How to Spot a Fake Ruby: A Simple Guide with Real Tips

Think you’ve found a real ruby? Think again! With so many fake gems out there, it’s easy to get duped. In this complete guide on how to spot a fake ruby, you’ll learn why it’s important to tell the difference, how to check for a ruby ​​at home, and what the pros look for.

We’ll break down real vs. fake rubies in simple terms, show you 7 easy tests you can do at home, explain lab methods, and even reveal the most common ruby ​​scams.

Whether you’re buying your first gem or double-checking one you already have, this article will help you feel confident and informed – so you’ll never fall for a fake glitter again.

How to Spot a Fake Ruby?

Spot a fake ruby by checking its color, clarity, and hardness. Real rubies have deep red hues with minor inclusions, while fakes often appear too perfect or glassy. Test hardness using a scratch test on quartz (real rubies are harder) and check authenticity with a jeweller’s loupe or lab test.

This is just a short answer to this question. Keep reading for detailed information…

Why It’s Important to Know a Real Ruby from a Fake

Being able to distinguish real rubies from fake ones is important for several important reasons:

1. Financial value

• Real rubies, especially natural rubies, are precious gems that have a very high monetary value. High quality natural rubies can be very expensive, sometimes more than a diamond of the same size.
• Fake rubies made from materials such as glass or less precious stones are much less valuable in comparison. Buying a fake ruby ​​at the price of a real ruby ​​can cause significant financial loss.
• Synthetic rubies, while chemically and physically identical to natural rubies, are generally less expensive. Knowing the difference ensures that you are paying a fair price.

2. Authenticity and Investment (You get what you paid for)

• For collectors and those who view gemstones as an investment, the authenticity of a natural ruby ​​is of utmost importance.
• Its rarity and natural formation over millions of years contribute to its value and desirability.
• Knowing how to identify a genuine ruby ​​ensures that you are getting a genuine gemstone with its unique history and geological origin, rather than a lab-created or simulated stone.

3. Avoiding Fraud (Not Getting Scammed)

• Unfortunately, there are instances of fraudulent sellers in the gemstone market trying to sell fake or synthetic rubies as natural rubies to make more profit.
• Knowing how to identify a ruby ​​helps you avoid getting scammed and ensures that you get the authentic gemstone you want.

4. Possibility of “bad results” (negative beliefs)

• In some cultures and belief systems, natural gemstones have specific astrological or spiritual properties. Wearing a fake ruby ​​may not provide these perceived benefits and may even cause negative feelings if one believes one is wearing a real ruby.

5. Physical properties and durability (how long it will last)

• Real rubies are very hard (second only to diamonds), which makes them suitable for everyday wear in jewellery.
• Fake rubies, especially those made of glass or plastic, are much softer and more prone to scratches and damage. Knowing the difference helps you assess the durability of the gemstone.

6. Ethical considerations (supporting ethical practices)

• The market for natural gemstones can sometimes involve ethical concerns related to mining practices. Although it’s not directly about identifying fakes, understanding the value of natural rubies can influence purchase decisions toward more transparent and ethical sources.

In conclusion, understanding how to distinguish a real ruby ​​from a fake is essential to making informed purchasing decisions, protecting your investment, and ensuring you are receiving a gemstone with the qualities and value you expect.

Understanding Rubies: What Makes a Ruby ‘Real’?

To really understand what makes a ruby ​​’real’, let’s break down the three main types you can find:

• Natural ruby ​​(from the earth): This is a real ruby. These rubies are formed naturally within the earth’s crust over millions of years through geological processes. They are prized for their rarity, beauty, and the unique energy they contain due to their natural formation.
• Synthetic rubies (lab grown): These rubies are created in a laboratory setting. While they have the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural rubies, they are not formed through natural geological processes. Think of them as identical twins, but one was born naturally and the other was created.
• Synthetic rubies (fake): These are not rubies at all. They are imitations made from other materials such as glass, plastic or less valuable stones that have been colored red to look like rubies. They do not have the basic chemical and physical properties of real rubies.

