RUBY, SAPPHIRE, EMERALD

Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald jewelry are the most valuable and sought-after.

JEWELRY SUGGESTIONS

Rubies 

Chemically and structurally almost identical to sapphires, but culturally and to most people, distinct from them.

  1. Formation:

    Like sapphires, the different shifts, mixings, and chemical changes that are constantly happening in the earth form rubies. Both metamorphic and igneous rocks contain them.

  2. Mining:

    Historically, rubies have been mined in Thailand, in the Pailin and Samlout District of Cambodia, as well as in Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, India, Namibia, Japan, and Scotland. After the Second World War, ruby deposits were found in Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Vietnam.

  3. Characteristics:

    • Hardness: Rubies rank 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, thus making them incredibly durable and resistant to scratching.
    • Color: Rubies come in all shades of red, and we know any other colors as sapphires. Though some may call pinker rubies "Pink Sapphires"
    • Clarity: Rubies can have internal flaws or external blemishes. Clarity is therefore graded on a scale from Flawless to Included (I1, I2, I3). This is based on the presence and visibility of these imperfections.
    • Carat Weight: The size of a ruby is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger rubies are rarer and more valuable.

  4. Uses:

    Aside from jewelry, both natural and synthetic rubies are used in applications such as watchmaking, medical instruments, and lasers due to their incredible strength and red fluorescence.

  5. Synthetic Rubies:

    Sapphires were one of the first gems to be synthesized, rubies being almost the exact same stone were of course not far behind. However, there are ruby simulants, which are anything meant to look like a ruby that is not a ruby. This can mean assembled stones like two pieces of glass with red glue in the middle or other natural stones that show off a “ruby red” color like garnets.

  6. Symbolism:

    Due to its famous red color, rubies have become a symbol of love and commitment. It was also once thought to protect against misfortune and illness with some believing that it held the power of life. This makes the ruby a perfect stone for a loved one, be it on its own or, more commonly, used in jewelry.

Sapphires

Precious gemstones that have fascinated humans for centuries. Here's a comprehensive overview:

  1. Formation:

    Sapphires, like any naturally occurring gemstone, are formed by the different shifts, mixings and chemical changes that are constantly taking place in the earth. Sapphire gemstones are created through certain shifts in heat and pressure and can be found in both metamorphic and igneous rocks.

  2. Mining:

    Sapphire are mined all over the world, mostly in Asia, where stones are found in the mines of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Afghanistan, and other countries. Mines can also be found in Australia and the African nations of Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, and Madagascar. Today the main way in which sapphires are mined are open mines or shallow pit mines.

  3. Characteristics:

    • Hardness: Sapphires rank 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, thus making them quite durable and resistant to scratching.
    • Color: Sapphires are known for being blue but they also come in a variety of colors come in various colors, sometimes referred to as "fancy sapphires", though known as rubies when they are red.
    • Clarity: Sapphires can have internal flaws or external blemishes. Clarity is therefore graded on a scale from Flawless to Included (I1, I2, I3), based on the presence and visibility of these imperfections.
    • Carat Weight: The size of sapphire is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger sapphire are rarer and more valuable.

  4. Cut:

    A gemstone desired to be used in jewelry is cut depending on the size and shape of the rough stone and well-cut sapphire will have excellent brilliance and sparkle. Among the several techniques used to work with gemstones are sawing, grinding, sanding, lapping, polishing, grilling, and tumbling, each giving the cut its own unique appearance.

  5. Uses:

    Sapphires are, of course, used in jewelry, from engagement rings to bracelets. Because of its high transparency, hardness, and scratch resistance, it is often used in wristwatches as cover glass and as ball bearings. In recent years, it has found widespread use in smartphone lens covers and fingerprint authentication sensor covers.

  6. Lab-Grown Sapphires:

    Sapphires were one of the first gems to be synthesized with two main methods for artificially creating them. Melting aluminum oxide into a sapphire droplet in a process known as a Melt Process. And a solution process, which grows sapphire crystals in a solution.

  7. Symbolism:

    Sapphires, famously known as blue gemstones, are often associated with the Heavens. In Christianity, a Sapphire is seen as a gemstone of purity, wisdom and chastity. While in India and areas of South East Asia, it is seen as one of the nine specific gems that represent the Heavens

Emeralds

Emeralds are precious gemstones with a long history. They were mined in Egypt as early as 330 BC, but some estimate that the oldest emeralds are 2.97 billion years old. Here's a comprehensive overview of emeralds:

  1. Formation:

    Emeralds are created one molecule at a time when the right minerals and conditions come together. Beryllium, aluminum, silicon and oxygen combine to create the mineral Beryl, which is the mineral that emerald is created from. The presence of chromium in beryl is what generates the green color. Most emeralds form in contact with metamorphic rocks.

  2. Mining:

    Emeralds in antiquity were mined in Ancient Egypt but mining in Egypt ceased with the discovery of the Colombian deposits and the sites sit in ruins today. Today, Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia are the principal locations for emerald mining.

  3. Characteristics:

    • Hardness: Emeralds rank a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale and thus have fair to good toughness, making it a stone that requires more care in wearing than ruby or sapphire
    • Color: Emeralds occur in hues ranging from yellow-green to blue-green, with the primary hue necessarily being green. Only gems that are medium to dark in tone are considered emeralds; light-toned gems are just called green beryls.
    • Clarity: Generally, there are three types of emeralds in terms of grading:
      Type 1: These are typically inclusion-free, or almost inclusion free.
      Type 2: These gemstones are usually included.
      Type 3: These are almost always included.
    • Carat Weight: The size of an emerald is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger emeralds are rarer and more valuable.

  4. Cut:

    Green emeralds can be found in a variety of shapes, just like diamonds. The most iconic shape for a green emerald ring is the ‘emerald cut’, which is square or rectangular, featuring large, open step-cut facets. As emeralds don’t have such an intense sparkle as diamonds, large facets celebrate a subtler gleam and vibrant color.

  5. Uses:

    Outside the jewelry trade, beryl can also be used as a source of beryllium, a high-strength, lightweight metal with a high resistance to corrosion. Beryllium has a wide variety of applications, including the manufacture of electrical equipment, nuclear reactors, electronic components and aerospace components.

  6. Lab-Grown Emeralds :

    Lab-grown emeralds have the same chemistry, scratch resistance, and color as natural emeralds, but are made in a lab instead of the earth. Not to be confused with emerald simulants, which are things meant to look like an emerald. Because, while it is one of the most common synthetic gems, it is also one of the most difficult to synthesize.

  7. Symbolism:

    Today, emeralds are a symbol of loyalty, new beginnings, peace, and security making it the perfect stone for a loved one. Beautiful and meaningful.

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