
The hue of rubies can range from strong purple to intense red to an orange-red. What are the shades of rubies and what is the difference between ruby and pink sapphire? If the trace element iron was present in the ruby's growing environment, the stone may have darker hues, sometimes brownish or bluish, as well as lower fluorescence. In addition, chromium causes red fluorescence, making rubies with strong fluorescence appear more luminous. The trace element chromium gives ruby its characteristic red color, and chromium concentration affects the ruby's color intensity. Rubies and pink sapphires get their color from tiny admixtures of trace elements that are incorporated into the crystal lattice and can affect hue and saturation of color. The decisive factor is the color saturation of the red component. Both are varieties of the mineral corundum and share the chemical formula aluminum oxide.

The ruby and sapphire are closely related. A clear demarcation is complex and an individual assessment for each stone.

Where is the boundary between a ruby and a pink sapphire? The world's leading gemological laboratories have published a lot about this and have partially harmonized in their decision. The clear distinction between a pink sapphire and a ruby can be quite complex in individual cases.