Quick Facts About Real Rubies (Things to Know About Real Rubies)

• Hardness (Firmness): Real rubies rank 9th on the Mohs hardness scale. This means they are incredibly durable, second only to diamonds, and very resistant to scratches.
• Color (Deep Red): The most desirable color for a real ruby ​​is a deep, vibrant red, sometimes called “pigeon’s blood” red. They can also have slight shades of pink or purple. An unnaturally bright or overly perfect red color may indicate it is synthetic or fake.
• Lust (Reaction to UV Light): Both natural and synthetic rubies can fluoresce (glow) in ultraviolet (UV) light due to the presence of chromium. However, the intensity and distinctive color of the fluorescence can sometimes help differentiate them, although this is not always definitive.
• No bubbles inside (usually): The presence of round gas bubbles when viewed under magnification is a strong indicator of a fake glass ruby. Natural rubies usually have other types of inclusions (small mineral crystals, needles or fingerprints) due to their natural formation. While synthetic rubies can also have inclusions, they often have a different appearance, such as curved growth lines or flux residue.

How to Identify Original Ruby Stone?

1. Color: Look for a deep red color. Unnaturally perfect or pale reds can be suspect.
2. Inclusions: Real rubies usually have tiny internal markings (“birthmarks”). Perfectly clear stones may be fake or synthetic. Use a magnifying glass.
3. Light: Real rubies reflect mostly red light, not a rainbow (like glass).
4. Hardness: Real rubies are very hard and should not be easily scratched by a coin or knife (check carefully).
5. Feel: Real rubies feel cold and heavy for their size. Fake rubies heat up quickly.
6. UV light: Real rubies often glow red in UV light. Fake rubies may not glow or may glow a different color.
7. Certification: For valuable rubies, the best way to know if it’s real is a certificate from a trusted laboratory like GIA.
8. Expert: If unsure, ask a professional gemologist. They have special equipment to check.

How to Spot a Fake Ruby: 7 Easy Checks You Can Do at Home

Let’s take a deeper look at each of these at-home tests so you can confidently identify a potential fake ruby:

1. Color Test (Looking at the Red Color) – In-Depth

• Genuine rubies: Typically display a vibrant, saturated red color. The most prized color is often described as “pigeon’s blood” – a deep red with flashes of blue, giving it an intense sheen. Natural rubies may also display secondary colors such as pink or purple, but the dominant color will always be red. The color distribution may not be perfectly uniform, showing subtle variations or areas of slightly different red intensities.
• Fake rubies: May appear unnaturally bright, almost artificial-looking reds. Glass imitations may have a very uniform, “candy-apple” red color. An overly pale or deep red color without the typical ruby ​​sparkle is also suspicious. Be wary of stones that look “too perfect” in color without any natural nuances.

2. Scratch Test (Attempt to Characterize It) – Proceed with Caution

• Real ruby: With a Mohs hardness of 9, a real ruby ​​is incredibly resistant to scratches. You should not be able to scratch it with common household items such as coins (usually made of a copper alloy with a hardness around 3-4) or a steel knife blade (hardness around 5-6). Do this test very carefully on an inconspicuous area to avoid any potential damage, even if it is a fake.
• Fake ruby: Glass (hardness around 5-6) and many other red stones used as imitations are considerably softer than rubies. They will likely show visible scratches when rubbed with a coin or knife. Plastic fakes will scratch very easily.

3. Light reflection (how light bounces back) – observing the sparkle

• Real rubies: When held up to a light source, real rubies have a glass-like sparkle, with predominantly red reflections. This sparkle comes from the way light interacts with the crystal structure.
• Fake rubies: Glass imitations often display a “hazy” or “glassy” sparkle and may show iridescent reflection (dispersion), similar to what you see when light passes through a prism. This strong spectral separation is not typical of rubies. Plastic imitation rubies may have a weak or artificial-looking sparkle.

4. Bubble check (looking closely from the inside) – using magnification

• Real rubies: Natural rubies usually have inclusions – tiny mineral crystals, needles (often rutile silk), fractures or color zoning patterns that form during their natural growth. These inclusions often appear irregular in shape.
• Fake ruby ​​(glass): A common sign of a glass imitation is the presence of round, spherical gas bubbles trapped within the material. These bubbles may be single or clustered and are usually easily identified under a 10x jeweler’s loupe or a strong magnifying glass.
• Synthetic ruby: Lab-grown rubies can also have inclusions, but they often look different, such as curved growth lines (which look like heat waves), tiny gas bubbles that are often elongated or in scars, or flux residue (foreign matter left over from the growth process).

