Choosing a Ruby Engagement Ring: Buying Guide

Ruby engagement rings represent a bold, meaningful alternative to traditional diamond rings. Their rich red color symbolizes passion and love, making them a romantic choice for couples seeking something different. From their impressive durability to their royal history, rubies bring both beauty and significance to the commitment of marriage. Whether you’re drawn to their vibrant color, cultural symbolism, or simply want something unique, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know when selecting the perfect ruby engagement ring.

Why Choose a Ruby for Your Engagement Ring?

Rubies have enchanted jewelry lovers for centuries, earning their place as one of the most coveted colored gemstones for engagement rings. Their allure goes beyond their striking appearance, combining practical durability with rich symbolic meaning that makes them particularly well-suited for representing lifelong commitment. Understanding what sets rubies apart helps appreciate why they continue to be cherished alternatives to traditional diamond engagement rings.

• Rubies score 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them the second hardest gemstone after diamonds (10), and durable enough for everyday wear through decades of marriage without significant scratching or damage, even in active lifestyles.
• The word ruby comes from “ruber,” Latin for red, and represents passionate love, courage, and protection in many cultures around the world. In ancient India, rubies were called “ratnaraj” (king of precious stones), while ancient Burmese warriors implanted rubies into their skin, believing the stones made them invincible in battle.
• Natural rubies are significantly rarer than diamonds of similar quality, especially in larger sizes above one carat. This rarity makes them both distinctive and valuable, with top-quality rubies often commanding higher prices per carat than diamonds.
• Unlike diamonds that sparkle with white light, rubies offer a rich, vibrant color that maintains its beauty in various lighting conditions, from natural daylight to candlelight and artificial lighting, giving them a versatile beauty.
• Throughout history, rubies have adorned royal jewelry collections, including those of European monarchs and Asian emperors. Famous rubies include the 25.59-carat “Sunrise Ruby” which sold for $30.42 million in 2015, setting a world record price for a colored gemstone.

The timelessness of rubies makes them excellent investments beyond their sentimental value. While trends in engagement ring styles may change, the appeal of a high-quality ruby has remained constant throughout centuries. Their combination of durability, beauty, and meaning creates an heirloom-quality piece that can be passed down through generations, carrying both material and emotional value that appreciates with time.

How to Select the Best Ruby for Your Engagement Ring

Selecting the perfect ruby for an engagement ring requires understanding several crucial quality factors that determine both the stone’s beauty and value. Unlike diamonds where clarity often takes center stage, rubies are primarily valued for their color, though several other characteristics significantly impact their quality. Being informed about these factors helps ensure you select a stone that meets both aesthetic preferences and quality standards.

• Color is the most important quality factor for rubies, with the most valuable stones displaying a pure, vibrant red with slight purple undertones. The legendary “pigeon blood red” from Burma (Myanmar) represents the premium standard—a rich, saturated red with a hint of blue that appears to glow from within. Stones that are too dark appear blackish in low light, while those too light or with strong pink or orange undertones are less valuable.
• Clarity expectations differ from diamonds—natural rubies almost always contain inclusions called “silk” (fine rutile needles) that actually confirm their natural origin. Completely flawless rubies are extremely rare and usually suspicious. Look for stones where inclusions don’t significantly affect transparency or durability, but understand that some inclusions are expected even in premium rubies.
• Geographic origin significantly impacts both quality and price. Burmese (Myanmar) rubies command the highest prices due to their historically superior color, followed by those from Vietnam, Mozambique, and Thailand. Each source produces rubies with distinctive characteristics—Mozambique rubies often show excellent clarity with slightly purplish-red hues, while Thai rubies typically have darker, more garnet-like tones.
• Treatment status affects both value and care requirements. Heat treatment (subjecting rubies to high temperatures to improve color and clarity) is accepted in the market and considered permanent. However, clarity-enhanced rubies with lead glass filling require special care, as they can be damaged by common jewelry cleaners and heat. Untreated natural rubies command premium prices but are exceptionally rare.
• Cut quality significantly affects how the ruby displays its color and brilliance. Well-cut rubies maximize color while maintaining brightness, typically appearing in oval, cushion, or round shapes that preserve carat weight and showcase the stone’s depth of color. Mixed cuts with brilliant-cut crowns and step-cut pavilions often optimize a ruby’s appearance.
• Carat weight affects price exponentially—large, high-quality rubies are extraordinarily rare, causing prices to increase dramatically as size increases. A 3-carat fine ruby can cost several times more per carat than a 1-carat ruby of identical quality. For engagement rings, rubies between 0.75-1.5 carats often offer the best balance of visual impact and value.

