It has a bright red color, due to chromium inclusions, but it can take on various shades of this color, ranging from the brightest red, also called "pigeon's blood", to pink (typical of metamorphic rocks generated by contact metamorphism of aluminiferous sediments and dolomitic marbles). Given its high hardness, one of the typical deposits is the secondary one in alluvial deposits.
Its dimensions are usually not exceptional and are very much linked to transparency ; for this reason, clear rubies that exceed 10 carats are considered exceptional. Always based on quality, various types of cutting are used.
The best gems are usually cut "faceted", while as transparency decreases they become " cabochon " shaped; this cutting method is also the best for highlighting, where present, the phenomenon of asterism .
Ruby is a very rare gem and in ancient times it was often confused with other red gems , until modern gemological tools allowed a more accurate analysis of the type of crystal; even today, both because of its limited production and its great beauty, it can happen that another gem is passed off as ruby, using other minerals such as spinel (Balsaic Ruby), varieties of garnet such as almandine and pyrope (Bohemian Ruby), zircon and topaz (Brazilian Ruby) and lateral quartz (Siberian Ruby).
Recently, many analyses have also been performed on ancient jewels and one of the most famous errors was found in the British Crown Jewels, with the "Black Prince's Ruby" and the "Timur Ruby", both recognized as spinels.
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