July 19, 2011
Ruby Alternatives
Although Rubies are the official birthstone for July they can be pricey. But don’t fret, as there are many alternatives to Ruby that are less expensive and potentially more desirable, and nobody except a skilled gemologist (and you) will know the difference!
Spinel~ for centuries was mistaken for Ruby because of its extreme similarity in color. In The English Crown Jewels, both the Black Prince’s Ruby-gifted to the Black Prince by the king of Spain, and the Timur Ruby, were believed to be rubies, but, after gemological studies and tests, been found in fact to be Red Spinel. Even today, many substitute Spinel for both Ruby and sapphire as they are less expensive and have impressively similar properties. Spinels are found in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia in deposits along with ruby and Sapphire. They are, however more rare than rubies and sapphires, but still remain more cost effective.
Red Zircon~ Found mainly in Thailand and Cambodia, Zircon is an excellent substitute for Ruby. The stone has the highest refractive index of any naturally occurring gemstone second only to diamond. This means that the stone has an intense brilliance. Another unique, spectacular characteristic of zircon is birefringence–light actually splits into two rays as it passes through the stone, causing the facets to appear as double images.
There are other substitutes for Ruby, and many gemstones occur in several different colors, such as tourmaline, topaz, garnet, and even diamond. Depending on the stone’s, color, cut, clarity, carat, and rarity, the price will vary, but there are many options!
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