Custom Ruby Engagement Ring

The ruby in engagement rings is a pink- to blood-colored gemstone that is a variety of the mineral corundum, (aluminum oxide). This common red color is caused mainly by the element chromium.

History of the Ruby

The name ruby originates from the Latin word "rubber," which means red. Ruby is the most commonly named precious gem in the English translation of the Bible. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. The ruby is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald, and the diamond.

The price of a ruby engagement ring is primarily determined by the ruby's color. The brightest and best "red," called Pigeon Blood Red," commands a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality.

After color, clarity follows as the next most sought-after attribute. Similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like retile inclusions will indicate the stone has been treated one way or another. Cut and carat size of the ruby in an engagement ring will also have a big influence on its price.

The Ruby's Makeup

Rubies have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, making them #2, directly under diamonds which have a hardness of 10. Almost all rubies today are treated with heat, although rubies that are untreated are still of excellent quality and command a large premium. Almost all rubies at the lower end of the market are heat treated to improve color at around 3300 F.

Synthetic Rubies

In 1837 Gaudin made the first synthetic rubies by fusing aluminum at a high temperature with a little chromium as a pigment. Most synthetic rubies in engagement rings originate from flame fusion, due to the low cost involved.

Burma

Of all of the world's rubies, 90% come from Burma. These rubies, prized for their purity and hue, are cut and polished outside Burma in third-world countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Gemstones are Burma's third-biggest export, right behind timber and natural gas.

Precious Metals

What precious metal to use in designing your ruby engagement ring is a very personal decision. Many outgoing and flashy women choose gold for its bright, sparkling yellow color. The earliest of civilizations recognized the beauty and value of gold and used it as money and in fine jewelry.

If you choose silver, you are choosing a luscious, white shining precious metal that goes beautifully with your ruby engagement ring. The silver in today's silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper. Platinum works really well in highlighting the rubies in an engagement ring. King Louis XV declared platinum the only metal fit for a king.