What woman has not dreamed of expensive, luxurious jewelry with a precious stone. Most representatives of the fair sex value red, bloody stones - rubies. But when one dives into the study of jewelry, the concept of ruby corundum or ruby corundum comes up. Here the question arises: what is the difference between corundum and ruby and what is corundum ruby? There are simple answers to these questions, which are detailed in this article. In addition to these questions, the pricing policy on the jewelry market, rules for the care and storage of precious stones, and a lot of other useful information are presented below.
Physicochemical characteristics
Corundum ruby has the chemical formula of aluminum oxide. Where does this rich, bright color come from then? Impurities of chromium, iron, titanium create a unique shade. After extraction from the source, the stone does not have an attractive appearance. It includes a variety of rocks and is covered with a grayish coating. After specific, complex, professional processing, the gem sparkles with sharpened edges in the sunlight. At this moment, what you see is no longer ruby corundum, but a real ruby. That is, what is the difference between corundum and ruby? The first is a raw version of the second. And so these are two identical stones, just like a diamond and a diamond.
Their physicochemical properties are identical. In terms of hardness, they are slightly inferior to diamonds - 9.-9.5 points on the Mohs scale out of 10. This means that they are not so easy to break or chip. But perfect cleavage helps to carry out high-quality jewelry processing, which makes the stones sparkle. The density of the mineral is 4.5 g/cm3. This is a good indicator that makes the gem resistant to chemical and physical external influences. The concentration of chemical impurities determines the intensity of the shade. So, the stone can be either dark cherry color or pale pink.
Interesting fact! Red specimens with a blue tint are prized. These are “pigeon” stones, which are highly valued in jewelry and are quite rare in nature.
Magical meaning
Sapphires and rubies have been used in occult rituals since ancient times, so it has always been endowed with magical properties. According to esotericists, corundum is capable of exerting a powerful influence on the course of thoughts and actions of its owner. This is a stone of active and purposeful individuals, people with ambitions and high expectations.
Corundum will help you concentrate on the path to your goal. The stone actively supports the owner, driving away fears and increasing self-confidence. However, at the same time, it requires energy and active action from the owner. The gem is not suitable for lazy and mediocre people.
Blue sapphire is often given to people whose work involves mental activity. It is a stone of scientists and researchers. A real natural ruby can protect against negative energy and support in times of crisis. Earrings with this stone will help you find harmony, both with yourself and with the world around you, and a ring will allow you to reveal your hidden potential.
What is corundum ruby
Corundum is the untreated version of ruby. It is important to understand that corundum is not considered a fake or a cheap substitute for a gemstone. But there is an important note that corundums can be natural and synthetic. The external and physical properties of natural stone and synthetic stone are identical. Without knowledge of their origin, it is difficult to guess what their difference is. How then to distinguish between a mineral mined in nature and an artificially grown one? There are several signs:
- The color of an artificial mineral can be adjusted during the growing process by adding certain chemical impurities. Therefore, in laboratory conditions, stones are created that have a noble, rare color.
- In nature, imperfect specimens are often found, with voids and microcracks inside. Artificially created conditions make it possible to grow gems that are ideal in shape and structure.
Even knowing these distinctive features, when purchasing, it is quite difficult to independently determine the nature of the origin of the precious stone. If it is important to buy a natural stone, you should consult with a specialist jeweler.
Origin of the stone
Korynd is a stone known to mankind for a long time. Luxurious items with gemstones were already worn in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. They were also popular in India, Persia, and China.
Crystal is known to people under many names. Some of them depended on the area where it was mined. Thus, Old Russian specimens were known under the name “yakhont”. At the same time, the ruby was called “scarlet yacht”, and sapphire, or blue corundum, respectively, “azure blue”.
It is interesting that both ruby and sapphire, types of corundum, were called “yakhonts” in Rus'.
The main suppliers of the mineral to Europe were India and South Asia, where its largest mines were located. The gem made me fall in love with the beauty of its tints, purity of lines and deep color. It is not surprising that the jewelry made from it was an adornment of the royal treasuries.
Since then, it has developed that red corundum, ruby, is valued higher than diamonds. But there are also specimens of cheaper varieties that are much more expensive even than this gem. These include the sapphire with the beautiful name “Blue Princess”, whose weight is 114 carats or 22.8 grams. It belongs to the royal house of the Netherlands and costs fabulous money.
Thanks to its deep color and beautiful asterism (the so-called play of light in the form of a star), corundum has long been considered a truly royal gift. Giving a blue or red stone to the ruler of a neighboring country as a sign of peaceful intentions is the height of diplomatic etiquette.
One of these specimens is a unique English sapphire rose weighing 31 carats. In the seventeenth century, it was the property of the British educator Henry Sloane. This beautiful gem inspired the famous fantasy writer David Eddings. In his novels about the magical kingdom of Elenia, the Belliom stone, copied from an English treasure, appears, endowed with enormous magical powers.
In the United States of America there is a collection of portraits of presidents made from low-value crystals, such as white.
Large minerals are rarely found. However, natural history museums keep specimens weighing up to several kilograms.
What is the difference between them
Although corundum and ruby are identical in origin, there are differences between them. Ruby is a more refined version of corundum and has greater value in the jewelry market. Here are the markers by which you can find out how they differ.
Corundums have an imperfect structure, where microcracks are pronounced, inadequate transparency is observed, and foreign inclusions are possible. The color is often muted, not intense. Under sunny colors, individual fragments of a pebble play differently under the light (this phenomenon is called dichroism). Corundums are not subjected to full jewelry processing - the edges are cut with special equipment according to a certain technique.
