How to Identify Real Ruby

Rubies (or rubies) can be considered the most valuable colored gemstones based on their price per carat. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Gempogical Institute of America Go to source} But there are many fake stones on the market, so it is not easy to identify a real ruby. After all, the surest way is to have the stone tested at a licensed place. In addition, we can self-assess rubies at home based on the color and hardness of the stone. If possible, use a 10X magnifying glass to examine the ruby closely.

Table of Contents

Test ruby at home

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Look at the color and brightness. Real rubies shine with a vivid, crimson color like the “backlights of a car”. Imitation stone often looks dull, bright but not brilliant. If the stone is more of a deep red, it’s probably a garnet instead of a ruby. ^{[2] X Research Source} However, if this is real ruby, the darker the color, the higher the value.

Check the consistency and uniformity of color throughout the stone. Imitation stone often has many disadvantages as well as impurities. Even so, real rubies are sometimes imperfect.
Although based on the “red taillights” image, don’t expect to find such a bright ruby. If so, it’s most likely fake. Real rubies have a luminosity similar to a traffic light instead of having a faint glow. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Gempogical Institute of America Go to source}

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Compare rubies with the red piece of glass. Rubies and other variations of turquoise (sapphire) are often forged with glass. If the piece of glass and the stone look the same, you are probably holding two pieces of red glass! ^{[4] X Source of Research} It is not difficult to come across sellers forging rubies with a mixture of glass. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Try scratching the surface. Ruby is an extremely hard stone. You can try rubbing the stone with your finger or the edge of a coin to see if the surface is scratched. If this stone is scratched, it is most likely not a ruby. Only diamonds can scratch a ruby.

Synthetic rubies are not as hard as real rubies. It is also possible that the ruby is not completely “fake”, but a machine-made product. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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See if this stone can scratch other surfaces. Gently rub the stone against another smooth and hard surface, such as porcelain tile or a piece of clear glass. Whether fake or real, the stone must be able to scratch these surfaces. However, if the stone leaves a red mark on the surface that you have sharpened, the results are not very satisfactory. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The red stain is an indication that the stone is stained. It is also possible that this is a product of a lower hardness material.

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Learn about counterfeiting methods. Types of stones commonly used to fake rubies include garnet, tourmaline, glass, and synthetics. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Garnet is a dull, deep red silicate mineral. This stone has a lower hardness than ruby.
Tourmaline is a pinkish red silicate mineral. Tourmaline is harder than garnet, but much softer than ruby.
Red glass is usually cheap, but fragile. It is easy to tell if the “ruby” is actually made of glass.
Synthetic rubies are a fusion of real ruby and glass. This combination produces a larger stone and sells for more money. Be cautious as synthetic rubies are often advertised as natural rubies and sell for the same price as the real thing. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Consult a jeweler

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Take the stone to a professional jeweler. After all, the safest and most secure way is to pay to have the jeweler inspect the stone. The craftsman will tell you whether the stone is a real ruby or not.

Find a reputable jeweler in your area. You should see more online reviews before coming. Check if the customer is satisfied with the accuracy of this person’s analysis.

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Jerry Ehrenwald

President of International Gempogical Institute & Gemologist

IGI President, Jerry Ehrenwald, is a New York-based gemologist who has spent his life in the industry. He is the inventor of the US-patented Laserscribe℠, a device used to engrave a distinctive marking on diamonds, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number) number. Ehrenwald is in charge of running IGI’s commercial laboratory and validation division. He is honored to be a senior member of the American Association of Assessors (ASA) and a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club in New York, a club limited to 200 of the most successful individuals in the world. jewelry industry.

Jerry Ehrenwald
President of International Gempogical Institute & Gemologist

If you are still in doubt about the authenticity of the stone, take it to a testing center. An accredited, independent grading laboratory can analyze the stone to determine and provide information on shape, style, weight, color and optical characteristics.

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Get results. The jeweler will analyze and tell you the value of the ruby. It is possible that someone else will pay a higher or lower price for the stone, but this estimate is a rough estimate if the stone is converted to cash. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Ruby certification. A certified jeweler will issue you an official certificate that the stone is a ruby. This is the legal proof that comes with it if you later decide to sell the stone. Make an extra copy of the certificate and keep it in a safe, confidential place. ^{[11] X Trusted Source Gempogical Institute of America Go to Source}

Certified rubies for insurance benefits. If the ruby is unfortunately lost due to a natural disaster or other turmoil, you will be more likely to be compensated for your loss when you can prove that the lost stone is indeed a ruby.
If you plan to store rubies, consider the stone as a heirloom. Someday when a relative or friend inherits from you, the stone will be worth much more if there is a certificate. You’ll save them time from having to go through the same process to determine if the rubies are real.

Check with a magnifying glass

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Examine the ruby with a 10X magnifying glass. Use a jeweler’s magnifying glass or a standard microscope. If such high-performance equipment is not available, you might consider borrowing from someone else, a local lab or a jeweler.

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Look for micro-sized stretch marks. Look for small to microscopic stretch marks that you can’t see with the naked eye. You will see some minor imperfections on the real ruby. Artificial rubies or fake stones are often quite perfect because the microscopic natural stretch marks are extremely difficult to imitate.

If there are air bubbles that look like bubbles, it is likely that the stone in your hand is fake. Look for stretch marks instead of air bubbles.
External defects (defects) include scratches, dents, chips. Internal defects (inclusions) are classified as: crack crystals (feather), negative crystals, silk luster, fingerprints, halos, cavities, cracks and color zoning.

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Observe the cross-section and aspect of the ruby. The intricacies of the ruby surface are visible only under a 10X microscope. If the ruby is too round or smooth, it may be a fake. The stone is likely to be real if the surface is free of cracks, pristine and sharp.

Things you need

Goldsmith’s 10X Magnifier
Flat glass or porcelain surface
Coins

Steps

Test ruby at home

Consult a jeweler

Check with a magnifying glass

Things you need

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