Stone 101
Ruby is just red sapphire. A pinch of chromium makes the whole difference.
True ruby is red corundum, one of the hardest stones there is. Here you'll find small ruby bead bracelets and strands, plus ruby zoisite and ruby kyanite: rocks with ruby crystals inside.
Shop Ruby by shape
The basics
Ruby is corundum, the same aluminium oxide as sapphire. Chromium turns it red, and only the red kind gets called ruby.
Ruby zoisite is green zoisite with ruby crystals and black flecks, mostly from Tanzania. Ruby kyanite is blue kyanite with ruby crystals. Both are rocks that hold ruby, not solid ruby.
Rituals, not rules
These are traditions people enjoy, not promises. Pick the one you keep coming back to.
Care
Straight talk
Most gem ruby is heat-treated. Some lower grade ruby is filled with lead glass to hide cracks, and that's sold as glass-filled ruby. Low-cost ruby beads are often dyed corundum or rough, opaque ruby, not gem quality. Lab-grown ruby is common too. TRS names treated or lab-made pieces in the title.
Good questions
Ruby is traditionally linked with passion, love and courage. Most people pick it for that deep red.
Ruby zoisite, also called anyolite, is green zoisite with ruby crystals and black hornblende specks, mostly from Tanzania. It's traditionally linked with growth and joy.
Yes. Ruby is the July birthstone, and the gem for 40th wedding anniversaries.
Often they're real corundum, but low grade: opaque, cracked and frequently dyed to even out the colour. That's normal at that price. Clear, bright ruby is rare and costs a lot more.
Both are red, but they're different minerals. Ruby is corundum at Mohs 9. Garnet is softer and usually a darker red.
