It’s no secret that diamonds are the stars of the jewelry industry. Their popularity has only increased over the past few decades. However, recent trends have brought other gemstones to our attention, such as emeralds, sapphires, and Rubies. And out of all of them, rubies are perhaps the most comparable in terms of value and prestige.

When it comes to the rubies vs diamonds discussion, several factors come into play. To assess which one is more suitable for you, you need to consider the very characteristics that establish their worth on the market. Here is everything you need to know on the topic.

The 4Cs of Rubies vs Diamonds

To serve this purpose, the Gemological Institute of America, or GIA for short, designed the 4Cs of diamond quality system. They stand for color, clarity, cut, and carat weight, and they are influential factors that determine the price of a stone. However, they don’t apply exclusively to diamonds, but other gems as well.

To establish the differences between rubies and diamonds, it’s important to consider each of their 4Cs. How do the two precious stones vary as far as these features are concerned? And with this knowledge in mind, which gem should you choose for your next piece of jewelry? Let’s perform a brief comparison and find out.

1. Color

When looking at a ruby as opposed to a diamond, the first noticeable difference is represented by color. While rubies are traditionally represented as being bright red stones, diamonds are always pictured as colorless. While this is true in some cases, the situation is a lot more nuanced than that once you get into the specifics.

The official diamond color rating scale starts at D and ends with Z. The former consists of a pure and colorless, while the latter is usually a canary yellow. The more tinted it is, the less it is worth on the market. Nevertheless, other shades exist as well. Pink diamonds have become especially valuable in recent years due to an evolving engagement ring trend.

Ruby color is also a highly debated topic, as perceptions shift along with geography. The red spectrum conventionally includes pinks as well. Still, in some countries these pertain to the class of sapphires. For example, pink gemstones are considered to be rubies in Sri Lanka, while many other countries classify them as pink sapphires.

2. Clarity

In terms of clarity, the situation is similar for both precious gems. Natural rubies and diamonds cannot be free from inclusions. These occur once the minerals start forming, which is why a genuine stone will always have its flaws. If they don’t, then they are most certainly lab-grown, or inauthentic overall.

3. Cut

When it comes to cut, rubies and diamonds are similar once more. This characteristic is established depending on the size and shape of the mined stone. Thus, you have a wide variety of choices, including oval, marquise, cushion, pear, and so on. Still, diamonds present other elegant and unique options as well, such as the Royal Asscher for example.

4. Carat

The carat weight of a ruby determines its prices, but it also depends on whether the stone is of fine quality or commercial quality. This is also true of diamonds, as bigger stones can be available for half the price of smaller ones if their eminence isn’t as impressive. As previously mentioned, all these factors come into play when establishing the price.

Of course, diamond prices will always be considerably higher due to market monopoly. Aggressive marketing techniques have established exorbitant prices for the stones right after the Great Depression ended in the 1930s. The common saying that “a diamond engagement ring should cost you three months’ salary” came about during that time as well.

What to Choose?

All in all, it is safe to state at this point that rubies and diamonds are quite comparable in terms of quality. Nevertheless, the former is a lot more affordable than its rival. So, which one should you go for? According to the Chicago Tribune, the diamond’s reign on the jewelry market might be over, even though it will always be the more elegant and robust choice.

many people are now gravitating towards other gemstones for their engagement rings. Blonde bombshell actress and singer Jessica Simpson received a 5-carat ruby engagement ring from her NFL boyfriend, which put this design on the map for the rest of the world as well. So, if you want a rare stone with an interesting color and amazing features, rubies are the way to go.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to the 4Cs of quality, diamonds and rubies are quite comparable options. Of course, rubies will always be more affordable, and their unique coloring certainly makes them worth your time. however, if you are looking for prestige and elegance, you can’t go wrong with a diamond. After all, they are a girl’s best friend.

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