Chemistry:List of rubies by size

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A red ruby
Natural ruby crystals from Winza, Tanzania

Rubies of various sizes have been found throughout the world. This is a list of rubies by size.

Gemstone

A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. Ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems, together with amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond.[1] The word ruby comes from ruber, Latin for red. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium.

Some gemstones that are popularly or historically called rubies, such as the Black Prince's Ruby in the British Imperial State Crown, are actually spinels. These were once known as "Balas rubies".

The quality of a ruby is determined by its color, cut, and clarity, which, along with carat weight, affect its value. The brightest and most valuable shade of red called blood-red or pigeon blood, commands a large premium over other rubies of similar quality. After color follows clarity: similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like rutile inclusions may indicate that the stone has been treated. Ruby is the traditional birthstone for July and is usually pinker than garnet, although some rhodolite garnets have a similar pinkish hue to most rubies. The world's most valuable ruby is the Sunrise Ruby.

Notable rubies

Name Origin Date Uncut size Cut size Location Ref
Liberty Bell Ruby Burma 8,500 carats (1,700 g) Stolen and still missing [2]
Neelanjali Ruby 1,370 carats (274 g)
Prince of Burma Burma 1996 950 carats (190 g)
Rosser Reeves Ruby Sri Lanka 138.7 carats (27.74 g) National Museum of Natural History [3]
DeLong Star Ruby Burma 1930 100.32 carats (20.064 g) American Museum of Natural History [4]
Garrard's Red Ruby Burma 40.63 carats (8.126 g) [5]
Sunrise Ruby 25.59 carats (5.118 g) [6]
Burmese ruby Burma 1930s 23.1 carats (4.62 g) National Museum of Natural History [7]
Elizabeth Taylor Ruby 8.243 carats (1.6486 g) [8]

Bibliography

Notes

References