When choosing a ruby, prioritize color quality first, followed by a clean appearance (even with some inclusions), and proper certification from reputable laboratories like GIA, AGL, or SSEF to verify authenticity and disclose treatments. Understanding these factors helps you make informed decisions rather than relying solely on jewelers’ descriptions, ensuring your ruby engagement ring meets expectations for both beauty and value.

Best Settings for Ruby Engagement Rings

The setting you choose for a ruby engagement ring plays a crucial role in highlighting the stone’s rich color while providing proper protection for everyday wear. Unlike diamonds, which are often showcased in minimalist settings to emphasize brilliance, rubies benefit from settings that enhance their color depth and create a balanced, harmonious appearance with their surroundings. Different settings offer various advantages in terms of style, protection, and complementary aesthetics.

• Classic solitaire settings showcase the ruby as the singular focus, typically elevating the stone with four to six prongs that allow maximum light to enter while securely holding the gem. This timeless style works particularly well for premium rubies with excellent color, allowing the stone’s natural beauty to command attention without competition from surrounding elements.
• Halo settings surround the center ruby with a circle of smaller diamonds or gemstones, creating a magnificent contrast that makes the ruby appear larger and more brilliant. The white sparkle of diamonds particularly enhances the rich red of rubies, with double halos offering even more dramatic effect for those seeking maximum impact. This setting often provides excellent protection for the center stone while maximizing visual presence.
• Three-stone settings pair the central ruby with side stones (commonly diamonds or smaller rubies) in a linear arrangement that symbolizes a couple’s past, present, and future together. This romantic symbolism, combined with the aesthetic balance of graduated or equal-sized stones, creates both meaningful sentiment and visual harmony that works beautifully with the bold presence of ruby.
• Vintage-inspired settings feature intricate metalwork like filigree, milgrain detailing, or Art Deco geometric patterns that complement the traditional appeal of rubies. These elaborate settings often include smaller accent stones and can enhance a ruby’s royal character while providing a distinctive, ornate appearance that stands apart from contemporary minimalist designs.
• Bezel settings encircle the ruby completely with a thin metal rim, offering maximum protection for the stone and a sleek, modern appearance. This setting particularly benefits rubies by enhancing their color saturation and hiding any edge chips or inclusions, while providing practical protection for active wearers concerned about snagging or impact damage.
• East-West settings position oval or emerald-cut rubies horizontally rather than vertically across the finger, creating a distinctive, contemporary look that maximizes finger coverage and visual impact. This modern orientation works particularly well for elongated ruby cuts, offering a fresh perspective on traditional engagement ring styles.

When selecting a setting for your ruby engagement ring, consider both aesthetic preferences and practical lifestyle factors. More active lifestyles may benefit from protective settings like bezels or low-profile designs, while those prioritizing maximum visual impact might prefer elevated prong settings or elaborate vintage styles. The right setting not only showcases your ruby’s beauty but also reflects personal style while ensuring the ring remains beautiful and secure for decades of daily wear.

Best Metals for Ruby Engagement Rings

The metal you choose for your ruby engagement ring creates the foundation for its overall appearance, affecting both how the stone’s color appears and the ring’s stylistic character. Different metals complement rubies in unique ways, each creating distinct aesthetic effects that can either enhance or subtly change how the ruby’s color presents. This choice goes beyond mere appearance, also impacting durability, maintenance requirements, and often personal significance.