5. The feel test: glass vs. gemstone (how it feels in your hand) – dependent on touch

• Real ruby: As a crystalline gemstone, a real ruby ​​will generally feel cool to the touch initially and gradually warm up when held. It also feels denser (heavier for its size) than glass or plastic.
• Fake rubies (glass/plastic): Glass warms up relatively quickly in your hand and often feels lighter than a real ruby ​​of the same dimensions. Plastic fake rubies will feel much lighter and warm up almost immediately.

6. Weight and temperature test (how heavy and hot it gets) – a more comparative approach

• Real ruby: Because of its density, a real ruby ​​will feel quite heavy compared to a similarly sized piece of glass or plastic. It will absorb and retain heat more slowly.
• Fake ruby ​​(glass/plastic): Glass will feel lighter, and plastic will be much lighter. Both materials heat up to your body temperature much more quickly than a real ruby. You can try comparing the weight and how quickly it heats up to another gemstone that you know is real (if you have a gemstone of similar size).

7. UV test (shining a special light) – observing fluorescence

• Real rubies: Natural rubies often contain traces of chromium, which causes them to fluoresce (emit light) when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. The fluorescence is usually a strong red or orange-red color. However, the intensity can vary depending on the chromium content and the origin of the ruby.
• Fake rubies: Many glass or plastic imitations do not glow at all in UV light. Some may show a weaker, different color glow (such as blue or green) depending on the dye or material used to color them. Synthetic rubies also glow red in UV light, sometimes more intensely than natural rubies. So, while a strong red glow suggests it may be a ruby ​​(natural or synthetic), the absence of a red glow strongly suggests it is a fake.

Remember that these at-home tests can provide strong indicators, but for absolute certainty, especially when dealing with precious stones, it is always best to have a ruby ​​examined by a qualified and reputable gemologist. They have the specialized equipment and knowledge to accurately identify gemstones.

How to Identify an Original Ruby with Professional Methods

If you are still not sure after the tests you did at home, seeking a professional’s opinion is the best way to know for sure. Experts use the following methods to identify a real ruby:

1. Lab certification (official proof)

Always ask for a gemstone certificate from a reputable gemmology laboratory. The Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) is a highly credible and internationally recognized laboratory.

A certificate from such a laboratory provides detailed information about the gemstone, including confirming whether it is a natural ruby ​​or not, whether any treatment has been done on it, and sometimes even its origin. This is the most reliable way to prove the authenticity of a ruby.

2. Refractive index and hardness test (measuring light and hardness)

Refractive index (RI) test: Gemmologists use a refractometer to measure how much the light bends when passing through a gemstone. Each gemstone has a unique range of refractive indices. Genuine rubies will have a specific RI range (typically 1.762 to 1.770). This test helps distinguish rubies from other red stones with different optical properties.

Hardness testing (Mohs scale): While you can perform a basic scratch test at home, professionals use Mohs hardness picks with known hardness levels to accurately assess a gemstone’s resistance to scratching. A genuine ruby ​​should register a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, meaning it can scratch anything softer and can only be scratched by diamond or other corundum (such as sapphire).

3. Jeweller’s loupe or microscope (looking inside)

• Professionals use high-powered magnification instruments such as jeweller’s loupes (typically 10x magnification or higher) and gemmological microscopes to examine the ruby’s internal characteristics.
• Natural inclusions: Natural rubies almost always contain tiny internal flaws called inclusions. These may be mineral crystals, thin needle-like structures (often called “silk”), fractures (“feathers”), or color zoning. The type, size, and distribution of these inclusions is often unique to natural rubies and may even indicate their geographic origin.
• “Too clean” appearance: Fake rubies, especially those made of glass, often appear too clean and free of inclusions or may contain round gas bubbles. Synthetic rubies may contain inclusions, but they often look distinct, such as curved growth lines or pinpoint-like flux residues, which a trained eye can recognize.

Using these professional methods, gemmologists can accurately identify natural rubies, distinguish them from synthetics and fakes, and provide a comprehensive evaluation of their quality and authenticity. If you are investing in a ruby, especially a valuable ruby, always seek the expertise of a qualified professional.

