Of all precious gemstones, rubies and diamonds remain the most sought-after. Having to decide between the pigeon red lustrous ruby and the flawless shine of diamonds is one that, for years, has remained difficult. Today, we show you all the differences between the two.

Starting With Origin

While there might be some similarities, rubies and diamonds differ in their composition. For rubies, you are looking at a corundum, a form of aluminum oxide. Diamonds, on the other hand, are a crystalline form of carbon formed under extremes of pressure and high temperature.

Then, A Comparison of Colors

This is the difference that stands out the most between the two. One can easily tell the deep red ruby apart from the clear, colorless diamonds.

For rubies, the tone of the red can vary depending on the amount of chromium contained in it. With more chromium, you get a deeper red. The most valuable being the pigeon blood-red ruby. However, with the presence of iron, you could also notice some brownish hue in rubies.

Diamonds are usually just clear. But when you come across colored ones like the pink diamonds, then you are face to face with rare types that have formed with defects in the crystalline form allowing the diamond to form with color.

Considering Rarity

Given the difficulty attached to retrieving rubies, they are rarer than diamonds. However when searching for bigger, extremely “white” colorless diamonds, they are just as scarce to find.

Hardness and Durability

After interacting with these two stones, one question most people ask is which is harder of the two. This is an important question as it affects the durability and sparkle of the two.

According to the Mohs scale that rates the hardness from 1 to 10, rubies come in at 9, while diamonds which are the hardest stones in the world, have a score of 10. This means diamonds are generally more durable compared to rubies and spend longer years compared to rubies before any wear could be noticed. In the same line, you can expect diamonds to maintain their sparkle way longer than rubies.

Luster

This describes the quality of gemstones to refract light, and the highest grading of this is what we call the adamantine. The diamond’s luster notably represents this. Rubies have a subadamatine and, at times, vitreous which is similar to the surface of a glass. This means diamonds show a superior sparkle.

Versatility

These two—rubies and diamonds are popular options for jewelry. Hence, when deciding which to go for, their versatility in terms of how they match your outfit is also key. For rubies with their primary red colors, the options are limited. Diamonds are popularly clear stones that could match just any outfit you have in your wardrobe. Hence, the diamond is the go-to option when searching for a versatile gemstone.

Occasions and Meanings

While the ruby represents the birthstone for July, the diamond is the birthstone for April. Also, ruby is the stone of choice when celebrating 40 years into a marriage, while the diamond speaks of a longer 60 years. In all, people favor diamonds for engagement rings as it is to show a never-ending love compared to the fire of passion a ruby stone signifies.

Cost

In the end, it is also important to know that many factors determine value, but on a general scale, rubies appear to be more expensive compared to diamonds, usually due to their rarity, color, and size. 

Why You Need a Professional

While the ultimate choice lies with you and what the purpose is, having a professional help you pick the perfect stone that fits your goal is what we do at Leviev, and we are always here to serve you.