Buzz
Ruby (also known as 'Hồng Ngọc') is considered one of the most valuable colored gemstones based on its price per carat. However, due to the many fake versions available on the market, it’s not always easy to tell if a ruby is real. The most reliable way to verify its authenticity is by having it tested at a certified institution. Additionally, you can assess the ruby at home by examining its color and hardness. If possible, use a 10X magnifying glass to inspect the stone closely.
Steps
Check the Ruby at Home
Examine the color and brilliance. A real ruby shines with a deep red, vibrant hue similar to a "taillight". Fake stones often appear dull, bright but lack vibrancy. If the stone leans towards a darker red, it could be garnet (hồng lựu) rather than ruby. However, if it’s a genuine ruby, the richer the color, the higher the value.
- Check for consistency and uniformity in the color throughout the stone. Fake stones often have imperfections and impurities. However, real rubies can sometimes have minor flaws.
- While the "taillight red" image is often referenced, don’t expect to find a ruby that is excessively bright. If you do, it may very well be fake. Real rubies tend to have a shine more akin to traffic lights rather than a faint glow.
Compare the ruby with a piece of red glass. Rubies and other variants of sapphire are often faked with glass. If the glass and the stone look similar, you might actually be holding two pieces of red glass! It’s not uncommon to come across sellers faking rubies using glass mixtures.
Test by scratching the surface. Rubies are extremely hard stones. You can try to scratch the stone’s surface with your finger or the edge of a coin to see if it gets scratched. If the stone gets scratched, it’s probably not a ruby. Only diamonds can scratch rubies.
- Synthetic rubies are not as hard as genuine ones. The stone might not be entirely "fake", but rather a product created using machines.
See if the stone can scratch other surfaces. Gently rub the stone against a smooth, hard surface like porcelain or clear glass. Whether fake or real, the stone should be able to scratch these surfaces. However, if the stone leaves a red stain on the surface you've rubbed it against, the result may not be promising.
- The red stain indicates the stone is dyed. It could also be made from a material with lower hardness.
Learn about common faking methods. Stones commonly used to fake rubies include garnet, tourmaline, glass, and synthetic stones.
- Garnet is a dull red silicate mineral with a lower hardness than rubies.
- Tourmaline is a pinkish-red silicate mineral. While harder than garnet, it’s still much softer than rubies.
- Red glass is cheap and fragile. It’s easy to spot if a "ruby" is made of glass.
- Synthetic rubies are a blend of real rubies and glass, creating larger stones that can sell for more money. Be cautious, as synthetic rubies are often marketed as natural rubies and sold at the same price as real ones.
Consult a jeweler
Take the stone to a professional jeweler. The safest and most reliable way is to pay a jeweler to examine the stone. They will tell you whether it’s a real ruby or not.
- Find a reputable jeweler in your area. Be sure to check online reviews before visiting. See if customers are satisfied with the accuracy of their analysis.
Jerry Ehrenwald
President of the International Gemological Institute & Gemstone Appraiser
President of the International Gemological Institute & Gemstone Appraiser
If you're still doubtful about the authenticity of the stone, take it to a testing center. An independent, accredited lab can analyze the stone to determine and provide details about its shape, cut, weight, color, and optical properties.
Receive the results. The jeweler will analyze and inform you about the value of the ruby. Someone else may offer a higher or lower price for the stone, but this evaluation is an initial estimate if you decide to sell it later.
Obtain ruby certification. A certified jeweler will provide you with official documentation confirming that the stone is a genuine ruby. This certificate serves as legal proof if you ever decide to sell the stone in the future. Make sure to make a copy of the certificate and store it in a safe, secret place.
- Ruby certification for insurance purposes. If the ruby is lost due to natural disasters or other chaotic events, having proof of its authenticity will increase your chances of receiving compensation for the loss.
- If you plan to keep the ruby, consider it a family heirloom. Should the stone be passed down to loved ones or friends, its value will be significantly higher with certification. This will save them time, as they won't need to go through the same process of confirming its authenticity.
Kiểm tra bằng kính lúp
Kiểm tra viên hồng ngọc bằng kính lúp 10X. Sử dụng kính lúp của thợ kim hoàn hoặc kính hiển vi tiêu chuẩn. Nếu như không có thiết bị hiệu suất cao như vậy, bạn có thể xem xét việc mượn từ người khác, phòng thí nghiệm địa phương hoặc thợ kim hoàn.
Tìm những vết rạn với kích thước vi mô. Tìm những vết rạn từ nhỏ đến siêu nhỏ mà bạn không thể nhìn thấy bằng mắt thường. Bạn sẽ thấy một số điểm nhỏ chưa hoàn hảo trên viên hồng ngọc thật. Hồng ngọc nhân tạo hay đá giả thường khá hoàn hảo vì những vết rạn tự nhiên siêu nhỏ cực kỳ khó bắt chước.
- Nếu có bọt khí giống như bong bóng, có khả năng viên đá trên tay bạn là giả. Hãy tìm những vết rạn thay vì bọt khí.
- Lỗi bên ngoài (khuyết điểm) bao gồm vết trầy xước, lõm, mẻ. Lỗi bên trong (bao thể) được phân loại như: tinh thể vết rạn (lông vũ), tinh thể âm, ánh lụa, dấu vân tay, hào quang, hốc, vết nứt và phân vùng màu.
Quan sát mặt cắt và khía cạnh của ruby. Sự phức tạp của bề mặt ruby chỉ có thể nhìn thấy được dưới kính hiển vi 10X. Nếu viên hồng ngọc có hình tròn hay mịn quá mức, đây có thể là đá giả. Viên đá có khả năng là thật nếu bề mặt không có vết rạn, nguyên sơ và sắc nét.
Những thứ bạn cần
- 10X jeweler's loupe
- Flat glass or ceramic surface
- Coin
