1-carat ruby: precious stones in a deep red hue
The most important characteristic of a ruby is its color. Rubies are a type of corundum, just like sapphires. The only difference between the two is their color. And it is this color that makes rubies so desirable. The more vibrant the red, the more valuable the ruby. This applies even to 1-carat rubies.
It is almost impossible to cut two stones that are exactly the same weight. It rarely makes sense to cut a stone to a decimal place. Especially when working with good material, cutters want to cut the largest and heaviest stones possible from the rough. Among other things, the color must be taken into account. An experienced cutter can emphasize this with a suitable cut.
A ruby of exactly 1 carat is therefore extremely rare. Rather, stones that weigh a little more or a little less than 1 carat are also referred to as “1-carat rubies”.
Pink sapphire or red ruby?
The distinction between pink sapphires and red rubies is blurred. Often, one and the same stone is classified differently by different experts. Some say it is a pink sapphire. Others, however, believe that the stone is a light ruby.
Rubies come in different shades of red: they range from light to dark red. Some have a pink or orange tinge, others are brownish. However, the best color is considered to be a deep, vibrant shade of red. This shade is also referred to as “pigeon blood red”. If rubies of 1 carat exhibit this color, they can command high prices despite their comparatively small size.
Ruby – the most valuable of the corundums
Among the corundums, rubies are considered the most valuable, followed by blue sapphires and padparadscha. Even small stones of good quality can be very expensive.
Ruby 1 Carat: Use
Rubies are used in a wide variety of jewelry. If you buy a one-carat ruby, you can have a goldsmith make it into a beautiful ring, bracelet or necklace. Earrings with rubies also attract attention. Thanks to their hardness (9 on the Mohs scale), they do not have to fear scratches on rings.
The red stones go particularly well with yellow gold, but their noble color is also emphasized when set in white gold or framed by small sparkling diamonds.
According to the American Gem Society, rubies are the birthstones of those born in July. Rubies are also popular gifts for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.
Origin & mining sites
The most valuable rubies are mined in the Mogok Valley (Myanmar/Burma). The stones found there are blood red in color and glow in UV light. Rubies are also mined in the Mong Hsu region of Burma.
From 2007, high-quality rubies were mined in Winza, Tanzania, until the deposits were exhausted in 2009.
The largest production of high-quality rubies takes place in Mozambique. There, the precious stones are mined by machine by the company Gemfields.
In addition, rubies also come from smaller deposits in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
1 Carat Ruby: Hardness and Inclusions
Rubies have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Only the diamond is harder.
Many rubies have inclusions such as fine rutile needles, calcite crystals, dolomite crystals, pyrite crystals, zikon, pargasite. But healing cracks, negative crystals, and polysynthetic twins also occur.
Most common cuts
As with larger stones, the cut of a one-carat ruby depends on the shape and size of the rough stone. Oval cuts are most common, but round brilliant cuts also occur. Rubies under 1.5 carats are also available in emerald cut.