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Different Types of Ruby Stone - Variations of The Red-Colored Stone

Published on Jun 13, 2023

  • types of ruby stone

An extremely rare, fine-quality Ruby pair of blazing red color

The Grand Ruby, hailed as the king of gemstones, is arguably the most striking red-coloured gem in the world. Although there are many types of Ruby, each is associated with divinity and royalty.

The fiery, blazing red colour almost seems as if the stone is intensely burning with vitality and passion, so much so that legends would recount stories of a fine ruby melting its way through the wax.

All such glories sung by the legends establish how brilliant, vivid and sharp a Ruby can be.

Ruby Gemstone Properties

Ruby is a member of the Corundum Mineral family, with the yellow and blue sapphires as other famous members. Chemically, all Corundums are aluminium oxides (Al 2O 3), but impurities often are present within the lattice structure, which can occupy positions where ideally, aluminium should have been present.

It's these impurities that lend the gemstones their specific colour. Ruby has chromium ions which reflect the red colour, giving the fiery red colour top the scintillating gem.

The various types of Ruby colors arise due to different concentrations of these chromium impurities. A higher number of chromium ions would result in a more profound, richer saturation of the red hue, as in the case of old Burmese Ruby.

The Ruby measures a solid 9 on the Moh's Scale, making it the hardest natural gemstone after Diamond, and is suitable for all kinds of Jewellery. All varieties of Ruby have a reddish hue in varying brilliance, intensity and saturation, ranging from light pink to dark, deep crimson, sometimes with even a purple tint, as in the case of the famous "Pigeon Blood Ruby."

The History of Ruby


  1. Historically, Ruby has been mined in various parts of Asia and Africa. Asia has been specifically blessed with abundant reserves of this gemstone, with the Mongok Valley, Myanmar, immensely famous for producing the finest Ruby specimens throughout history.
  2. Various parts of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Srila Lanka also make this gem on a modest scale. Recently, African nations led by Mozambique have started Ruby mining too. All these sources lent various ruby stone names, like Manikya in India, Yaqoot in Pakistan.

The Ruby has been an exceedingly favourite gemstone of royals. The outstanding excellence of this gem enchanted many great kings and nobles, and often went to great lengths to obtain them.

The Mongol King Kublai Khan even exchanged a whole city in liu for a near-perfect Ruby, as stated in the writings of Italian traveller Marco-Polo. A similar legend involving Mughal King Jahangir is famous, portraying, in essence, the dignified status of this vibrant gemstone.

  • The bewitching Ruby was irresistible even for the powerful kings of yore.

The bewitching Ruby was irresistible even for the powerful kings of yore.

Ruby Mystical Benefits

It isn't just the fiery, passionate aesthetics of a Ruby but the esteemed mystical powers possessed by the gem which rattles the buyers' desires. Though legends and mythological stories have spoken of such powers for almost all gemstones, Ruby has been denoted with an unusual amount of praise.


  1. All types of Rubies are master revitalisers, enlivening the whole body, mind and spirit. Their potent vigorous effect is said to immediately awaken the Muladhara (Root) chakra and tremendously increase the amount of life energy flowing through the body.
  2. This life energy, termed Chi, Prana or vitality in different cultures, hacks through all bodily and psychological miseries. It burns down all feelings of helplessness, anxiety and depression and strengthens the whole physical body.
  3. The blazing gem is also said to be extraordinarily protective, burning away all kinds of negativity, evil spirits, jealousy and dark magic with its prepping, rigorous fire. All types of Ruby specimens significantly increase one's confidence and self-worth and bring victories over enemies and favour from the ruling government.
  4. Vedic astrology, the most detailed system of astrology, states Ruby to be the primary gemstone of the Sun, the king of all planets. It's also linked to the Fire element, explaining the passion and vitality the gem exudes.

Different Types of Ruby Gemstone

Old Burmese Ruby refer to the ruby gemstones mined in Myanmar, specifically from the Mogok Valley, before the country shifted to the industrial era. These are of exemplary quality, having deep, rich red colour and near-perfect clarity that have become today's benchmark, often labelled as "Pigeon Blood Ruby." The Rubies mined from the late 19th to mid-20th century come under this category.

Did You Know?

The Sunrise Ruby is the rarest type of Ruby in the world. Weighing 25.59 Carats, and a near-perfect Pigeon blood color and perfect visual clarity, the stone was sold for a Whopping USD 30.3 million in 2015.

1 New Burmese Ruby

The rubies mined from the Mong-Hsu region of Myanmar are called new Burmese rubies. The famed Mogok Valley had been heavily depleted towards the end of the 20th century, leading the search for new Ruby Ming grounds.

After the industrialisation of Myanmar, mining in the Mong-Hsu Valley in the south began actively. Different types of Ruby stones, like pink, star and red, are mined from here. The grade of these rubies isn't the same as that of the legendary Old Burmese Ruby, but they are still good enough for international sale.

2 Mogok Ruby

Old Burmese Ruby and the Mogok Ruby are almost identical. Old Burmese Ruby refers to the Ruby gems mined in the Mogok Valley from the late 19th to the mid-20th century.