• Yellow gold creates a warm, traditional backdrop that intensifies the richness of a ruby’s red color. The classic pairing of 14K or 18K yellow gold with ruby has historical significance, reminiscent of royal jewels throughout history. This combination works particularly well with slightly orangish-red rubies, creating a harmonious, complementary relationship between metal and gemstone that feels timelessly elegant and romantically traditional.
• White gold offers a contemporary, bright contrast that makes rubies appear even more vivid and saturated against its cool tones. The reflective quality of rhodium-plated white gold enhances a ruby’s brilliance while providing a versatile pairing that coordinates easily with other jewelry. This combination particularly flatters rubies with slight purple or blue undertones, enhancing their coveted “pigeon blood” qualities, though requires occasional rhodium replating to maintain its bright white appearance.
• Rose gold creates a romantic, feminine pairing with rubies, its pinkish-copper hue harmonizing beautifully with the red tones of the gemstone. This creates a cohesive, monochromatic color story that feels both vintage-inspired and thoroughly modern. The subtle rosy hue complements the skin tone of many wearers while enhancing rubies with slight pink undertones, offering a distinctive alternative to more common metal choices.
• Platinum provides exceptional durability with a naturally white appearance that won’t fade or change color over time, making it ideal for securing valuable rubies. Heavier and denser than gold, platinum settings feel substantial and luxurious while developing a distinctive patina over years of wear that many appreciate as character. This premium metal particularly showcases purplish-red rubies while offering hypoallergenic properties for sensitive skin and superior longevity for generational heirlooms.
• Two-tone combinations, mixing metals like yellow gold prongs with white gold bands, can strategically enhance a ruby’s appearance while creating visual interest. This approach allows for customization that highlights specific qualities of the stone while referencing traditional designs with a contemporary twist, offering versatility in coordinating with varied jewelry collections.

When choosing a metal for your ruby engagement ring, consider not just aesthetic preferences but also lifestyle factors and long-term wear considerations. People with active lifestyles might prefer the durability of platinum or 14K gold over softer 18K options, while those with skin sensitivities should consider hypoallergenic choices like platinum or palladium. The ideal metal pairing should enhance your ruby’s natural beauty while providing the durability and comfort needed for a lifetime of wear.

How to Assess Ruby Quality and Value

Assessing ruby quality requires specialized knowledge that differs significantly from evaluating diamonds. While the famous “four Cs” apply to rubies, their relative importance and application vary considerably, with color dominating value determinations. Understanding what makes a ruby truly exceptional helps navigate a market where prices can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars per carat, ensuring you make an informed investment in your engagement ring.

• Fine ruby color combines proper hue (pure red), optimal tone (medium-dark but not blackish), and strong saturation (intensity of color). The most valuable rubies display the coveted “pigeon blood red”—a pure red with subtle blue or purple undertones that appears to glow from within, allowing them to retain their vibrant appearance even in dim lighting. Colors that lean too orange, pink, or purple diminish value, as do stones that appear too dark or too light.
• Transparency and clarity significantly impact a ruby’s beauty and value, though inclusions are expected even in fine specimens. The ideal ruby has no visible inclusions to the naked eye from a distance of 6 inches, while still containing microscopic “silk” inclusions that authenticate its natural origin. Star rubies represent a special category where intersecting rutile inclusions create a star-like pattern, valued for this optical phenomenon rather than transparency.
• Treatment identification is crucial for value assessment, as nearly all commercial rubies undergo some enhancement. Heat treatment to improve color and clarity is standard and considered permanent, with minimal impact on value. However, treatments like lead-glass filling (fracture filling), which dramatically improves appearance but creates fragility and requires special care, should be disclosed and significantly reduce value. Untreated natural rubies command extraordinary premiums, sometimes selling for 10-50 times more than treated stones.
• Certification from internationally respected laboratories like GIA (Gemological Institute of America), SSEF (Swiss Gemological Institute), or Gübelin provides crucial verification of a ruby’s origin, treatments, and key quality factors. These certificates, especially important for stones valued above $1,000, should detail any treatments applied and ideally include origin information, which significantly impacts value. Avoid certificates from unknown labs that may not apply rigorous standards.
• Origin verification can dramatically affect a ruby’s market value, with Burmese (Myanmar) rubies commanding the highest prices due to their historically superior color and quality. Mozambique rubies, now the primary source for fine rubies since trade sanctions limited Burmese supplies, offer excellent quality at somewhat lower prices. Be cautious about sellers making origin claims without laboratory certification, as determining provenance requires sophisticated testing.
• Cut quality in rubies prioritizes color display over the brilliant light return sought in diamonds. Expert cutters orient the rough to maximize the stone’s color while minimizing visible inclusions, often creating custom cuts rather than standardized shapes. Well-cut rubies display even color distribution without light or dark areas, maintaining their vivid appearance when viewed from different angles.

