Tag Archives: colour

Gemstones & Metals

Ruby – Gemstone Information

Posted on by Elizabeth

The beautiful ruby is one of the most precious and valuable gemstones available. It is the red variety of the mineral corundum, the blue variety being Sapphire. In Sanskrit, ruby is ratnaraj, meaning the King of Gems, and is highly prized for it’s beauty and durability.

Colour

The most alluring characteristic about the ruby is it’s mesmerising blood red tones. Corundum is typically transparent, but the ruby gets deep colour from the chromium trace element in its crystal composition. The richness of the red depends on how much chromium is present – the more chromium, the stronger the colour. Rubies often display a variety of hues ranging from an orangey-red, purple, and pink. The most valuable rubies tend to have medium darkness, and vivid red tones.

Where is it found?

Deposits of Ruby have been found in Kenya, Thailand, Russia, but the world’s most notable and principal source for rubies has for centuries been The Mogok Valley in Myanmar (Burma).

The rubies in this region form mostly in marble. Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to heat and pressure. It has a low iron content so usually marble-hosted rubies have an intense red colour, and are the most valuable.

In addition, rubies found in marble typically fluoresce red under ultraviolet light, giving off even more intense and beautiful rich red hues.

In Jewellery

Ruby is the birthstone for July, and the traditional gemstone 40th wedding anniversaries. The gemstone is said to represent love, health and wisdom, and it is believed that wearing a fine red ruby brings good fortune and strength.

To read more about the mystical and mythical properties of ruby see our article Ruby Myths and Legends.

To learn how to care for your ruby jewellery follow this link to see our 4 Simple Rules.

To find the perfect gemstone for your loved one, shop below!

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Ruby
Ruby
Guides & How To's

Moissanite vs. Diamond – Which Is Better?

Posted on by Elizabeth


*Left = moissanite, right = diamond

When choosing an engagement ring there can be so many factors to consider; metal colour, metal type, what size, what style, what type of gem, what colour gem, how many gems?!?! It’s easy to end up feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed.

Just when you thought you had it all figured out, you hear of a new budding trend: moissanite. From what you’ve heard on the grapevine it’s a beautiful (and affordable) diamond alternative. The sparkle of a diamond at the fraction of a cost? Sound too good to be true? We’re here to give you all the facts and dispel the fictions to help you decide which stone is right for you!

Clarity

Clarity refers to the imperfections within the gem. The clarity on moissanite is near flawless, while most diamonds in the world will have some sort of imperfections in them – a naturally flawless diamond is rare and very very expensive! While some people like these natural flaws (a reminder perhaps that life isn’t perfect!), the crisp and clean look of a moissanite can be just as alluring.

Brilliance

Moissanite has a greater refractive index than diamonds which means is has more fire and brilliance. This fire refers to the natural play of light within the gem – the display of light in moissanite will therefore be bigger and more colourful than that of diamonds.

Durability

Obviously diamond is known as the hardest naturally occurring substance on earth, coming in at 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Although no stone is stronger, moissanite isn’t so far behind, scoring 9.25 on the Mohs scale. This makes them extremely durable and great for everyday wear – see chart below for comparison.

Colour

Moissanite is considered a colourless gem, although can still project yellow or grayish hues in certain lights. This is more noticeable if the moissanite stone is larger, or if it is a cheaper type moissanite stone (Forever Classic).

Diamonds naturally vary in colour, and are graded on a scale from D-Z. Truly colourless diamonds (D) are treasured for their rarity. Many of these colour distinctions are so subtle that they are invisible to the untrained eye; however, these distinctions make a very big difference in diamond quality and price.

Price

Good news for those looking to save a bit more – moissanite is a fraction of the cost of a diamond!

While a diamond’s price varies based on cut, clarity, colour, and carat, moissanite stones vary only with size and type of moissanite (Forever Classic, Forever Brilliant, or Forever One). To read more about the different types of moissanite stone please click here.

Decisions, decisions…

Not that we don’t love diamonds, but there’s no denying that moissanite makes a great and affordable alternative. Although it’s not as revered (yet!), its durability, beauty, and brilliance equals (and even surpasses) that of a diamond. At Alden Ross you can find an extensive range of moissanite jewellery to suit each and every taste – see below to discover more.

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