That is because rubies are one of the world’s four precious gemstones, which also include diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
However, we are lucky to possess an abundance of semi-precious gemstones of all colours, sizes, and textures, a number of which greatly resemble rubies.  For example, the garnet is a semi-precious stone that is found with a deep blood red colour, much like the popular ruby.  While there are plenty of differences, for all intents and purposes the two stones can be easily confused.  Here are a couple of tips to recognize the very similar yet very different stones apart, also as some benefits each gem has got to offer.

Rough

All rough forms of gemstone are quite different from each other.  The shape of garnet rough and ruby rough and the manner in which the crystal was formed as well as the weight differ for each stone of the identical size.  Each gemstone has its own characteristics which are used to essentially define the stone.  They are then assessed according to these defined characteristics of the stone.

Durability

Let us begin with the less exciting but quite important and helpful factor: the stones’ durability.  Rubies as with sapphire rank 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, right after “the toughest substance on the planet” i.e.  diamonds, which come in at 10.  This might sound like a useless piece of information, but when you spend money on a beautiful piece of jewellery, you’d like to be able to wear it without worrying about it.  In contrast, a garnet ranks 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which is considerably less than a ruby and is thus considered a softer stone.

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Colour

Both a ruby and a garnet have a deep shade of red, but rubies often appear ‘pinkish intense red’, simply put.  If you compare the two stones side by side, a garnet’s colour will often seem a bit paler with a bit of orange in the stone, compared to the fiery red of the ruby.  It usually has a deeper tone.  Another way to differentiate between a garnet and a ruby in terms of the colour is the appearance of other colours within the stone.  If you see a touch of orange within the stone, it’s very likely a garnet.  This is not a foolproof test though because genuine rubies can have secondary colours like purple and blue within the stone.

Light

Holding a garnet up to natural light can also assist you in determining whether or not it is a garnet or a ruby.  If the light reflects a rainbow of colours including bands of yellow and green, the odds are you are looking at a garnet.  This is because a ruby’s crystalline form absorbs yellow and green and won’t reflect them out.  If you hold up a ruby to natural light you are likely to see a pink tinge within the stone.

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Professional Assistance

The very best way to ensure that you are spending your hard earned money on a ruby and not a garnet is to shop at a respectable establishment.  An established jeweller must educate you and show you the difference between a ruby and a garnet, insist on professional information if you are buying a ruby ring.

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