Common Types of Fake Rubies in the Market

It’s helpful to know about the common materials used to imitate rubies so you can be more cautious when buying:

1. Glass: This is one of the most common materials used to make fake rubies. Glass imitations are often mass-produced and can be identified by their lack of hardness (they scratch easily), round gas bubbles inside, and sometimes excessively bright, uniform color. They also warm up quickly in your hand and can show rainbow-like reflections.
2. Red garnets: Garnets are natural gemstones that come in a variety of colors, including red. Red garnets can sometimes resemble rubies, but they are generally less brilliant, often appearing darker or more brownish-red. They are also softer than rubies (typically 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale) and their light refraction properties are different.
3. Red spinel: Spinel is another natural gemstone that can be red and has historically been mistaken for a ruby ​​(like the famous “Black Prince Ruby” in the British Crown Jewels). Red spinel can have beautiful red hues, but usually lacks the intense, deep red color of high-quality rubies. It also has a different crystal structure and can have a variety of inclusions. Spinel’s hardness is 8 on the Mohs scale, which is slightly softer than ruby.
4. Dyed quartz or other stones: Clear or light-colored stones like quartz can be dyed red to mimic ruby. These imitations often have an unnatural, “painted” look, and the color may not be evenly distributed. Quartz is also softer than ruby ​​(hardness 7).
5. Compound rubies (duplets/triplets): These are not completely imitations, but pieces of low-quality natural rubies are combined with glass or synthetic materials to create a larger or higher-quality stone. You may notice a change in color or a line where different parts join, especially under magnification. Glass-filled rubies also fall into this category, where cracks in a lower quality ruby ​​are filled with lead glass to improve clarity and appearance. These can sometimes show bubbles or a “flash effect” where light reflects differently from the filled areas.

Knowing these common types of fake ruby ​​can help you be more discerning when examining the stone and make a more informed decision. Remember to use at-home tests and consider professional verification for pricey purchases.

Quick Comparison: Real vs. Fake Ruby

Questions to Ask Before Buying a Ruby

Whether you’re looking at a ruby ​​in a physical store or online, be sure to ask these important questions:

• Is it a natural ruby ​​or synthetic? (Does it come from the earth or from a lab?) It’s important to understand the origin of a ruby ​​because it significantly impacts its value and your expectations. Always clarify whether you’re buying a natural, earth-mined ruby ​​or a synthetic ruby ​​created in a lab.
• Is the stone glass-filled or treated? (Has it been enhanced?) Many rubies undergo treatments to improve their color and clarity. Knowing whether a ruby ​​is glass-filled (where fractures are filled with glass) or has undergone other treatments, such as heat treatment, is important for understanding its stability and long-term value.
• Do you have a lab certificate? (Is there official proof?) A certificate from a reputable gemology lab (such as GIA, AGS, or SSEF) provides an unbiased assessment of the ruby’s characteristics, including whether it’s natural or synthetic and whether any treatments have been performed on it.
• Can I return or exchange it if I need to? (Can I bring it back if I change my mind?) Before making a purchase, especially a significant one, always ask about the seller’s return or exchange policy. This protects you if the ruby ​​isn’t as described or you have any concerns after receiving it.

Why certificates matter (Why the official paper is important): A genuine certificate from an accredited gemology lab is your proof that what you’re paying for is indeed a genuine ruby ​​with the stated properties. Never forget to ask for or review a certificate before making a purchase. It’s your assurance of authenticity and value.

Aman Bhola – Crystal Healing Enthusiast & Writer at Healing Crystals 369

Aman Bhola is passionate about the art and science of crystal healing. Through Healing Crystals 369, he shares trusted insights, practical tips, and real-life experiences to help readers choose the right gemstones for emotional balance, positive energy, and spiritual growth. His work blends traditional wisdom with modern approaches, making crystal healing easy to understand and apply in daily life.

▶ YouTube 📷 Instagram 🌐 Other Website

FAQs About How to Spot a Fake Ruby?

Conclusion: How to Spot a Fake Ruby?

Finding a real ruby doesn’t have to be confusing or stressful. With the simple tips in this guide—like checking the color, weight, bubbles, or asking for a certificate—you can feel more confident in your choice. Fake rubies may look beautiful on the surface, but only a genuine one holds the true value, energy, and emotional meaning that makes it special. So, take your time, ask the right questions, and don’t be afraid to walk away if something feels off. When you know what to look for, you protect your heart and your wallet—and you make sure that the ruby you wear is truly real, just like your intentions.