The Gem Gallery Blog

Rubies and sapphires belong to the same family of minerals and thus have the same physical characteristics. Among gemstones, they are the hardest, second only to diamonds, but still require gentle handling. The term ruby only applies to the color red. However, sapphires range in color from blue to green, black, orange, pink, yellow, purple or colorless (white).
The best colored rubies are often found in Burma while the best sapphires are often found in Kashmir. The rarest of the various colored saphires is the pinkish-orange sapphire. Among the ruby and the blue sapphire, medium colored stones are the most valued. Pale or dark areas are not desired.