When discussing colored gemstones, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are sure to be mentioned. These 3 colored gemstones have a long history and are the 3 precious gemstones aside from diamonds. (There are only 4 precious gemstones.) Whether in the past or present, these 3 remain highly popular in the jewelry market. If you had to choose, which would it be? Ready? Today, let’s explore the characteristics and differences of ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
Table Of Contents
- Origin
- Chemical Composition
- Physical Properties
- Symbolic Meanings
- Birthstone and Anniversary Stones
- Value and Price
- Ruby vs. Sapphire vs. Emerald, Which One Is Right for You?
- Related FAQs
Origin
Undeniably, a gemstone’s origin affects its appearance and value. Therefore, understanding the source of a gemstone is essential in assessing its worth. Below are the main origins and qualities of ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
Ruby:
- The “pigeon blood” ruby from Myanmar (especially the Mogok region) is the most valuable type, known for its rich, vibrant color and high transparency.
- Rubies from Thailand are typically darker in color.
- Sri Lankan rubies are softer in color and often highly transparent.
- Tanzania and Mozambique have extensive ruby deposits, producing richly colored rubies.
Sapphire:
- Sapphires from Myanmar are regarded as some of the finest, recognized for their deep blue color and distinctive luster.
- Kashmiri sapphires are among the finest in the world, famous for their unique “Kashmir blue” and highly sought after.
- Sri Lanka is a major source of sapphire, producing sapphires in various colors.
- Australia is known for its large-scale sapphire deposits; though not as high-quality as those from Myanmar or Kashmir, they are more affordable and hold a stable market position.
Emerald:
- Colombia (notable mines: Muzo and Chivor) is the world’s most renowned source of emeralds, known for their intense green color and high transparency. Colombian emeralds dominate the global market.
- Zambia has emerged as an important source, producing emeralds with bright colors and fewer inclusions, increasingly popular in the market.
- Brazilian emeralds vary in quality, but some areas produce stones with appealing bright green hues, suitable for jewelry design.
- Russian emeralds gained fame in the 19th century and were favored by the Russian royal family for their unique color and clarity.
Chemical Composition
Knowing a gemstone’s chemical composition can reveal why it has certain characteristics.
Ruby is a form of corundum (Al₂O₃). Its vivid red color comes primarily from chromium in the crystal structure, with the amount of chromium influencing the hue and saturation of the red color.
Sapphire is also a type of corundum, with its classic blue color resulting from iron and titanium in the crystal structure. Sapphires come in many colors (excluding red, which is classified as ruby), each influenced by different trace elements. For example, a combination of chromium, iron, and titanium can create a purple hue; trace amounts of iron alone yield yellow to green tones; iron and chromium together produce green. Varying ratios of these elements affect the specific hue.
Fun Fact: Corundum only forms two gemstones—ruby and sapphire.
Emerald is a type of beryl (chemical formula: Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆). Its unique green color is due to trace amounts of chromium and vanadium in the crystal structure. Chromium affects the hue, while vanadium influences the saturation and brightness.
Physical Properties
Color
Ruby: Ruby colors range in different hues of red, with “pigeon blood red” being the finest. The ICGA (International Colored Gemstone Association) classifies pink corundum as ruby, but in the U.S., only vivid, intense reds located near the center of the “red” section on the color wheel qualify as ruby; otherwise, it’s considered pink sapphire. Check out the article Red Gemstones to learn more about those with red hues.
Sapphire: Sapphires come in many colors, such as blue, pink, yellow, green, teal, etc. Among these, vivid deep blue sapphires are the most famous and valuable. Outside of blue sapphires, the rarest and most valuable is the pink-orange “padparadscha” sapphire. Check out the article Blue Gemstones to learn more about blue-hued gems.
Emerald: Known as the king of green gemstones, emeralds display different hues of green, with vibrant green being the most desirable. Some emeralds have yellow or blue secondary hues. Check out the article Green Gemstones to learn more about green-hued gems.
Hardness and Durability
Both ruby and sapphire are corundum gems with the same Mohs hardness rating of 9. In terms of hardness, they are second only to diamonds and moissanite. This makes rubies and sapphires highly durable and suitable for daily wear, like engagement rings and wedding bands.
Emerald has a Mohs hardness of 7.5–8, which, while lower than ruby and sapphire, still falls within a durable range suitable for everyday wear.
Fire and Brilliance
The refractive index and dispersion rate determine a gemstone’s brilliance.
Ruby and sapphire have similar refractive indices (nω = 1.768–1.772, nε = 1.760–1.763) and a dispersion rate (0.008), giving them extraordinary sparkle under light.
