Ruby Vs Garnet Stone - How to Tell the Difference?
To the untrained eye, a sparkling red gemstone may easily be mistaken for a ruby. Rubies are one of the best-known precious gemstones, but several other natural gems can display attractive red colors as well.
Garnet is a broad group of gemstones that includes several red varieties, some of which can resemble ruby at first glance. Despite the visual similarity, ruby and garnet differ in composition, hardness, optical properties, and typical color characteristics. Here are several ways gemologists distinguish them.
Rough Crystal Characteristics
Ruby and garnet belong to different mineral families and can form in different crystal shapes. Their rough crystal habits, density, and internal features can help a trained gemologist identify them, although these characteristics are not always practical for a consumer examining a finished piece of jewelry.
Durability
Ruby is a variety of corundum and ranks 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Garnets vary by species but generally fall around 6.5 to 7.5. This makes ruby more resistant to scratching, although both gemstones can still chip or fracture if struck.
Color
Both ruby and garnet can display rich red colors. Rubies are commonly associated with vivid red to purplish-red hues, while many red garnets show deeper red, brownish-red, or orangish-red tones. Color can provide a clue, but it is not a definitive test because both gem families occur across a range of shades.
Light and Optical Properties
Ruby and garnet interact with light differently because they have different optical properties. Gemologists may use refractive index, spectrum, magnification, and other instruments to separate them reliably. Simple observations of reflected colors can be interesting, but they should not be treated as proof.
Professional Identification
The most reliable way to determine whether a red gemstone is ruby or garnet is to have it examined by a qualified gemologist or gemological laboratory. This is particularly important when the stone has significant value or is being sold as a natural ruby.
Ruby generally commands much higher prices than common red garnet, especially when the ruby has desirable color, size, origin, and treatment status. Garnet, however, is an attractive natural gemstone in its own right and can offer rich color at a more accessible price.
Take a look at our collection of ruby jewelry.
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