Ruby is from the family corundum and is a sister gem to sapphire. Unlike
sapphire, ruby is only available in red. Rubies are found in all ranges of red.
The most highly prized rubies are vivid red with strong saturation. Most rubies
have undergone heat treatment or diffusion treatment at the time they were
mined.
Clarity is the degree to which a gem is free of internal inclusions and
external blemishes and should be considered when selecting a ruby. It is rare
to find a ruby completely free of inclusions, however, you do not want to see
so many that the ruby is no longer transparent. Most rubies have under gone
glass filling or fracture filling, to enhance their clarity.
Ruby is a durable gemstone that can easily handle daily wear. Although there
are no special precautions to take with this gemstone, keep in mind that all
gems will scratch and abrade if they are not taken care of properly. Clean with
a gentle solution made specifically for jewelry. Borsheims also offers small
"ultrasonic" cleaners that clean your jewelry with high frequency sound. It is
important to have your jewelry professionally cleaned and checked three to four
times a year. When not worn, ruby jewelry should be stored in a jewelry box
lined with soft fabric.
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