Emerald have a slightly lower refractive index (nω = 1.564–1.595, nε = 1.568–1.602) and dispersion rate (0.004–0.007), which results in a softer, more subdued brilliance.
Clarity
Clarity refers to internal flaws or inclusions in a gemstone. Each of these three stones contains inclusions to some degree.
Of the three gemstones, emeralds tend to have more inclusions, with 99% of all emeralds containing inclusions and cracks. These inclusions are sometimes affectionately called “jardin” (French for “garden”) and are a unique identifier of emeralds.
For rubies and sapphires, the goal is to choose stones with as few inclusions as possible for high clarity. It depends on your preference for emeralds: if you appreciate the “jardin” look, you may not be concerned with clarity; if not, you can choose treated emerald or lab emerald.
A common emerald treatment is oiling, a widely accepted practice in which oil is introduced into the stone in a vacuum to fill natural fissures and improve clarity.
Symbolic Meanings
Ruby is often seen as a symbol of courage and strength, wealth and status, love and passion.
Sapphire is often seen as a symbol of wisdom, truth, nobility, loyalty, trust, and protection. With the discovery of colored sapphires, each color now carries unique meanings. Check out The Symbolism of Different Colored Sapphires to learn more.
Emerald is often seen as a symbol of hope, renewal, life, love and harmony, prosperity and wealth.
Birthstone and Anniversary Stones
Ruby is the birthstone for July and the anniversary stone for the 15th, 40th, and 80th years.
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the anniversary stone for the 5th, 45th, and 65th years.
Emerald is the birthstone for May and the anniversary stone for the 20th, 35th, and 55th years.
Value and Price
Of these 3 gemstones, ruby is typically the most expensive and is known as the king of gemstones. High-quality ruby can fetch several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per carat, with the finest reaching over a million per carat. Sapphire follows, with prices usually ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per carat, and top-quality sapphire exceeding ten thousand per carat. Finally, emerald prices generally range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per carat, with top-of-the-line Colombian emeralds reaching tens of thousands per carat.
You may also consider lab-grown rubies, sapphires, or emeralds, which are more affordable than natural ones yet possess the same properties. MollyJewelryUS offers high-quality lab gemstones, with IGI certification to ensure authenticity for each customer’s purchase.
Discover More Lab Ruby Rings, Lab Emerald Rings, Lab Emerald Necklaces, Colorful Sapphire Necklaces, and Colorful Sapphire Engagement Rings.
Popularity
These 3 gemstones have been popular throughout history, each with unique colors and characteristics, but all equally captivating.
Ruby vs. Sapphire vs. Emerald, Which One Is Right for You?
To find out, let’s go through a quick Q&A session. By the end, you’ll know which one is best for you!
Question 1: Do you prefer red, green, or blue? (The answer to this question can almost determine the best for you.)
A. Red (Ruby)
B. Blue (Sapphire)
C. Green (Emerald)
D. I like them all. Next question.
Question 2: What is your budget?
As mentioned earlier, the price range of these 3 gemstones generally follows Ruby > Sapphire > Emerald. So, if your budget is under $10,000, go for sapphire or emerald.
If you’re comfortable with lab gemstones, proceed to the next questions. (lab ruby, sapphire, and emerald are usually available for under $1,000.)
Question 3: Is the wearer born in May, July, or September?
A. Yes. Choose emerald for May, ruby for July, and sapphire for September.
B. No. Next question.
Question 4: Is this intended as an anniversary gift?
A. Yes. Ruby for 15th, 40th, and 80th anniversaries; sapphire for 5th, 45th, and 65th; and emerald for 20th, 35th, and 55th anniversaries.
B. No. Next question.
Question 5: Do you want this gemstone to convey a particular sentiment?
A. Expressing deep emotions. (Ruby)
B. Representing long-lasting relationships and commitment. (Sapphire)
C. Expressing hope for a new life and a bright future. (Emerald）
By now, you likely have an answer in mind. Remember, It doesn’t matter which one is best, the “best” choice is the one that suits you!
Related FAQs
Generally, high-quality rubies are more expensive than sapphires, but prices are also affected by market demand and gem quality.
Emeralds typically do not fade, but avoid high temperatures and sudden temperature changes.
Ruby and sapphire, with their higher hardness and durability, are ideal for daily wear. However, emeralds are also suitable for regular use due to their sufficient hardness.
Ruby is more expensive, whether high or average quality. Of course, if it’s an average ruby versus a high-quality emerald, the answer is emerald.
It depends on your perspective. Sapphire has a higher hardness than emerald. Emerald, known as the “king of green gemstones”, offers a deep, rich green, whereas green sapphire’s hue differs. Ultimately, it’s up to your preference.