Blue Sapphire: The Complete Guide (Meaning, Price & Origin)
Marie6/7/2026
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Identifying a ruby takes a certain expertise, all the more so because it is one of the most imitated precious stones, prized for its beauty and its value. Telling a genuine ruby from a cheap imitation is generally straightforward, but matters grow more complicated with certain synthetic rubies. Discover also the beautiful natural stones that resemble rubies.
The most reliable way to identify a ruby is a test carried out by a gemmologist. DIY tests can be dangerous for the stone if it is genuine — such as attempting to scratch it...
With the naked eye, it is quite possible to confuse a genuine ruby with a fake one, especially a high-quality synthetic ruby. The natural stone and the laboratory-grown stone will share not only a similar colour and clarity, but also much the same brilliance. Synthetic rubies are, however, considerably less expensive.
As for imitations, they do not share the same physical properties and are notably softer than genuine rubies. Rubies are the hardest stones (9 on the Mohs scale) after diamonds.
Did you know? The ruby is the birthstone for the month of July.
To identify a genuine ruby, bear in mind that the finest specimens have virtually no inclusions, though it is perfectly common for these precious stones to contain natural imperfections. Very often, rubies are heat-treated to improve their appearance and uniformity.
Bear in mind that genuine rubies come in a range of colours. One of the most coveted is pigeon's blood red, characteristic of the Burmese ruby. Other shades can range from vivid red to pinkish red. There is something for every taste, but on the precious stone market, the most saturated and intense rubies command the highest prices.
Explore our full ruby collection.
Please note that heat treatment is the only treatment applied to rubies sold on our site.
If you held a genuine ruby in one hand and a laboratory-grown stone in the other, it is by no means certain that you could identify the synthetic ruby. There are several methods used to create them, and some are indistinguishable from natural stones without the use of gemmological equipment. That said, with a jeweller's loupe it is sometimes possible to spot inclusions that are fairly specific to synthetic rubies. And if you know the prices, the difference becomes clear.
As a rough comparison, a genuine 1-carat ruby can sell for €1,500, while its 1-carat synthetic equivalent might cost €15. High-quality synthetic rubies do command higher prices, but they never reach those of genuine natural rubies.
Have a ruby ring created with Bonnot Paris.
While it is sometimes possible to confuse a genuine ruby with a synthetic one, it is unlikely that an imitation or “fake ruby” — made from glass or plastic, for instance — would fool anyone who has once witnessed the exceptional brilliance of a genuine ruby!
Distinguishing a fine ruby from another natural stone that closely resembles it, however, is not always easy. Identifying a beautiful ruby with the naked eye can sometimes be impossible. Certain stones can bear a striking resemblance to rubies.
This is the case with:
· red spinel,
· certain pink tourmalines.
This is not always the case, as many factors come into play, but these gems are often more affordable.
Read also: How to care for precious stones
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Identifying a ruby takes a certain expertise, all the more so because it is one of the most imitated precious stones, prized for its beauty and its value. Telling a genuine ruby from a cheap imitation is generally straightforward, but matters grow more complicated with certain synthetic rubies. Discover also the beautiful natural stones that resemble rubies.
The most reliable way to identify a ruby is a test carried out by a gemmologist. DIY tests can be dangerous for the stone if it is genuine — such as attempting to scratch it...
With the naked eye, it is quite possible to confuse a genuine ruby with a fake one, especially a high-quality synthetic ruby. The natural stone and the laboratory-grown stone will share not only a similar colour and clarity, but also much the same brilliance. Synthetic rubies are, however, considerably less expensive.
As for imitations, they do not share the same physical properties and are notably softer than genuine rubies. Rubies are the hardest stones (9 on the Mohs scale) after diamonds.
Did you know? The ruby is the birthstone for the month of July.
To identify a genuine ruby, bear in mind that the finest specimens have virtually no inclusions, though it is perfectly common for these precious stones to contain natural imperfections. Very often, rubies are heat-treated to improve their appearance and uniformity.
Bear in mind that genuine rubies come in a range of colours. One of the most coveted is pigeon's blood red, characteristic of the Burmese ruby. Other shades can range from vivid red to pinkish red. There is something for every taste, but on the precious stone market, the most saturated and intense rubies command the highest prices.
Explore our full ruby collection.
Please note that heat treatment is the only treatment applied to rubies sold on our site.
If you held a genuine ruby in one hand and a laboratory-grown stone in the other, it is by no means certain that you could identify the synthetic ruby. There are several methods used to create them, and some are indistinguishable from natural stones without the use of gemmological equipment. That said, with a jeweller's loupe it is sometimes possible to spot inclusions that are fairly specific to synthetic rubies. And if you know the prices, the difference becomes clear.
As a rough comparison, a genuine 1-carat ruby can sell for €1,500, while its 1-carat synthetic equivalent might cost €15. High-quality synthetic rubies do command higher prices, but they never reach those of genuine natural rubies.
Have a ruby ring created with Bonnot Paris.
While it is sometimes possible to confuse a genuine ruby with a synthetic one, it is unlikely that an imitation or “fake ruby” — made from glass or plastic, for instance — would fool anyone who has once witnessed the exceptional brilliance of a genuine ruby!
Distinguishing a fine ruby from another natural stone that closely resembles it, however, is not always easy. Identifying a beautiful ruby with the naked eye can sometimes be impossible. Certain stones can bear a striking resemblance to rubies.
This is the case with:
· red spinel,
· certain pink tourmalines.
This is not always the case, as many factors come into play, but these gems are often more affordable.
Read also: How to care for precious stones
Partagez ce post
Découvrez d'autres articles qui peuvent vous intéresser pour approfondir votre passion pour la joaillerie !
View all