

However, they can also contain small amounts of nitrogen or oxygen molecules. Most diamonds are carbon crystals that are almost perfectly transparent. They do not occur in nature and must be added by man.Įven diamonds can be colored by inclusion or absorption. These elements are used by jewelers to produce colors in synthetic gems. Some colored stones such as aquamarines, chrysoberyls, and topazes contain small amounts of chromium or iron which affect their color. You need both sides to see how deep the color goes.

That's because you're seeing only part of the mineral structure of the gem. If you cut a gem into pieces and polish only one side, then the whole gem will appear white or yellowish. The color of a gem comes from the depth of its color inside. Sapphires can be found all over the world, while most rubies come from just three locations: India, Pakistan, and China. Sapphire was once thought to be a variety of ruby, but today's scientists believe them to be two separate gems with different origins. Everything that isn't "red corundum" is a sapphire. The undertones decide whether the stone is a ruby or a pink, orange, or purple sapphire. Rubies, on the other hand, can have pink, purple, or orange overtones. Rubies are naturally red, but sapphires can be any hue. Corundum has several different crystal structures that cause it to be fragile and difficult to work with. Rubies and sapphires are both varieties of corundum, which is a mineral made up of aluminum and oxygen atoms bonded together by strong negative ions. Like ruby, sapphires can be found worldwide in various colors depending on their location in the earth's crust. These colors come from traces of titanium or iron within the crystal structure of the stone. Sapphire comes in many colors other than red, such as blue, green, or yellow. Most people think of diamonds when they hear the word "sapphire," but diamonds are actually a type of corundum. Both diamonds and rubies contain the same elements in the same proportions as sapphires, but they differ only in how they are arranged on the surface of the stone. Diamond is also a type of carbon compound that is very hard and transparent. Like all corundums, rubies are highly crystalline materials composed mainly of aluminum oxide with some silicon and oxygen added to form a solid solution. These small quantities usually don't affect their color. Sapphires may include trace amounts of chromium, titanium, and iron. All other types of corundum, everything that isn't red, are categorized as sapphires. The presence of chromium is primarily responsible for the red color of corundum gemstones. Spectacular Rubies and Sapphires Ruby is also known as red corundum.
