How to Tell If You’ve Bought a Genuine Ruby Ring

Ruby Rings – Do you have the Real Thing?

Rubies are rare and valuable minerals. Made from red corundum, they are generally heat-treated to obtain their vibrant red shades. Visually, it’s not possible to tell you have a real ruby by merely examining the stone with the naked eye, but there are indicators that lean toward its authenticity.

Tell-tale Signs

One of the ways you can tell you have a genuine ruby ring is by its setting. For example, real rubies that are of more value should be fairly large and be of good quality. Nevertheless, if your large “ruby” is set in a minimum amount of gold or silver, it may not be a ruby after all. Also, if it’s showcased in, for instance, a gold-plated metal, then it’s probably a pretty good bet that it’s not genuine. However, if the ruby ring you’ve bought is set in a thick, heavy yellow gold, then it’s 99% likely that you have indeed bought a real ruby ring.

Take Note of the Color

Besides the setting of the stone, note its color. Real rubies that are valuable are more brilliant and exhibit a deeper, richer hue. Also, place the stone in your hand. Does it warm quickly? “Stones” made of plastic and glass will be warmer to the touch. Natural stones, like rubies, stay cool longer when you handle them. Also, rubies feel a bit rough where fake stones are generally smoother. Rubies are usually heavier too than synthetic stones or paste.

Only Synthetic Stones Appear Flawless . . . Under Magnification

Should you want to look at your stone more closely and verify its authenticity, it’d be best to place it under a microscope. Natural stones, such as rubies, do not appear flawless under magnification. Oftentimes, they will show blotches and look unsymmetrical. Typically, synthetic stones will show no defects.

Surface Lines

All rubies are crystalline in nature. Therefore, they should exhibit faint lines above their surface. Cracks will appear to be straight while, in synthetic stones, such as glass or plastic, the cracks look chipped when magnified.

As stated, only a professional jeweler or appraiser can determine authenticity. However, you still can get somewhat of an idea of the genuineness of ruby rings by observing the color, their settings or how they feel to the touch.

Filed Under Jewelry, Shopping | Comments Off

Comments

Comments are closed.

Your Knowledge, Your Karma | How to Tell If You’ve Bought a Genuine Ruby Ring