Quick answer: An original ruby is red corundum with a hardness of 9: it scratches glass, shows fine natural inclusions under a loupe, and never has round gas bubbles or a perfectly uniform colour. Confirm with a carat scale (real ruby is denser than glass) and a lab report that names the mineral and any glass filling.
Identify Original Ruby — the practical guide from GemStore.pk, written for buyers in Pakistan who want to be sure before they pay.
Ruby — known as Yaqoot — is one of the most valuable and most imitated gemstones on the market. Here is how to tell a genuine, natural ruby from glass-filled and synthetic stones.
| Check | Original ruby | Glass / synthetic |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Scratches glass and steel (Mohs 9) | Glass fakes are scratched by a steel file |
| Inclusions under a loupe | Fine silk, needles, small crystals | Round gas bubbles or perfectly clean |
| Colour | Slightly uneven, pinkish to deep red | Flat, uniform, often too bright |
| Weight for its size | Dense (SG 4.0) | Glass feels light; synthetic ruby weighs the same as natural |
| Price | PKR 2,000 – 50,000+ per carat by quality | A "7 ct ruby" for PKR 3,000 is glass or glass-filled |
| Certificate | Names the mineral and any glass filling | None, or a seller-printed card |
What Makes a Ruby "Original"?
A genuine ruby is a natural red variety of corundum, coloured by chromium, with a hardness of 9 (second only to diamond). "Original" means it formed naturally in the earth — not grown in a lab or reconstructed from fragments and glass.
5 Ways to Identify a Natural Ruby
- Colour: a vivid, slightly warm red; the finest is the Burmese "pigeon-blood" red.
- Hardness: at 9 Mohs a ruby resists scratches that would mark glass or softer imitations.
- Inclusions: natural rubies usually show fine silk-like inclusions rather than round gas bubbles.
- No bubbles: visible round bubbles are a red flag for glass or glass-filled stones.
- Lab report: the only certain proof is verification by a recognised gem laboratory.
Natural vs Glass-Filled vs Synthetic
Glass-filled rubies are low-grade corundum whose cracks are filled with lead glass — cheap and fragile. Synthetic rubies are real chemically but grown in a lab, so they are worth a fraction of natural stones. Both are common, which is why certification matters.
Buy a Ruby You Can Trust
Every Ruby (Yaqoot) at GemStore.pk is 100% natural, hand-inspected and lab-verifiable, with nationwide cash on delivery. Prefer blue? Compare with Blue Sapphire (Neelam).
Ruby at a glance
- Also called: Yaqoot — corundum (aluminium oxide)
- Colour: pinkish-red to deep pigeon-blood red
- Hardness: 9 on the Mohs scale
- Main sources: Myanmar (Burma), Mozambique, Afghanistan and Pakistan's Hunza valley
- Astrology: ruled by the Sun; traditionally for Leo (July birthstone)
Buying Ruby in Pakistan: a quick checklist
- Ask for the exact carat weight and origin — the identify original ruby question always comes back to what you are actually getting.
- Check what drives the price: colour saturation first (pigeon-blood commands the premium), then clarity, carat weight and whether the stone is untreated, heated or glass-filled.
- Insist on lab verification. A genuine seller lets you test the stone; at GemStore.pk every stone is natural and lab-verifiable.
- Use cash on delivery so you inspect the stone before paying.
- Know the care rules: Ruby is hard enough for daily wear; clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and keep glass-filled stones away from ultrasonic cleaners.
Identify Original Ruby: key takeaways
- The short answer on identify original ruby: look at colour, clarity, weight and treatment together — no single test is enough.
- Buy only stones sold with their exact carat weight, origin and treatment stated, and insist on lab verification.
- Pay on delivery, inspect the stone in daylight, and use the 7-day return window if anything does not match the listing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check identify original ruby at home?
Partly. The visual and hardness checks in this guide catch most fakes, but only a gemmological lab can confirm a natural, untreated stone. Buy from a seller who welcomes testing.
Where can I buy original gemstones in Pakistan?
GemStore.pk sells 100% original, lab-verifiable gemstones with nationwide cash on delivery and a 7-day return policy — start with our Ruby (Yaqoot) collection.
Should I consult an astrologer before wearing a stone?
Yes, if you are wearing it for astrological reasons. Our gemstones by zodiac sign guide gives the traditional pairings as a starting point.
How long does delivery take?
Major cities (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar) usually receive parcels in 1–3 working days; other towns in 3–5. You pay the courier on delivery after checking the box, and every parcel is tracked on WhatsApp.
How GemStore.pk can help
Not sure what you are looking at? Send a daylight photo of the stone — or of a listing you found elsewhere — on WhatsApp and we will tell you honestly what it looks like and what a fair price would be. If you decide to buy from us, every piece is sold with its exact carat weight, is lab-verifiable, and can be inspected before you pay. If not, you still leave with a straight answer.
Related guides
- Yellow Sapphire Benefits (Pukhraj) & Who Should Wear It
- Real vs Fake Feroza (Turquoise): How to Tell
- Gemstone Buying Guide Pakistan: Prices, Certification & Tips
- Ruby vs Sapphire: What's the Difference?
Explore more about Identify Original Ruby: see all Ruby (Yaqoot), read How to Identify Original Ruby (Yaqoot): 5 Simple Checks, read Ruby vs Sapphire: What's the Difference?, check the gemstone price guide for Pakistan, find your stone by zodiac sign.
