Who doesn’t love ruby gemstones or swanky ruby stone jewelry? Ruby is by leaps and bounds one of the most bodacious, valuable, and revered gemstones with unfathomable astrological benefits to offer to a wearer. The natural rubies, also known as Manik stone, are quite rare in existence, hence, their value can give serious nightmares to even an opulent individual.
One of the biggest concerns of any individual who wishes to rope in an original manik stone is checking its authenticity. Those who don’t have a solid technical knowledge of gemstones can’t differentiate between a real ruby stone, a lab-grown ruby, and the imitation of a ruby gemstone. Moreover, there are numerous prevailing in the market who can convince you to purchase a fake ruby by giving false proof of its authenticity.
The ultimate purpose of this blog post is to provide a myriad of methods that answers a significant question – how to tell if a ruby is real? We have jotted down 11 tested methods that are budget-friendly, easy to use, and effortlessly tell if a ruby is real or not. After going through all the pointers of this post, in the end, you will be competent enough to distinguish between an original ruby stone and its replica.
Different Ways to Tell If A Ruby is Real
Comparison with Shard of Red Glass
The first and one of the most crucial to check if a ruby is real or not is a hardcore comparison with a shard of red glass.
To conduct this test, you need to rope in a shard of red glass with a size similar to your ruby gemstone. Hold both objects carefully in front of the light and meticulously observe the color difference.
A real ruby stone will never have the same color as of a shard of red glass. If they share color, it clearly means the ruby stone you gonna rope is a fake one.
One of the pros of this testing method is its frugality. However, the biggest disadvantage is if your observation skills are poor, you will never be able to distinguish between a real and a fake ruby.
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Check Shine & Color
Another noteworthy method to check the authenticity of an original manik stone is by observing its color and shine painstakingly. However, this method is one of the least reliable ones.
This is a no-brainer that most real rubies with exorbitant value exhibit deep red color hues and striking luster. Even the ruby gemstones with pale red to pinkish-red color displays excellent luster and eye-pleasing appearance.
On the other hand, a fake ruby, despite all treatments to amplify color and shine, will always look dull or pale in front of a real ruby. This method to determine if a ruby is real is not very accurate because it’s not reliable and time-consuming.
Scratch Test
A real ruby stone is renowned for its par-excellent hardness. On the Mohs scale of hardness, ruby has a rating of 9. It means a natural ruby stone is least prone to any damage or scratch.
A classic scratch test is one of the best methods to tell if a ruby is real or not. Take a rigid material or a stone and scratch it hard on the surface of a ruby. If a ruby stone gets scratched, it’s not a real one. A real Manik stone will never get a scratch on its surface.
One of the most striking aspects of this test is it’s easy to perform. Moreover, the scratch test is frugal in approach and time-savvy.
Look for Flaws with Magnifying Glass
Searching for flaws in a Manik stone is one of the most efficacious ways to identify if a ruby stone is real or not.
To perform this test effortlessly, you need a magnifying glass with 10x magnifying power so that different types of flaws can be detected if exists. Below, we have stated different types of flaws that exist in a ruby stone. If you find one of those natural flaws, it means a ruby stone is original.
Silk: Fine silk-like fibers that sometimes appear in rubies. If there are many of these fibers, they can make the ruby look less valuable by whitening its color.
Needle: Long, straight inclusions that resemble scratches within the ruby. These are different from surface scratches, which may indicate a fake ruby.
Cavity: Tiny holes in the ruby that go from the surface into the crystal. These inclusions can make the ruby look unattractive and fragile.
Color zoning: Rubies are typically red, but they may have secondary color inclusions, often appearing pink. These inclusions can make the color look uneven, so gem cutters try to preserve the red parts as much as possible.
Crack or feather: Fissures in the ruby that resemble feathers. Rubies with these inclusions are less valuable because they compromise the stone’s structural integrity and may have surface damage.
