DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL AND FAKE RUBIES

Nowadays, the demand for rubies is very high in the market, and people fail to recognize the difference between real and fake rubies. When people don’t understand how to differentiate between real and fake rubies, it becomes easy for a few sellers to sell duplicate gems at real gem prices and make money out of them. You should know how to differentiate them, and for that reason, we are giving you some knowledge about NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC RUBIES.

Natural Ruby

Natural ruby, also known as Manik stone, forms beneath the earth’s surface under specific environmental and temperature conditions. Human involvement is limited to cutting and polishing, which gives the ruby its divinity, radiance, and vibrancy.

Synthetic Ruby

Synthetic ruby is made in a lab with the same chemical composition as natural ruby. It is made by melting aluminum oxide. The pulverization of the components, melting, and recrystallization in the same atmosphere and conditions as natural ruby are all part of the method. Since it is made from the same chemical composition as a natural one, the physical and chemical qualities of the ruby remain the same.

How to Differentiate

We will now discuss some tests, such as the ruby breath test, ruby light test, ruby scratch test, and ruby microscopic test, that can be used to determine the originality of a ruby.

1. Scratch Test

Ruby is among the hardest stones found on Earth. It is very hard to break them. Scratch it with a coin or any other hard surface, such as stone or hard metal. If you are able to do it, then it is certainly not a real one.
You can rub it harshly on a flat surface. If the ruby leaves any residue then it is a fake ruby. Always Remember the real Ruby Never Leaves residue on rubbing or scratching.

2. Microscopic Test

If you see a real ruby through a microscope, you will find little inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye. If you see fake rubies under a microscope, you will find them flawless. For this, hold your stone at a 45-degree angle in the light. Make sure you are able to see through it.
Examine the ruby’s surface with a 10-power microscope and check the cuts if you find round, and smooth cuts in the ruby then it would be a fake ruby. Real ruby always has sharp edges.

3. The Ruby Breath Test

The Ruby Breath Test is also known as the “fog test.” Since rubies are efficient heat conductors, this technique works best. Take a ruby in your hand and bring it close to your mouth by exhaling on it. If your ruby is real, it will evaporate within 2 seconds. mostly in a single second. If your ruby is fake, it will take 1 to 2 minutes, sometimes more than that.

4. Ruby Light Test

For the Ruby Light Test Get yourself into the dark room. Then take a sharp white light and keep it pointed towards the ruby. Observe the color that comes out of the ruby. It is real if there is a red flash; otherwise, it is not. This happens because it has high iron content and is naturally derived.

5. UV light test

Natural rubies typically fluoresce with a weak to moderate red fluorescence under longwave UV (ultraviolet) light. Some natural rubies from specific sources, such as Burmese rubies, may exhibit a stronger red fluorescence. Natural rubies may also show a weaker, often blue, fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

In synthetic rubies, the fluorescence depends on the manufacturing process. Mostly synthetic rubies show no Fluorescence under UV light.

6. Color Comparison Test

There are similar stones that look like rubies but are not real rubies like garnet and red spinel. Both look similar to rubies but actually, they are not rubies. Real rubies have a deep red color with a slight purplish or pinkish hue as compared to red Garnet and red Spinels. Red garnets are lighter red with a purplish or Brownish Hue. Red Spinels are also lighter red with pinkish and Orange Hue.

It’s important to note that the ability to differentiate between these gemstones by color alone may require a trained eye and experience.