Content

• Steps
• What you need

Rubies (or Ruby) can be considered the most valuable colored gemstones based on cost per carat. But there are many fake stones out there, so it is not easy to identify a real ruby. After all, the most guaranteed way is to have the stone tested where it is authorized. In addition, we can evaluate rubies at home by based on the color and hardness of the stone. If possible, use a 10X magnifying glass to examine the ruby ​​technician.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Check for ruby ​​at home

1. 

   Look at color and brightness. True rubies shine in a crimson, vivid color like "rear lights". Imitation stones usually look pretty dull, but bright but not brilliant. If the stone is more of a dark red color, it is probably garnet instead of ruby. However, if this is real ruby, the darker the color, the higher the value will be.
   • Check for consistency and color consistency throughout the stone. Imitation stones often have many disadvantages as well as impurities. Even so, real rubies are sometimes not perfect.
   • Although based on the image of "red rear lights", don't expect to find such a bright ruby. If so, chances are it's fake. Real rubies have the same brightness as a traffic light instead of a dim light.

2. 

   
   
   Compare rubies with red glass flakes. Rubies and other variations of turquoise (sapphire) are often forged with glass. If the piece of glass and stone look alike, you're probably holding two red pieces of glass! It is not difficult to find sellers imitating rubies with glass blends.

3. 

   
   
   Try scratching the surface. Rubies are extremely hard stones. You can try rubbing the stone with your finger or the edge of the coin to see if the surface is scratched. If the stone is scratched, it is most likely not a ruby. Only diamonds can scratch ruby.
   • Synthetic rubies aren't as hard as real rubies. It is also possible that the ruby ​​is not completely "fake", but is a manufactured product by machine.

4. 

   
   
   See if one stone can scratch another surface. Gently press the stone against another smooth and hard surface, such as ceramic tile or clear glass. Whether fake or real, the stone must be able to scratch these surfaces. However, if the stone leaves a red stain on the surface that you have sharpened, the result is not very satisfactory.
   • A red stain is an indication that the stone is stained. It is also possible that this is a product of a material with a lower hardness.

5. 

   Learn about counterfeiting methods. The stones commonly used to imitate rubies include garnet, tourmaline, glass, and synthetic stones.
   • Garnet is a dull, dark red silicate mineral. This rock has a lower hardness than ruby.
   • Tourmaline is a pink-red silicate mineral. Tourmaline is more rigid than garnet, but much softer than ruby.
   • Red glass is usually cheap, but fragile. It is easy to tell if the "ruby" is actually made of glass.
   • Synthetic ruby ​​is a fusion between real ruby ​​and glass. This combination creates a bigger stone and sells more money. Be cautious as synthetic rubies are often advertised as natural rubies and sold for the real price.
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Method 2 of 3: Consult a jeweler

1. 

   Bring the stone to a professional jeweler. After all, the safest and safest way is to pay to have a jeweler inspect the stone. The mechanic will tell you if this stone is real ruby ​​or not.
   • Find reputable jewelers in the area. You should check out more reviews online before coming. Check that the customer is satisfied with the accuracy of this person's analysis.

   

   Jerry Ehrenwald

   President of International Gemological Institute & Gemstone Examiner IGI Chairman Jerry Ehrenwald is a New York-based gem examiner, who has spent his life working in the industry. He is the inventor of the US patented Laserscribe℠, a device used to engrave distinctive marks on diamonds, such as the DIN number (Diamond Identifier). Ehrenwald runs the commercial laboratory and validation department of IGI. He is honored as a Senior Fellow of the American Association of Examiners (ASA), and a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club in New York, a club limited to the 200 most successful individuals. in the jewelry industry.

   

   Jerry Ehrenwald
   President of International Gemological Institute & Gemstone Examiner

   If in doubt about the authenticity of the stone, take it to a inspection center. An accredited, independent grading laboratory can analyze the stone to identify and provide information about its shape, work style, weight, color, and optical properties.

2. 

   Get results. The jeweler will analyze and tell you the value of the ruby. It is possible that someone else will pay a higher or lower price for the stone, but this rating is a rough estimate if you convert the stone for money.

3. 

   Ruby certification. A certified jeweler will issue you an official certificate that the stone is ruby. This is legal proof that comes with if you decide to sell the stone later. Make an extra copy of the certificate and keep it in a safe, secret place.
   • Ruby certification for insurance benefits. If you accidentally lose a ruby ​​due to a natural disaster or other chaos, you will be more likely to be compensated for losses when it can prove that the lost stone is indeed ruby.
   • If you plan to keep rubies, consider the stone as an heirloom. One day when a relative or friend inherits it from you, the stone will be much more valuable if it has a certificate. You will save them time from having to go through the same process to determine if this is real rubies or not.
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Method 3 of 3: Examination with a magnifying glass

1. 

   Examine the ruby ​​using a 10X magnifying glass. Use a standard jeweler's magnifying glass or microscope. If such high-performance equipment is not available, you might consider borrowing from someone else, local lab or jeweler.

2. 

   Look for micro-sized cracks. Look for small to microscopic stretch marks that you cannot see with the naked eye. You will see some minor imperfections on the real ruby. Artificial rubies or imitation stones are often quite perfect because natural, microscopic stretch marks are extremely difficult to copy.
   • If there is a bubble like a bubble, there's a chance the stone in your hand is fake. Look for cracks instead of air bubbles.
   • External defects (defects) include scratches, dents, chipping. Internal defects (inclusions) are classified as: fracture crystals (feathers), negative crystals, silkiness, fingerprints, halo, cavities, cracks and color zoning.

3. 

   Observe the profile and facets of the ruby. The complexity of the ruby ​​surface is only visible under a 10X microscope. If the ruby ​​is too round or smooth, this is probably a fake. The stone is likely to be real if the surface has no cracks, is pristine and sharp. advertisement

What you need

• 10X magnifying glass of jeweler
• Flat glass or porcelain surface
• Coins