| What is a Ruby? | | | | one of the most important factor. The three |
| A ruby is a deep-red variety of corundum or a | | | | components of color are: |
| very hard mineral used as an abrasive. It is also a | | | | - Hue, |
| very popular gemstone in jewelries. The element | | | | - Saturation and |
| called chromium is the primary cause of the | | | | - Tone |
| vivid-red characteristic of this gem. The name | | | | The hue is just a more technical term for what |
| ruby comes from the Latin word "ruber", meaning | | | | we may refer to as "color". Transparent |
| red. It is regarded as one of the 4 precious | | | | gemstones may have the hue of purple, violet, |
| stones (diamond, emerald, sapphire & ruby). | | | | green, red, pink, orange and yellow. These are |
| Other varieties of precious gems corundum are | | | | called the spectral hues. The purple and pink are |
| called sapphires. | | | | modified spectral hues. Purple falls halfway |
| Factors Affecting Cost of Ruby | | | | between blue and red while pink is the lighter |
| | | | shade of red. |
| 1. The price of a ruby gem is dictated by its color. | | | | Pure hues are hard to find in nature so the hues |
| The most valuable and most prized of which is | | | | of gemstones are categorized to primary, |
| the pigeon blood-red ruby. | | | | secondary or even tertiary hues. It is important |
| 2. The next factor that determines the price of | | | | that the primary hue of a ruby must be red |
| this gemstone is its clarity. The clearer the ruby, | | | | although the exhibition of secondary hues is |
| the more expensive or premium it becomes. This | | | | possible. |
| is also true with diamonds. Absence of needle-like | | | | Which are the Best Ruby Stones? |
| inclusions tells that the gemstone has been | | | | The most highly graded rubies are those that are |
| treated. | | | | vivid, medium to dark or crimson-toned red. |
| 3. The last remaining factors are its cut and size | | | | Secondary hues can add extra complications. |
| (carat). | | | | Common secondary hues are pink, purple and |
| Like the diamond, the ruby can be graded based | | | | orange. Of these three, the purple is more |
| on the criteria popularly known as the four Cs; its | | | | preferred because of its ability to make the red |
| color, cut, clarity and carat weight. Its geographic | | | | appear richer. Purple is also opted because it is a |
| origin can also play a role in determining its grade. | | | | combination of blue and red, making it closer to |
| Ruby and its Color | | | | red than the other two hues. |
| For gemstones like the ruby, color is regarded as | | | | |