How to recognize a real ruby?
How can you tell if a ruby is real or fake ? There are a few techniques that can help determine this, even for a layperson. Miller, the specialist in antique and pre-owned luxury jewelry in Paris, explains how to proceed. And if you have any doubts, you can always visit the shop for an expert appraisal of the stone in question!
How to tell a real ruby from a fake one?
How can you tell if a ruby is real or fake? It's relatively simple, because the ruby is an extremely hard stone . On the Mohs hardness scale, the ruby has a score of 9. This puts it just behind diamond , which has the maximum score of 10 as the hardest material in the world. Very few minerals are harder than a ruby. This is a simple method for recognizing a real ruby. But there are others, which we will discuss.
The hardness test
To scratch such a stone, you need to use something harder than ruby. Specifically, a diamond or moissanite . If you suspect the stone isn't a real ruby, you can scratch it with a nail, for example. A steel nail has a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Ideally, you should use something with a hardness of 8, such as topaz . This allows you to distinguish a real ruby from a fake.
The friction test
This method for determining if a ruby is real or fake involves checking if the ruby leaves a colored mark after rubbing . Rub the ruby in question against a hard, smooth surface, such as a piece of glass. If a colored streak is visible on the smooth surface, it's likely a fake.
- Also read: How to recognize a real diamond in a ring?
A genuine ruby would never leave such a colored streak. The only problem with this technique is that you can't be certain the ruby is real if it doesn't leave a colored streak, as it could be a tourmaline, for example. However, if a streak is present, there's no doubt it's a fake ruby.
What are some gemstones that resemble rubies?
- Tourmaline : this stone has a hardness index of 7 to 7.5, and can sometimes be presented as a ruby.
- Garnet : slightly less hard than tourmaline (6.5 to 7.5), a garnet can also be mistaken for a ruby, even though its color tends to be lighter.
- Glass : Most fake rubies are simply pieces of glass. They can be easily identified with the hardness test, or with the naked eye due to their lower refractive index compared to a genuine ruby.
- Composite rubies : these are natural rubies that have been "modified" by the addition of glass to alter their color, which devalues them.
How can you identify a genuine ruby with 100% certainty? Ask a gemologist!
Do you want to sell a piece of jewelry with a ruby , but you're unsure if the stone is genuine? Visit the Miller boutique in Paris. We have the gemological expertise to distinguish the real from the fake, whether it's a ruby , a diamond, an emerald, or any other gemstone. In addition to the simple techniques mentioned above, analyzing the stone with a jeweler's loupe allows a trained eye to identify a real ruby from a fake.
