Properties of ruby gemstones

Properties of the gemstones come under the two categories-Gemological properties and physical properties. Gemological properties include the Gemological Information about the gemstones.

 It includes the Information such as, Chemical used for the gems are Beryllium Aluminium Silicate. Hexagonal is the crystal system and the Prismatic is the Crystal habitat used for the Ruby Gemstones. The Hardness varies from 7.5 to 8.0. The Refractive Index varies from 1.57-1.58.  As a Gemologist, One can handle gemstones everyday. By using some basic gemological Technics one can identify the gems by looking at it. But Actual Identification of the gems depends on their Physical properties.

   Following are the Physical properties:

    

    Weight and Specific Gravity:

It  relates to the heaviness and the size of the gemstones. When the Gem is Weighed in Air and then in Water, the loss of weight is equal to the weight of its volume which displayed in the water. The weight of the gem in air is divided by  the loss of the weight  in water gives us the specific gravity of the stone of any other material. Hence the specific gravity  is referred as the”Weight of the body compared with the equal amount of pure water at 4 degrees Celsius.

For e.g., Diamond dealer knows that 5.2 mm diamond will weigh 0.50 carats and the dealer feels it in the hands because  it has a specific gravity of 3.52. Specific Gravity helps to identify the difference between the size of the two Gemstones, even if the two gemstones are of the same carat.

       Hardness and the Mohs  Scale:

The Mohs hardness scale is 1 for the softest mineral  and ending the hardness of 10 with the hardest mineral, i.e. Diamond. It is the universal method to get the difference between the minerals. Hardness is the resistance of the Gemstone to Scratching. Mohs scale was created to scratch one mineral to another.  Hardness is measured on a scale called the “Mohs” scale.

 Hardness of Ruby is 9.00 on the Mohs scale of Hardness. The hardest gemstone is Diamond with hardness 10.00. Hardness can be used as a hint for buying different Gemstones. The important number on the Mohs scale is 7. It is important to have a knowledge about the hardness of the scale. It should be Knowledgeable whenever any person buys the Gemstone jewelry, Gemstones must have the hardness of 7 or above.