Ruby or Pink Sapphire

[Hernani Jr]

Hello good day. I know this is a rather tired question but what makes a Ruby... a Ruby and a Pink Sapphire... a Pink Sapphire? I’ve read up on Richard Hughes’ Ruby and Sapphire Book. But a clear answer still eludes me. See I live in Asia where cultural traditions hold both Rubies and Pink Sapphires as one. However I do understand that there is a difference between the colors Red and Pink.

That saying I inherited 4 Ruby/Pink Sapphire Cabochons which my Mom got back in the day, back to when I was born and I’m 33. They haven’t been lab certified so I have no idea regarding specifications or treatment or lack thereof, they’re roughly 5 carats each. I understand that only a reputable lab can have the final verdict. But the nearest ones are 2-4hr plane rides to Hong Kong or Thailand. Which isn’t feasible at the time of a pandemic.

So my question is are these Rubies or Pink Sapphires? In different light sources:



Compared to a conventional “Red” Mozambique Ruby Cabochon and a Ceylon Star Ruby:



In UV Light:

It fluoresces a strong flame red. Does Ruby and Pink Sapphire have a difference in how they would fluoresce under UV light? Does it have any bearing whether it would be labelled Ruby or Pink Sapphire?

Thank you in advance.

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

Hello good day. I know this is a rather tired question but what makes a Ruby... a Ruby and a Pink Sapphire... a Pink Sapphire? I’ve read up on Richard Hughes’ Ruby and Sapphire Book. But a clear answer still eludes me. See I live in Asia where cultural traditions hold both Rubies and Pink Sapphires as one. However I do understand that there is a difference between the colors Red and Pink.

That saying I inherited 4 Ruby/Pink Sapphire Cabochons which my Mom got back in the day, back to when I was born and I’m 33. They haven’t been lab certified so I have no idea regarding specifications or treatment or lack thereof, they’re roughly 5 carats each. I understand that only a reputable lab can have the final verdict. But the nearest ones are 2-4hr plane rides to Hong Kong or Thailand. Which isn’t feasible at the time of a pandemic.

So my question is are these Rubies or Pink Sapphires? In different light sources:



Compared to a conventional “Red” Mozambique Ruby Cabochon and a Ceylon Star Ruby:



In UV Light:

It fluoresces a strong flame red. Does Ruby and Pink Sapphire have a difference in how they would fluoresce under UV light? Does it have any bearing whether it would be labelled Ruby or Pink Sapphire?

Thank you in advance.

Both rubies and pink sapphires may fluoresce. This has to do with the minerals creating the red color, such as chromium. Pink sapphire and ruby are on a continuum so different labs may disagree. I hear that the labs in Asia are more likely to call pinkIsh corundum a ruby. To me, the color I’m seeing on my screen is more toward pink Sapphire. They are beautiful, large stones and you are very lucky! Enjoy!!

 

[Bron357]

In my opinion they would be classed as pink sapphires.
The element Chromium is what causes the fluorescence under UV light and is present in both pink sapphire and rubies (and even some blue sapphire fluoresce under UV).
Obviously a lab report can provide formal information regarding carat weight and treatments, if any, and often times origin, however a buyer is normally attracted to the colour and not necessarily the “label”.
Beautiful gemstones in any regard, your a Mum was a fabulous shopper!

 

[Big Fat Facets]

ooohh so luscious! they look like juicy cherry lozenges. i love the silk in them. i would say they are between pink and red, they are reddish pink/ pinkish red, from the images. not quite the stoplight red, when i think of ruby

 

[icy_jade]

To me they would be pink sapphires too. FWIW I’m based in Asia

 

[JackTrick]

In the first picture I thought pinkish rubies by standards I’ve seen in Asian markets. The subsequent photos put me more firmly in the pink sapphire camp though.

 

[voce]

It's up to personal opinion, really. I'd call the Mozambique I've a ruby because I don't see pink, and the rest are all pink sapphires.

However, I've seen a lot of pink sapphires embedded in everyday items of Mughal emperors in a museum exhibit labeled as ruby, so I think that people from India or Sri Lanka have a less stringent standard of what they'll call for their word for ruby.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Totally just my opinion, but I'd say:

• the first two photos are pink sapphires because they are a bluey kind of pink (based on the second photo)
• the star corundum I would call a star ruby because even though it looks similar in colour to the pink sapphires, it seems with star rubies, anything pink or red seems to be called rubies rather than sapphires (I could be wrong)
• the Mozambiquan one looks like a ruby to me because it's more red than pink

 

[Hernani Jr]

Wow thanks! I used to call them Purplish Pink Rubies but as I read on the difference between colors I myself gravitated towards calling them Pink Sapphires.

 

[Nick_G]

"If you're buying then they are pink sapphires. If you're selling then they are rubies."

 

[luckyblackcat]

I have no clue but I just wanted to say they look like the most beautiful and tastiest candy in the world! Do you have plans to set them? Drop earrings would be killer.

 

[Hernani Jr]

I have no clue but I just wanted to say they look like the most beautiful and tastiest candy in the world! Do you have plans to set them? Drop earrings would be killer.

I’m planning on having them set as “stack rings” something playful and similar to this photo I saw online. I’m gonna surround them with melee diamonds.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Ohhh sounds amazing. What a great idea!

 

[luckyblackcat]

I’m planning on having them set as “stack rings” something playful and similar to this photo I saw online. I’m gonna surround them with melee diamonds.

Amazing!!! Please keep us updated!

 

[LIGemzGal]

I’m planning on having them set as “stack rings” something playful and similar to this photo I saw online. I’m gonna surround them with melee diamonds.

Man on man o man. That is one sweet collection of beautiful rings. Im seriously drooling over here. WHOA

 

[LD]

Ruby or Sapphire? It depends where you live! In Asia gemstones that are more on the pink side are called rubies whereas move into Europe and the US and they're more likely to be called Sapphires. Honestly? As long as you love the colour and the price is right it doesn't matter what name is attached!

 

[Nick_G]

It's a bit of a corundum conundrum!