When evaluating rubies, work with reputable jewelers who specialize in colored gemstones and can explain a stone’s specific quality characteristics. Remember that a smaller, higher-quality ruby often makes a better investment than a larger stone with significant compromises in color or clarity. Quality assessment should always include viewing the stone under different lighting conditions, as some treatments and color issues only become apparent under specific types of light.

How to Clean and Maintain Your Ruby Engagement Ring

While rubies rank second only to diamonds in hardness, making them excellent candidates for daily wear jewelry, proper care remains essential to maintain their beauty and structural integrity over decades. Understanding the specific care requirements for ruby rings helps preserve both their appearance and value, particularly important for pieces intended as family heirlooms. With appropriate maintenance, a well-made ruby engagement ring can retain its beauty for generations.

• Regular cleaning keeps rubies looking their best by removing accumulated oils, lotions, and everyday grime that can dull their appearance and reduce their vibrant color. For untreated or heat-only treated rubies, gentle cleaning with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft brush, followed by thorough rinsing and patting dry with a lint-free cloth, restores brilliance without risking damage to the stone or setting.
• Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and steamers unless you’re certain your ruby is untreated or only heat-treated, as these cleaning methods can damage fracture-filled rubies or potentially loosen stones in their settings. When in doubt about your ruby’s treatment status, opt for gentle hand cleaning or professional jeweler services, who can determine appropriate cleaning methods based on the specific characteristics of your ring.
• Remove your ruby ring before activities that risk impact damage or exposure to harsh chemicals. Despite their excellent hardness, rubies can still chip if struck at the right angle, particularly along facet junctions. Activities like gardening, heavy housework, sports, and swimming (especially in chlorinated pools) pose avoidable risks to both the ruby and its setting.
• Store your ruby ring separately from other jewelry pieces to prevent scratching softer gemstones or being scratched by other rubies or diamonds. A fabric-lined box with individual compartments or a pouch dedicated solely to your ring provides ideal protection when not being worn, preventing damage from jewelry items shifting against each other during storage or transport.
• Schedule professional inspections annually with a qualified jeweler who can check prong security, clean hard-to-reach areas, and examine the ruby for any signs of damage or setting issues. These preventative examinations often identify potential problems before they lead to stone loss or significant damage, typically providing cleaning services as part of the inspection.
• Be particularly cautious with treated rubies, especially those with glass filling (fracture filling), which require special care to maintain their appearance. These enhanced stones can be damaged by common jewelry cleaners containing ammonia or acid, by ultrasonic cleaners, or by heat from repair procedures. If you’re unsure about your ruby’s treatment status, consult certification papers or have it evaluated by a gemologist.

Remember that while rubies are durable, their settings often contain softer metals and delicate construction that require proper care. White gold settings benefit from occasional rhodium replating to maintain their bright appearance, while prongs may need retipping or tightening over years of wear. With consistent care and occasional professional maintenance, your ruby engagement ring will continue to symbolize your commitment with undiminished beauty for decades to come.

How Much Does a Ruby Engagement Ring Cost?

Ruby engagement rings span an extraordinarily wide price range, from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands, depending on quality factors and design complexity. Understanding how various elements affect cost helps establish realistic expectations and make informed decisions about where compromises might be acceptable without sacrificing overall beauty or durability. With strategic choices, beautiful ruby engagement rings exist at virtually every budget level.

