Ruby

Ruby deserved it's title as king of gems throughout centuries of use in jewelry and crowning some of the most significant historic figures. No one can resist the rich, juicy color of this prized gem and rightfully so. Rubies are truly mesmerizing! 

Ruby 101

Ruby is the red variety of corundum (with all other varieties being classified as Sapphire). Usually, the gem needs to have a medium to medium dark-red color to pass as a Ruby as opposed to simply a pink sapphire. However, there is some disagreement on where the line should be drawn, so be careful when purchasing very pink looking rubies! Rubies are also subjected to more treatments than almost any other gem, so it can be a tricky stone to purchase without a lot of knowledge.

The most sought after rubies are Burmese rubies also known as pigeon blood rubies. Their color has mesmerized collectors and jewelers alike. However, due to the many problems in the region, Meluzza does not offer Burmese rubies and there is no plan to change this policy, as they are not in line with our goal of providing only sustainably or ethically sourced gems. Luckily, there are many other regions that produce beautiful rubies, among them Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or Thailand.

Is Ruby rare?

Compared to the other "big three" (Ruby, sapphire and emerald), Ruby is the rarest and it certainly is rarer than diamond. Stones over one carat are hard to find, especially in a deep red color and without color-enhancing treatments. Their rarity combined with their desirability makes them one of the more expensive stones on the market but if you can, you will never regret investing in a high quality Ruby!

What should I know before buying Ruby jewelry?



While Ruby is relatively easy to wear and care for due to it's hardness and durability, some treatments can increase the chance of it losing it's beauty when exposed to aggressive cleaning methods. Be sure you know exactly what type of treatments, if any, your stone was exposed to before you put it in an ultrasonic cleaner. As a rule of thumb, we recommend bringing your jewelry to your trusted jeweler for cleaning instead of DIY-ing it, even if the stone seems durable.

Other than that, simply be prepared to hear a very high price for any jewel that features high quality rubies and know that Ruby prices are high, so if it's cheap, it's not going to be good.

If you are looking for a Ruby piece to add to your collection, you can make the Transformation Star yours.