{"id":2066,"date":"2023-01-15T06:10:41","date_gmt":"2023-01-15T06:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jewelsthatsparkle.com\/?p=2066"},"modified":"2023-01-15T06:10:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-15T06:10:42","slug":"ruby-vs-emerald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jewelsthatsparkle.com\/ruby-vs-emerald\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruby Vs. Emerald: Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Rubies and emeralds have long been associated with royalty, but how do these gemstones compare? You may say one is red, and the other is green, but is that the only difference? Furthermore, are there any similarities between the two?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruby consists of the mineral corundum, while emerald is part of the beryl family. Rubies are red due to chromium in the corundum, and emeralds are green to blueish-green. While rubies and emeralds are both highly prized precious stones, ruby is more valuable.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Color is the most noticeable, but rubies and emeralds have a few other differences that will influence their value, durability, and allure. Knowing these discerning qualities will help you select the right gemstone for your jewelry or collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many discrepancies and a few similarities between rubies and emeralds. The most noticeable differences are illustrated in the table below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s take a deeper look at how these two gemstones compare in terms of composition, value, and a few other characteristics that make each stone precious in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Often, a gemstone’s value is amplified by its origin story. It’s always fascinating to learn about your stone’s origin when selecting a gem for jewelry or collection. On the other hand, the composition influences the stone’s strength and suitability for specific uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rubies, like sapphires, are formed from the mineral corundum. In its natural state, corundum is colorless. Other trace elements combine to give corundum its color. Ruby’s intense red color is thanks to the presence of chromium in the corundum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most rubies are found in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. Cambodia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam are popular mining locations for rubies, but the best rubies are mined in Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Burma rubies (as rubies from Myanmar are called) are the most sought-after and are often found in marble that contains high amounts of chromium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rubies have a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale and are incredibly durable and scratch resistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emerald is part of the beryl family, including gemstones like aquamarine, green beryl, and morganite. Unlike green beryl, emerald contains trace amounts of chromium in the mineral, giving emeralds a deeper green color than green beryl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beryl is a relatively hard mineral, reaching 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. While emeralds aren’t quite as durable as rubies, they are strong enough for daily wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emeralds are found in many countries worldwide, from the middle east and Africa to Australia and China. However, South America is the hotspot for emeralds, followed by Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The top countries for emerald mining are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people are familiar with red rubies and green emeralds, but do these stones come in other colors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n All rubies are red. As a member of the corundum family, trace minerals present in the corundum determine the color of rubies. Rubies are formed in the presence of trace amounts of chromium. The more chromium present, the more vibrant the ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any other corundum gem that possesses no chromium is considered a sapphire. Pink sapphires are the only exception to the rule. Although pink sapphires and rubies are technically the same stone, rubies that are too light or too pink are considered pink sapphires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By contrast, emeralds are green. Specifically, a deep, saturated, vibrant green to blueish-green due to chromium in the mineral. Green beryls that are pale faded, or greyish green and contain no chromium are not considered emeralds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to color, the clarity, carat weight, and cut of precious stones are known as the 4 Cs. The value of rubies and emeralds is determined based on the qualities of each of these four characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A stone’s clarity refers to the amount of “imperfections” in the stone, called inclusions. Some gemstones, like garnets, rarely have inclusions and are transparent, while others, like diamonds, contain varying degrees of inclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When buying rubies, color is the most important quality to look for. Clarity is the second most appealing quality of rubies. Fine rubies have a deep red color and very few inclusions, resulting in a prized stone with a vibrant glow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most rubies have inclusions, but they are often not noticeable, especially to an untrained eye. As long as the inclusions don’t structurally weaken the gem, there is no reason to avoid these rubies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While chromium gives the desirable deep red color to rubies, it can also cause cracks in the mineral when it is formed. It is extremely rare to find large Burma or fine rubies. For this reason, the value of rubies increases with the carat weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ruby can be cut in many different shapes, but brilliant and step cuts in cushion and oval shapes are the most popular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While most rubies are eye-clean, meaning the inclusions aren’t noticeable to the naked eye, emeralds have more visible inclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inclusions in emeralds are so common they are fondly called “Jardin,” which translates to garden from french origin. These visible inclusions often enhance each stone’s individuality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The value of emeralds increases with their color and transparency, as pure green emeralds with few to no inclusions are incredibly rare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commercial-grade emeralds are available in larger carat weights compared to rubies. Emeralds are available in most cuts, but the cut used on each stone will depend on its color and clarity. Skilled gem cutters will choose the ideal cut to showcase the gem’s qualities without compromising the stone’s structural integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Do Ruby And Emerald Compare?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Comparing element<\/th> Ruby<\/th> Emerald<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Mineral<\/strong><\/td> Corundum<\/td> Beryl<\/td><\/tr> Color<\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td> Vibrant Green<\/td><\/tr> Mohs Hardness<\/strong><\/td> 9<\/td> 7.5-8<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Origins And Composition Of Ruby And Emerald<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ruby’s Origins And Composition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Emerald’s Origin And Composition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Rubies And Emeralds Differ In Color<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Clarity, Cut, And Carat Weight Of Ruby Vs. Emerald<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ruby’s Clarity, Carat Weight, And Cut<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Emerald’s Clarity, Carat Weight, And Cut<\/h4>\n\n\n\n