Rubies are a luxury version of corundum. Its structure is closer to flawless, it is completely transparent, without foreign inclusions. It has bright, rich shades and, under lighting, plays harmoniously with all its facets (uniform light refraction). Subjected to detailed jewelry processing.
Deposits: where there are formations of natural mineral
The most famous deposits are located in a place called the “Asian quadrangle”. It includes Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
The purest rubies are mined in Burma. Rare chlorospaphyres and black-blue stones are found in deposits in Australia and Tanzania.
In Russia, mining is carried out in the Urals, Primorye and Krasnoyarsk Territory, and one of the most recently discovered deposits is mines in Kazakhstan. Precious corundum is also mined in the USA, Canada, Norway and Greece.
Interesting! According to geological data, the world's sapphire reserves are 20 times higher than ruby reserves.
How to distinguish a fake from the real one
There are no secrets to recognizing a fake. If a fake is of low quality, it can be easily identified by the following criteria:
- Low thermal conductivity. A real stone stores temperature, and if you hold it in your palm, it will retain its coolness. Painted glass quickly heats up to body temperature.
- Hardness and strength. A simple test is that if you run a needle over a mineral, it will remain intact and no scratches will appear on it. A low-quality fake will certainly be damaged.
- Test with milk. At home, you can do this interesting test just for fun. If you put a ruby in a glass of milk, the milk will take on a pinkish tint. There is no magic in this, just the intense red glow of the stone gives it a milky hue.
But among the bad fakes there are also good ones. There are fewer options to guess the real specimen. To do this, you should make purchases only in trusted jewelry boutiques.
Application
In addition to the jewelry industry, corundum derivatives are actively used in a variety of industries. In optics and instrumentation, sapphire glass is used to increase the strength of lenses. In the aircraft industry, windows are equipped with this part.
In mechanical engineering and machine tools, corundum with a high iron content is used as an abrasive material. Artificial sapphires are needed for the production of medical instruments, luxury watches, mobile gadgets and digital equipment.
In construction, corundum is used as a component of the thermal insulation layer.
Horoscope and magic
The mineral has a fiery nature, so it is perfect for Fire signs (Aries, Sagittarius, Leo). With its help, signs rationally use the qualities given to them at birth: perseverance, determination, firmness, decisiveness, confidence, leadership inclinations. But there are no people consisting of only positive qualities. Fire signs are impulsive, self-centered and have difficulty reading the emotions of people around them. Ruby helps smooth out sharp conflict angles and also improves interpersonal understanding.
Magicians and esotericists believe in the great power of the fire stone. They believe that it is able to kindle feelings between people and increase attractiveness in the eyes of the opposite sex. Besides this he:
- Strengthens the willpower of a person, makes him stronger and more resistant to difficulties.
- Stimulates physical and mental activity.
- Protects the owner from external negativity (anger, envy, aggression, slander).
Who is it suitable for?
The mineral is suitable for people who have lost confidence in themselves and their own abilities.
It guides a person to make the right decision. Corundum should not be given or worn to people who are filled with envy, anger, and negative thoughts. Otherwise, the mineral will reflect these feelings in the opposite direction and increase their influence.
Astrologers say that the mineral is perfect for people born under the zodiac sign Cancer. In turn, it is absolutely contraindicated for Aries, Leo and Capricorn.
Storage and care of the gem
Despite the durability of the stone, there are a number of recommendations for caring for it so that it pleases its owners longer:
- It is not recommended to wear the mineral in sunlight for more than 3 hours a day. Ultraviolet radiation dulls the color of the stone. The more often you expose it to sunbathing, the faster it will become unattractive.
- It is recommended not to use aggressive detergents when treating stone. It is wiped with a soft cloth (velor, microfiber) or wiped with a soft bristle brush.
- Store the mineral in a box, upholstered with soft fabric and reliably hiding the jewelry from sunlight.
Talismans, amulets
Amulets and talismans made of corundum can have great power. Thus, it is believed that ruby attracts positive energy and creates protection for its owner.
Sapphire talismans are often carried with them to attract love energy. Absolutely transparent corundum can help you achieve success, confidence, and develop willpower - it is a stone with special power.
Rings or pendants most often become amulets. A good option is to carry the raw mineral with you without showing it to anyone.
Receipt methods
Today, artificial ruby stones can be obtained using several technologies:
- Verneuil's method. Growing crystals. It is based on the synthesis of corundums by extracting them from the surface. The process begins with the introduction of a crystal with an already established lattice structure into the zone. Most often, silicon and germanium are obtained in this way. But with a little modernization, other crystals can be produced.
- Zone melting. One of the variations of directional crystallization. Primarily used to separate solids from impurities.
- Crystallization from solutions. Corundums are grown from solutions, and the process occurs at temperatures lower than when minerals crystallize from molten raw materials. This produces cleaner stones with brighter colors.
- Obtaining corundum from raw materials in a gaseous state. The method is used to produce large corundums.
- Hydrothermal method. Artificial ruby is obtained from alumina, silica and chromium compounds. They are placed in a melting crucible and then in an autoclave. Under the influence of high temperatures, the crystals mature. Then the temperature regime is changed, and depending on this, stones of different shapes, colors and purities are obtained.
Thanks to modern methods of synthesizing crystals, it is possible to obtain artificial corundum in a few minutes.
