Ruby (Yaqoot) Stone Guide: Origin, Meaning & How to Judge Quality

Ruby — known as Yaqoot — carries a reputation few stones match: its deep red has stood for passion, protection, and prestige across centuries and cultures. That reputation is exactly why it's also one of the most commonly imitated stones on the market, from synthetic corundum grown in a lab to plain glass sold under the same name.

What Ruby actually is

Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum, colored red by trace amounts of chromium. The same mineral in other colors is called sapphire — ruby and sapphire are chemically the same stone, distinguished only by color. Natural ruby forms over millions of years under intense heat and pressure, which is part of why fine natural material commands real prices.

What separates natural from synthetic

• Inclusions. Natural rubies almost always contain microscopic internal inclusions — tiny mineral crystals, fine growth lines, or small fractures. A stone that looks perfectly clean under magnification is more likely synthetic or glass than a rare, flawless natural ruby.
• Color consistency. Natural ruby color tends to show subtle variation across the stone. Synthetic corundum and glass imitations often show suspiciously uniform, saturated color throughout.
• Price relative to size. A large, vividly red, apparently flawless "ruby" at a low price is a red flag before it's a bargain — genuine material of that description is rare and priced accordingly.

Caring for a Ruby ring

Ruby is extremely hard — 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond — which makes it excellent for daily wear. Clean with a soft cloth and mild soap; it can safely tolerate more robust cleaning than softer stones like turquoise or moonstone.

Our Ruby (Yaqoot) pieces are set in premium sterling silver, with origin and treatment disclosed on every product page. See the current collection in Original Stones or the full shop.