• Ruby quality fundamentally determines price, with fine-quality natural rubies above one carat potentially costing $7,000-$15,000 per carat, while commercial-quality treated stones might sell for $500-$3,000 per carat. The exponential price increase for larger sizes means choosing a slightly smaller stone can dramatically reduce cost—a half-carat ruby of excellent quality often creates more visual impact than a larger stone with significant color or clarity compromises.
• Treatment status significantly impacts ruby pricing, with untreated natural rubies commanding extraordinary premiums that can exceed ten times the price of heat-treated stones. Heat treatment represents the most accepted and stable enhancement, with minimal price impact compared to more aggressive treatments like glass filling or beryllium diffusion, which drastically reduce value but can make ruby jewelry accessible at lower price points.
• Geographic origin affects market value independently of visual characteristics, with Burmese (Myanmar) rubies typically commanding 20-40% higher prices than similarly appearing stones from other sources. For budget-conscious shoppers, beautiful rubies from Mozambique, Tanzania, or Madagascar offer excellent value, often with comparable color and clarity to their more expensive Burmese counterparts at significantly lower prices.
• Setting complexity and metal choice substantially influence overall ring cost, with elaborate custom designs potentially doubling the price compared to simpler settings using the same center stone. Consider settings that maximize visual impact while controlling costs—halo designs make center stones appear larger, while three-stone settings using smaller rubies or diamond accents often cost less than single large rubies of equivalent total weight.
• Designer branding adds significant cost to ruby engagement rings, with premium jewelry houses often charging 200-300% more than independent jewelers for comparable quality. While established brands offer design recognition and sometimes unique aesthetics, independent jewelers and custom designers frequently provide better value, personalized service, and more flexible design options at lower price points.
• Alternative approaches like vintage ruby rings or lab-created rubies offer distinct value propositions for different priorities. Vintage pieces often feature unique craftsmanship impossible to replicate today, sometimes at lower prices than new pieces with stones of similar quality. Lab-created rubies, visually identical to natural stones but typically 60-80% less expensive, offer excellent durability and ethical sourcing for those prioritizing these factors over natural origin.

When establishing your ruby engagement ring budget, consider allocating approximately 60-70% to the center stone, with the remainder covering the setting, accent stones, and craftsmanship. This distribution typically creates the most balanced value, as the center ruby remains the focal point and primary value driver. Remember that long-term satisfaction often comes from choosing the highest quality you can afford in a simpler setting rather than compromising on ruby quality for an elaborate design, as settings can be upgraded in the future while maintaining your investment in the center stone.

Best Places to Buy a Ruby Engagement Ring

The shopping experience and ultimate satisfaction with your ruby engagement ring depend significantly on choosing the right vendor. Different retail channels offer varying advantages in selection, expertise, price, and service. Understanding these differences helps identify where you’re most likely to find the perfect combination of quality, value, and confidence in your purchase, particularly important for ruby rings where specialized knowledge substantially impacts the buying experience.

• Specialized colored gemstone jewelers offer expertise specifically in rubies and other colored gems, typically providing more detailed information and a broader selection than general jewelers. These specialists understand the nuances of ruby quality assessment, appropriate pricing for different qualities, and design considerations specific to colored stones. They typically maintain relationships with gem dealers internationally, accessing stones not available through mainstream channels and offering superior guidance for significant purchases.
• Estate jewelry dealers and auction houses provide access to vintage and antique ruby rings with unique character, craftsmanship, and sometimes better value than comparable new pieces. These sources can be excellent for finding unusual designs, particularly from art deco, Victorian, or Edwardian periods when rubies were especially popular. When purchasing vintage pieces, ensure the dealer provides detailed condition reports and authentication of both the ruby and the period craftsmanship.
• Custom designers offer the opportunity to create a completely personalized ruby engagement ring tailored to specific preferences and budget considerations. This approach provides control over every aspect of the design, from selecting the exact center stone to determining specific details like prong style, band width, and accent stone arrangement. While potentially taking longer than purchasing ready-made rings, custom design often provides better value by eliminating retail markups and focusing resources on the elements most important to you.
• Online specialty gemstone retailers have revolutionized ruby purchasing by offering extensive inventories, detailed gem specifications, and often significantly lower prices than traditional retail. Reputable online vendors provide comprehensive information including certification, treatment disclosure, high-resolution photography, and detailed return policies. Many now offer video appointments allowing remote viewing of stones under different lighting conditions before purchase, mimicking in-person shopping experiences with greater convenience.
• Traditional jewelry chain stores provide accessibility and sometimes competitive pricing, but typically offer limited ruby selections focusing on commercial-quality stones. While convenient for browsing basic options, these retailers rarely specialize in fine rubies and may have sales associates with limited colored gemstone knowledge. Consider these sources for simple designs and treated rubies in standard sizes, but seek specialists for premium stones or custom work.

