Download Article
Download Article
Rubies can be the most valuable colored gemstone, based on price-per-carat. [1] X Trustworthy Source Gemological Institute of America Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards Go to source However, there are a lot of fakes out there, and it can be hard to tell if a ruby is real. Ultimately, the surest way to tell is to take the stone to a licensed jeweler. At home, you can gauge the ruby's authenticity by looking at its color and its hardness. Use a 10-power magnifier, if possible, to inspect the ruby up close.
Things You Should Know
- Do a scratch test—if a coin can scratch the top of the stone, then it's likely that it's not a real ruby.
- Do research and compare the gem to imitation stones, like garnet, tourmaline, glass, and composite gems.
- Ultimately, the safest way to ensure your stone is real is to take it to a jeweler. A professional can give you a guarantee.
Steps
Comparison Chart
-
Tell by the color and the shine. Real rubies glow with a deep, vivid, almost "stoplight" red. Fake gems are often dull: they are "light, but not bright." If the gem is more of a dark red, then it may be garnet instead of a ruby. [2] X Research source If it is a real ruby, however, know that darker stones are usually worth more than lighter stones.- Check for a consistent and even color throughout the stone. Fakes are more likely to contain blemishes and impure spots. That said: rubies do sometimes have imperfections.
- Use the "stoplight red" as a guide, but do not expect to find a real ruby that is actually that bright. If you do, then the ruby is likely fake. A real ruby should be more like a bright traffic light, however, than like a dull stone. [3] X Trustworthy Source Gemological Institute of America Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards Go to source
-
Compare the ruby stone to a shard of red glass. Rubies and other varieties of sapphire are often faked as glass. If the glass and stone look similar, then you may just be holding two pieces of red glass! [4] X Research source It is relatively common for dealers to fake rubies using a glass composite. [5] X Research sourceAdvertisement -
Try to scratch the surface. Real rubies are extremely hard stones. Grind a fingernail or a coin into the surface of the "ruby" and see if you are able to scratch it. If the ruby shows a scratch, then there's a good chance that it is not a real ruby. Only a diamond can scratch a ruby.- Composite rubies are not as durable as real rubies. There is a chance that the ruby is not a complete "fake," and just a machine-made stone. [6] X Research source
-
See if the ruby rubs off on another surface. Gently scratch the stone against a hard, smooth surface: porcelain tile or a piece of clear glass. The stone should scratch the surface whether or not it is a "ruby." The tip-off, however, comes if the "ruby" leaves a red mark on the surface where you scratched it. [7] X Research source- The red mark might be a sign that the gem is artificially colored. It might tell you that the "gem" is actually made from a much weaker material.
-
Know the types of fake. The stones commonly used as ruby imitations include garnets, tourmaline, glass, and composite gems. [8] X Research source- Garnets are dull, dark-red silicate minerals. They are much softer than a ruby.
- Tourmaline is a reddish-pink silicate mineral. Tourmaline is somewhat harder than a garnet, but much softer than the ruby.
- Red-colored glass imitations are usually cheap, but not very durable. It should be easy to tell if a "ruby" is actually made from glass.
- Composite rubies are real rubies that have been fused with glass. This makes the stone larger so that a jeweler can sell it for more money. Beware! Composite rubies are often sold as "real" rubies, for real ruby prices. [9] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Bring the stone to a professional jeweler. Ultimately, the safest way to be sure is to pay a professional to have a look at the gem. He or she should be able to tell you whether or not the ruby is real.- Look up reputable jewelers in your city. Consider looking at reviews online before you visit the jeweler. Check whether other customers were satisfied with the accuracy of this person's analysis.
EXPERT TIPFormer President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate GemologistJerry Ehrenwald, GG, ASA, is a graduate gemologist in New York City. He is the previous President of the International Gemological Institute and the inventor of U.S.-patented Laserscribe℠, a means of laser inscribing onto a diamond a unique indicia, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number). He is a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of the City of New York, a social club limited to 200 of the most accomplished individuals in the jewelry business.If there are still questions about the gem's authenticity, take it to a gemologist. An independent, accredited grading laboratory can analyze the stone for authenticity and provide other data like shape, cut, weight, color, and optical characteristics.
