Rubies
Rubies are the red variety of corundum — the same mineral species as sapphire, coloured by chromium and rated 9 on the Mohs scale, among the hardest gemstones in everyday wear. Unlike our sapphires, we do not mine rubies: they are hand-selected in Ceylon and beyond by our FGAA gemmologist, through relationships three generations in the Sri Lankan gem fields have built. Most rubies on the market are heated to improve colour. We hold both heated and unheated stones, and we tell you which is which.
Our rubies travel a short chain: cutter to our Sydney bench to you, with no traders in between. Every stone is examined by our own FGAA gemmologist, with heat status and any filling or clarity treatment stated up front, independent laboratory reports arranged on request, and free lifetime re-authentication.
Common questions
How much does a ruby cost per carat in Australia?
Price depends almost entirely on colour, clarity and whether the stone has been heated. In AUD, commercial heated rubies commonly run $300 to $1,500 a carat; well-cut stones of fine red colour sit around $3,000 to $10,000 a carat; and unheated stones of top colour can exceed $30,000 a carat. Lead-glass composites sell for a few dollars a carat and are not comparable.
Are rubies heated, and does heating matter?
Most are. Heating at high temperature to improve colour and dissolve silk is a long-established, permanent and accepted treatment, and the great majority of rubies sold worldwide have had it. Unheated stones of equal quality are far scarcer and priced accordingly, often several times higher. What matters is that heat status is disclosed and, for significant stones, confirmed by an independent laboratory.
What is a lead glass filled ruby?
A composite: low-grade, heavily fractured corundum whose cracks are filled with high-lead glass so the stone looks transparent and red. It is cheap and often described only as ruby. The glass can be damaged by household cleaners, jewellers' pickle and even lemon juice, and the stone cannot be safely resized or repaired with normal bench heat. We do not sell them.
What does pigeon's blood mean in a ruby?
It is a trade term for the finest red, a vivid slightly purplish red with strong fluorescence. It is not a species, an origin or a guarantee: it is a colour opinion issued by a laboratory, and different laboratories apply it differently. Ask which laboratory used the term and read the report, because the words alone verify nothing.