Before purchasing from any vendor, verify their reputation through independent reviews, professional affiliations, and return policies. Reputable sellers should provide detailed information about any treatments applied to their rubies, offer certification from recognized laboratories for significant stones, and have transparent pricing structures. They should welcome questions about their products and demonstrate knowledge about ruby-specific considerations rather than treating them interchangeably with other gemstones. The right vendor becomes a valuable resource not just for the initial purchase but potentially for future appraisals, upgrades, and maintenance of your ruby engagement ring.

Common Questions About Ruby Engagement Rings

Many couples considering ruby engagement rings share common questions and concerns about this colorful alternative to traditional diamonds. Addressing these frequently asked questions provides clarity on practical matters that influence both purchasing decisions and long-term satisfaction with this distinctive choice. Understanding these common considerations helps set realistic expectations and ensure your ruby ring brings joy for decades to come.

• Will a ruby engagement ring stand up to daily wear? Yes, rubies rank 9 on the Mohs hardness scale (compared to diamond’s 10), making them exceptionally resistant to scratching and abrasion from everyday activities. Their excellent durability makes them one of the few colored gemstones truly suitable for the rigors of daily wear in an engagement ring, though they can still chip if struck at the right angle against hard surfaces, so reasonable care remains important.
• How do ruby prices compare to diamonds? Fine-quality rubies, particularly those over one carat with excellent color from premium sources like Burma/Myanmar, often cost more per carat than diamonds of comparable size and quality. However, commercial-quality rubies with standard treatments typically cost less than diamonds, making them accessible at various price points depending on quality factors, with treated rubies from sources like Mozambique or Thailand offering excellent value.
• Can ruby engagement rings be resized? Yes, most ruby engagement ring settings can be resized using standard jeweler techniques, though extreme sizing changes (more than two sizes) may stress the setting. Certain styles like eternity bands with stones around the entire band present greater challenges for resizing. Always have resizing performed by a jeweler experienced with colored stone rings, as rubies can be damaged by direct heat during improper sizing procedures.
• Are lab-created rubies a good alternative to natural rubies? Lab-created rubies offer excellent durability identical to natural rubies with consistent color and clarity at significantly lower prices (typically 60-80% less than natural counterparts). They’re chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural rubies, providing an ethical and affordable alternative for those prioritizing appearance and durability over natural origin, though they lack the investment value and uniqueness of natural stones.
• How can I tell if a ruby has been treated? Most commercial rubies undergo heat treatment to enhance color and clarity, detectable only by specialized gemological testing. More extensive treatments like glass filling can sometimes be identified by gas bubbles visible under magnification or unusual surface features. The only reliable method for determining treatment status is certification from reputable laboratories like GIA, AGL, or SSEF, which should be provided for any significant ruby purchase.
• How should ruby engagement rings be insured? Ruby engagement rings should be insured through homeowner’s/renter’s insurance riders or specialized jewelry insurance policies, requiring detailed appraisals documenting the stone’s characteristics, treatments, and replacement value. Update appraisals every 2-5 years as ruby values fluctuate considerably, particularly for fine-quality stones. Some insurers offer worldwide coverage protecting against loss, theft, and damage, with options for repair or equivalent replacement rather than cash settlements.

Remember that while rubies share many characteristics with diamonds, they have unique considerations regarding evaluation, care, and value assessment. Working with jewelers experienced in colored gemstones rather than those who primarily handle diamonds ensures you receive appropriate guidance for your specific ruby purchase. With proper information and care, a ruby engagement ring offers both distinctive beauty and excellent durability, symbolizing the passion and enduring nature of your commitment.

Conclusion

Choosing a ruby engagement ring combines romance with practicality, offering a meaningful alternative to traditional diamond rings. The rich symbolism, impressive durability, and striking appearance of rubies make them exceptional center stones for marking lifelong commitment. By understanding the nuances of ruby quality, setting options, metal pairings, and care requirements, you can select a ring that perfectly balances beauty, durability, and personal significance.

Your ruby engagement ring represents not just a beautiful piece of jewelry, but a thoughtful expression of your unique relationship. Whether you’re drawn to the classic elegance of a Burmese ruby in a platinum setting or the romantic warmth of a Mozambique ruby set in rose gold, your choice carries both sentimental value and practical longevity. With proper care and appreciation for its special qualities, your ruby engagement ring will remain a vibrant symbol of your love for generations to come.