Fingerprints: Inclusions that resemble fingerprints in a ruby. Don’t worry, though—it’s still a genuine ruby, and it’s unlikely to have issues with light performance.
Twinning: When two crystals grow out of each other, it’s called twinning. Twinning can make rubies larger, but it can also cause whitening in the stone.
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Rub Test
This test to identify the originality of a ruby stone shares numerous similarities with the scratch test except for one thing; you look for residue instead of a scratch.
To perform this test, take a piece of glass or porcelain and rub a ruby gemstone rigidly on the glass. As well all know, glass is softer than a ruby stone, hence a ruby stone will not leave any residue on rubbing.
Though this test is seamless to perform, it’s not 100% accurate as gemstones similar to ruby can also pass this test.
Consult a Professional Gemstone Dealer
To ensure the authenticity of a ruby gemstone in no time, the most reliable approach is to seek the assistance of a professional jeweler. By seeking the expertise of a knowledgeable individual, you can obtain a definitive evaluation of whether the ruby is genuine or not. It is recommended to research reputable jewelers in your area, considering factors such as their reputation and customer reviews. Prior to visiting a jeweler, examining online reviews can provide valuable insights into the satisfaction of previous customers regarding the accuracy and reliability of their gemstone analyses. This prudent approach can help you make an informed decision and gain confidence in determining the authenticity of your ruby.
Gemstone Certification
Ain’t no way more accurate than taking a gemstone certification to find out if a ruby stone is real or not. There are numerous government-certified gem laboratories like Gubelin, AGL, EGL, IGI, and IGI-GTL that use state-of-the-art equipment and methodologies to find out every significant detail about a gemstone.
Their report covers the origin, treatment type, weight, dimension, inclusions, and many other vital pointers. In a nutshell,
Price Test
It is a well-known fact that natural rubies can make a serious dent in your wallets. Most original ruby stones are quite rare in existence and can cost a fortune.
On the other hand, synthetic or lab-grown rubies are usually 30-40% cheaper than natural rubies. In addition to that, fake replicas of Manik stone are usually 90-95% cheaper than the original ruby stone. Hence, the price of a natural Manikya stone will never be too cheap.
Don’t Forget to Check: – Ruby vs Pink Sapphire
Flashlight Test
By leaps and bounds, the flashlight test is the most time-savvy and seamless way to test and tell if a ruby is real or not.
To conduct this test, rope in a flashlight, turn it on and throw the light on the gemstone. If a ruby is real, it will shine bright when light is focused. On the other hand, a fake ruby will let the light pass through it.
The numerous plus point of this test is tools are easily available, cost-effective, and time-savvy. However, even this test doesn’t guarantee 100% accuracy.
Electronic Gem Tester
An electronic gem tester is a valuable and one of the most accurate tools used in gemstone identification and testing. It utilizes advanced technology to assess the properties of gemstones and provide insights into their authenticity. This compact device employs various testing methods, such as thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and optic response, to evaluate the numerous gem’s characteristics.
By measuring and analyzing these properties, an electronic gem tester can differentiate between different gemstone types and detect potential imitations or synthetics.
This non-destructive testing method offers quick and reliable results, enabling gemologists, jewelers, and enthusiasts to make informed decisions regarding gemstone purchases or identification.
The convenience and accuracy of electronic gem testers make them an essential tool in the field, ensuring a more secure and trustworthy gemstone assessment process. Apart from rubies, other precious and semi-precious gemstones like pukhraj stone, panna stone, or peridot stone can also be tested to check authenticity.
Get A Professional Appraisal
If all the above-stated methods don’t yield the needed satisfaction, the last resort is to get a professional appraisal of a ruby gemstone.
This is perhaps the only 100% reliant method to make a clear distinction between a real ruby stone and a fake ruby stone. For ruby appraisal, always select a trustworthy gemstone jeweler or dealer who can provide an unbiased report of the authenticity as well as the actual price of ruby stone.
Make sure your appraiser and gemstone dealer should be different to avoid any kind of fraud or monopoly.
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