However, the Mogok Ruby relates to all types of Rubies mined from the valley regardless of time. Though depleted, real Mogok Rubies are extremely rare and retain the same excellent quality but are smaller sized.

  • The Sunrise Ruby, mined from Mogok Valley has been dubbed once in a lifetime gemstone.

The Sunrise Ruby, mined from Mogok Valley has been dubbed once in a lifetime gemstone

Source- GIA

3 Thai Ruby

Thailand is the second favourite producer of fine quality Ruby specimens. Behind the Burmese Ruby in matters of quality, the Thai Ruby is the most sought-after variety, which has deep, rich and even coloring, and exceptional clarity, which brings in many buyers.

4 Mozambique Ruby

The mining of Rubies in Mozambique has increased in recent times. With the decline of production in Mogok Ruby from Myanmar, Mozambique has become a significant player in the Ruby market.

Many African countries produce various ruby crystals, collectively called African Ruby. But the Mozambique variety is deep red with good quality, with some specimens approaching the "Pigeon blood Ruby" benchmark.

  • The Estrela De Fura Ruby, mined from Mozambique is the most expensive Ruby in the world.

The Estrela De Fura Ruby, mined from Mozambique is the most expensive Ruby in the world.

Source- Instoremag.com

5 Madagascar Ruby

Madagascar is another country which has started producing Ruby at an increased rate, with the product being highly regarded in the Ruby market. A general specimen from Madagascar has a deep red color, good clarity and quality. Some Madagascar rubies have a color that resembles the Pigeon blood red too.

6 Indian Ruby

While India has not been a significant producer of Ruby gemstones in modern times, the country has a rich history with the gemstone. There is evidence of India being a prime producer of the gem, and even today, rubies are being procured, albeit on a humble level.

Two types of Manik stone are procured in India, i.e., The Ruby from Karur, Tamil Nadu, and the Star Ruby in Channapatna, Karnataka.

7 Pink Ruby

Pink Ruby is a type of Ruby that has a pinkish-red or pinkish hue. Though the deep-red colour of the Ruby is the hallmark of the gemstone, the pink variety also enjoys a significant market.

Being different, they are also great alternatives for buyers, and beautiful Jewellery can be made from them because of their pleasing colour. Metaphysically, these are said to be less heating and intense to wear than the crimson red variety and have more feminine energy, which women can wear easily.

8 Star Ruby

Star Rubies are a subset of the Ruby gemstone. Their chemical structure isn't different from regular Ruby, apart from having needle-like inclusions due to titanium impurity within the crystal.

Due to this, the star ruby exhibits an asterism, or a six-rayed star pattern, when viewed under a light source. Of all ruby gemstone types, a high-quality Star Ruby is the rarest that can fetch immense prices from bidders worldwide.

Did You Know?

The Pigeon Blood Ruby isn't a type of Ruby but a label of the finest quality ruby with a dark-red color akin to a freshly killed pigeon's blood. The best type of Ruby samples mined from any location, with such colour and quality, is said to be "Pigeon Blood Ruby."

Ruby Quality


  1. A natural Ruby gemstone, which is untreated and unheated, and of naturally good quality, is rare to find. Only such stones can be regarded as precious, and additionally, only these natural, unheated Ruby stone types are said to carry astrological and healing powers.
  2. A good quality Ruby shall possess a good, evenly colored body with minimal imperfections. The silk inclusions determine the authenticity of a genuine ruby, while treated samples will have an unrealistic perfection.

Ruby Price

The price of a Ruby gemstone can depend upon its color, clarity, carat size and cut. While color, clarity and size are nature-determined, various types of ruby cuts have evolved over time to bring out the immense beauty of this gemstone.

Thus, those willing to purchase a Ruby due to its astrological or inherent value should buy a certified natural specimen from a reputed seller. Many fake and treated Ruby stones are presented as natural and authentic, owing to their immense demand and prices, and are even purchased by unsuspecting folks.

GemPundit has an exquisite collection of natural Ruby gemstones and Jewellery at affordable prices and certified by reputed laboratories. Those willing to buy Ruby online can explore the GemPundit Ruby collection, consisting of different kinds of Rubies, and get great recommendations from leading Gem experts to find their perfect Ratnaraj Manik stone.


FAQs

1 What is the Name of the most expensive Ruby?

The Estrela de Fura Ruby, mined from Mozambique and weighing an impressive 30 carats, is currently the most expensive. The incredible gemstone was sold for USD 34.8 million.

2 Do Rubies come in different colors?

Rubies do come in different colors. The variety of Ruby plays an integral part in its color, which can range from light pink to deep, dark crimson, also called "Pigeon Blood Red."

3 What type of stone is Ruby?

The Ruby is a precious gemstone that belongs to the Corundum mineral family. The corundum is aluminium oxide, which can have impurities in its lattice structure, and the red color of Ruby is due to Chromium impurities.

Click To Know: Top 7 Astrological Benefits Of Wearing Ruby Gemstone

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