-
Get an appraisal. A jeweler can analyze the ruby and tell you how much it is worth. Others may pay much more or much less for the gem – but an appraisal is usually a good ballpark estimate of what a stone is worth in monetary value. [10] X Research source -
Certify the ruby. A licensed jeweler can give you an official certification that your ruby is the real deal. This document will act as legitimizing proof should you ever decide to sell the ruby. Make a copy of the certificate and keep it in a safe, secret place. [11] X Trustworthy Source Gemological Institute of America Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards Go to source- Certify your ruby for the sake of insurance. If you ever lose the ruby in a disaster or another mix-up, then you will be more likely to receive compensation for the loss if you can prove that you lost an actual ruby.
- If you plan to keep the ruby, keep it as a family heirloom. When your family or friends one day inherit the ruby, it will be much more valuable if it is certified. You will also save them the trouble of going through the same steps to determine whether the ruby is real.
Advertisement
-
Inspect the ruby with a 10-power magnifier. Use a jeweler's loupe or a standard microscope. If you don't have access to a high-powered magnification tool of your own, consider asking a friend or a local lab. Otherwise, just visit a jeweler. -
Expect microscopic flaws. Look for small, microscopic flaws that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. You should see some small imperfections on a real ruby. Fake and lab-created rubies are almost always flawless, as the natural flaws are so tiny that they are extremely hard to replicate.- If you see bubbles of any kind, then you are likely dealing with a fake ruby. Look for flaws other than bubbles.
- External flaws (blemishes) include scratches, pits, nicks, and small scrapes. Internal flaws (inclusions) are categorized as: cracks (feathers) crystals, negative crystals, silk, fingerprints, halos, cavities, chips, and color zoning.
-
Look at the ruby's cuts and facets. The intricacies of the ruby surface will only be readily visible beneath a 10-power microscope. If the ruby is rounded, rolled, or excessively smooth, then it is probably a fake gem. The stone might be the real deal if the facet is clean, pristine, and sharp-cut.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Things You'll Need
- 10-power jeweller's loupe
- Flat surface of porcelain or glass
- Coin
References
- ↑ https://www.gia.edu/ruby
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcCkUS3D2Lw
- ↑ https://www.gia.edu/gem-imitation
- ↑ http://www.today.com/news/red-ruby-alert-major-stores-selling-gems-filled-glass-1D79975847
- ↑ http://thejewelryloupe.com/buyer-beware-that-ruby-may-be-a-glass-composite/
- ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/rubies-real-deal/story?id=8988951
- ↑ https://www.quora.com/Multicolour-Gems/How-do-you-tell-if-a-Ruby-is-real
- ↑ http://www.jewelrynotes.com/how-to-identify-fake-rubies/
- ↑ http://thejewelryloupe.com/buyer-beware-that-ruby-may-be-a-glass-composite/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To tell if a ruby is real, start by looking at the shine of the ruby under a light. It should be bright and deep, like the shine of a stop light. If you’re able to, try to scratch the surface of the ruby with your fingernail or a coin to make sure it doesn’t break. Additionally, you can rub it against another surface, like glass or porcelain tile to see if it leaves a red mark, which means that the stone is artificially colored. Compare the ruby to other similar gems, like garnet or tourmaline if possible. For tips on consulting a professional jeweler to check your ruby, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 820,600 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I have inherited a 14k ring with 8 pigeon blood rubies, and was not informed exactly where to have the ring appraised. Now I have learned not to just take it to any jeweler, but to one that is a member of American Society of Appraisers. Thanks, wikiHow." ..." more
Advertisement
93%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I have inherited a 14k ring with 8 pigeon blood rubies, and was not informed exactly where to have the ring appraised. Now I have learned not to just take it to any jeweler, but to one that is a member of American Society of Appraisers. Thanks, wikiHow."
..."
more
"Daughter gave me a ruby with a handwritten letter stating it is 46.05 carate, triple A grade, VVS clarity with a 9 hardness from Sri Lanka. Laughed until doing the test you recommended. Wow! Now what do I do with it? Too large for jewlery."
..."
more
"The diagrams helped drive in the point in question. Caution: no seller will like it if you try to scratch their gem to determine authenticity. You may wish to ask permission or get them to show it to you!"
..."
more
"The simplest language used to identify a real ruby. Further, the method identifying the gem with basic and easily available material makes this article wonderful!"
..."
more
"I buy and sell jewelry. I wanted to make sure that a stone described as a ruby was a ruby, so the info was very helpful. But will take to a jeweler!"
..."
more
