies color by controlled heating, with higher temperatures yielding brighter hues – although excess heat can crack the ruby. Glass filling employs heat and lead glass to fill fractures, resulting in a more transparent and brighter ruby.

The Spectrum of Ruby Colours

Color is often the most important factor in determining a ruby's quality, and the ruby stone occurs in a wide range of red shades, from light pink to deep red. "Pigeon's blood" red is considered the epitome of a ruby colour, and exhibits a rich and deep red shade with minimal secondary colour undertones. Ruby colors extend beyond the pigeon's blood red however, with secondary hues like pink, purple, orange, and brown affecting the overall look of ruby.

Broadly speaking, the following is a (non-exhaustive) guide to the different shades that a ruby may occur in:

• Light Pinkish-Red: This shade exhibits a delicate, pale red hue with a subtle hint of pink. It is the lightest and least saturated form of ruby color.

This ruby has a pinkish-red colouration, & may be classified as a pink sapphire or a ruby

• Medium Red: Medium red rubies have a balanced and moderately saturated red color. They are a popular choice due to their pleasing, vibrant appearance.
• Deep Red: Deep red rubies are characterized by a rich, intense red color. They often display a strong, captivating hue that is neither too light nor too dark.
• Vivid Red: Vivid red rubies are the most sought-after and valuable. They feature a striking, exceptionally saturated red color, often described as "pigeon's blood red." These rubies are rare and highly prized in the gemstone world.

Pigeon’s blood red is the rarest & most desirable colour for a ruby

Secondary & Modifier Ruby Colours

As mentioned earlier, orange, purple, and pink colour overtones can also be found in rubies.  The intensity of these secondary colors can also impact the value of a ruby. Here's an overview of these overtones:

• Orange tints exhibit a warm, fiery glow.
• Purple tints span from light lavender to deep shades.
• Pink tints encompass soft, rosy blush to lively pink hues.
• Brown tints, though rarer, can still be found in some rubies.

Rubies occur in a range of red shades, often with pink & purple overtones

Evaluating Ruby Color

The evaluation of the colour of a ruby typically involves studying 3 aspects of colour. These 3 aspects are:

• Hue - The Primary Shade of Color: While ruby's primary hue is red, some rubies may display secondary purple or orange hues. Although absolute and unadulterated red is ideal, certain high-quality Burmese and Madagascar rubies may exhibit a slight purple hue or overtones of pink and brown.
• Tone - Lightness or Darkness of Colour: Most fine rubies have medium to medium-dark tones. Dark tones obscure color, while light tones make the color appear diluted.
• Saturation - Purity & Intensity of Colour: Colour saturation in a ruby stone refers to the purity and distribution of the red colour, which is influenced by the concentration and distribution of chromium through the body of the gem. High colour saturation allows for vivid hues without darkness, while low saturation may yield uneven-red colors with colour bands or zones within the body of the ruby.

As a consumer, it is easier to rely on a reputed gem lab to understand the colour grading of a ruby stone. Gem labs often use “master stones” to differentiate pink sapphires from rubies based on tone and saturation. This distinction can be subjective due to the variability in the color range. The color range of rubies is so vast that direct comparison is necessary to assess their quality. In general, some reputed labs that have a stringent colour grading system are:

• The Gemological Institute of America (GIA): GIA employs a color grading scale to assess a natural ruby, which ranges from "Purplish Red" to "Vivid Red." The most exceptional rubies are categorized as "Vivid Red" on this scale, which is also known as the Pigeon’s Blood red - based on the primary hue of the gemstone. When evaluating rubies, color is the most crucial factor influencing their value. The finest rubies are pure, vibrant red with minimal secondary colour overtones.
• GemResearch Swisslab (GRS): The GRS ruby color evaluation scale is a four-point scale that ranges from pinkish-red to deep red. Here is a summary of the GRS ruby color evaluation scale:

GRS defines "pigeon's blood" as a vivid red ruby exhibiting medium to strong fluorescence when exposed to UV light.

Pricing Variations

Manik stones are among the most prized gemstones in the world, and their prices can vary widely depending on several factors, including origin, color, clarity, etc. Let us look at the most critical factors that affect the price of a ruby:

• Based on Origin: The value of a ruby is significantly influenced by its origin. Among all ruby sources, Burmese rubies stand out as the most prized due to their exceptional deep red hue and rarity. Notably, the world's most valuable ruby as of 2023, the 55.22-carat "Estrela de Fura," presented by Fura Gems, is a Mozambique ruby. This remarkable gem fetched an astounding $34.8 million at a prestigious Sotheby's auction in June, 2023. Mozambique rubies, in general, are renowned for their rich red color, while Madagascar rubies are highly sought after for their distinctive pinkish-red shades. The pricing of rubies varies significantly, ranging from approximately $100 to $15,000 per carat, depending on the quality of the gemstone. Other notable ruby sources include Sri Lanka, Thailand (known for glass-filled rubies), and Vietnam.

The Estrela de Fura is a 55-carat Mozambique Ruby, sold for a whopping $34.8 million in 2023 - the highest price ever paid for a Ruby

• Based on Color: The most coveted rubies boast a deep, vivid hue often described as pigeon’s blood red in the trade. Lighter variations, like pink, may be classified as pink sapphires and are more affordable. The price of rubies is closely correlated with how intensely red they are. Ideal rubies exhibit a uniform, richly saturated medium to deep red that consistently covers the gem's body. Conversely, rubies that are excessively dark or exhibit overly light, pinkish shades are deemed less valuable.
• Based on Clarity & Inclusions: Clarity and inclusions go hand in hand. When it comes to rubies, which are quite rare in their completely natural form, they are expected to have some imperfections inside them. These imperfections, called inclusions, play a big role in determining a ruby's value. If you can easily see these imperfections or if they make the ruby less clear and shiny, then the ruby becomes less valuable. Generally speaking, the clearer from inclusions and more transparent a ruby is, the more valuable it is.

Although these are some of the primary price determinants of a ruby, there are other factors such as the cut and the carat size that also have a role to play in evaluating the price of a ruby. It is a good idea to consider the 4Cs of gemstones + their origin in conjunction with one another when evaluating a ruby, as opposed to studying these factors in isolation.

Conclusive Reflections

The importance of color in evaluating a ruby cannot be overstated. It is the most immediate impression a ruby makes, and the very first aspect of this stunning gem that hits the eye. Beyond its visual appeal, the color is a key indicator of ruby’s quality and value. Gemmologists and experts scrutinize the hue, looking for that perfect balance of red, devoid of any undesirable undertones like orange or purple. The presence of secondary colors can significantly diminish a ruby's value, underscoring the importance of achieving that pure, vibrant red.

If you’re looking to buy ruby online, we invite you to browse through a carefully curated selection of these stones on our web store – where we provide a lab-certified guarantee of authenticity with each gem, along with a lifetime returns & exchange policy, so that you can rest assured of an authentic purchase at Precious Earth.