Life is meant to be happy, and it is always better to try as many things as possible to make it the happiest. Even if it is an original gem. Ruby stones are mined approximately 100 kilometers from the surface of the Earth with constituents that surpass human understanding. An original gemstone might not look as big as your troubles around, but slowly and steadily it helps you to tone down the noise in your mind. Hence, there can be just no competition to an original Ruby stone.

Today, the market is flooded with several natural and synthetic rubies. The idea was to create alternatives to fit every budget. There were glass filled rubies created to resemble the original ones. But can light ever be a substitute for the sun? So let us understand how to differentiate between ruby and glass filled ruby stones and see how we can access the original gemstones at a super affordable deal.

Glass Filled Ruby vs Natural Ruby: Key Difference to Know

Original Ruby gemstone or Chuni gemstone is a variety of mineral corundum. The word ruby comes from the Latin word ruber or rubrum which means red. They are obtained directly from nature, below the earth's surface. They feature a vivid red color with a slightish purple tint. 

Glass-filled rubies, on the other hand, are synthetic man-made stones of low quality. These are poor-quality ruby or corundum infused with lead glass. According to the GIA report, they are regarded as manufactured products. They are not real rubies.

How To Know What Kind of Ruby You Have? 

Origin

The natural ruby stone are formed below the earth under extreme heat and pressure. Chromium is the trace element that gives the captivating red hue to the stone. Other elements such as iron, vanadium, and titanium are responsible for giving blue, purple, and brownish tint to the stone. Hence the original Manik stone has natural elements that make it valuable.

Manik is obtained from the corundum mineral family with the chemical composition Al2O3. It is a closed-packed hexagonal structure. This precious gemstone is red. The higher the chromium content, intense the red color. It ranks nine on the Mohs scale of hardness. This allows the gemstone to be resistant to wear and tear. 

Glass Filled Rubies on the other hand are not actual rubies. As per experts they are known as composite or hybrid rubies. Their formation follows the process of fusing low-quality corundum with glass. The poor-quality ruby stone is infused with glass, hence making the benefits of glass-filled rubies worthless

Learn more on how to know if your ruby is real: Everything You Need to Know About Rubies

Color and inclusions 

The original Manik gemstone features a vibrant red color. Quality ruby stones are those with red as the primary hue and pink, blue, orange, or purple as secondary overtones. An even distribution of primary hue adds to its clarity, explaining why it is one of the finest stones. 

However, these natural gems along with the stunning color are also accompanied by inclusions. And this can also be an important parameter to identify a real ruby. How? Inclusions are natural to stones. In the case of the original Manik, the typical inclusions are fingerprints, fractures, liquid crystals, and rutile needles. So, the presence of these mineral inclusions indicates that these gems are nature-born. 

Here are types of original ruby you can read to understand better: Types of Ruby Inclusions that you must know

Lead-infused glass rubies are comprised of poor-quality red corundum soaked in acid. This soaking process is done to remove mineralized inclusions which makes the stone brittle. Then they are infused with lead glass to enhance their color, clarity, and durability. This leads to gas bubbles inside the stone, making it easy to identify a glass-filled ruby.

So, what looks red might not be real, it's important to consider other factors. 

Glass filled ruby vs natural ruby healing properties

The refractive index of natural ruby is 1.76-1.77. This gives more brilliance and luster to the stone. Its specific gravity is 3.95-4.00 which makes it denser. Thus, a 1 carat manik stone looks smaller than a diamond but is heavier. 

Read in detail about the healing powers of ruby: How can a Manik Gem heal you

The top ten benefits of ruby stone include regulating blood circulation, preventing heart diseases, boosting self-confidence, success in professional life, career advancement, aiding in mental health, bringing love and compatibility in relationships, attracting wealth, boosting creativity, and offering clarity of thoughts. 

Glass filled ruby, on the contrary, looks red and as clear as the original ruby stones but they do not possess any astrological benefits. They are susceptible to breakage or chipping as they lack durability. Since both glass and manik stone have the same refractive index, the glass ruby composite offers great shine.

You can also refer to How to Calculate Ruby Stone Price by seeing its color

Glass filled Ruby vs Natural Ruby Cost

Well, if you think you can make out the difference between the two by analyzing the price, you are wrong. In many cases, lead-infused glass-filled rubies are sold at the same price as the original manik gem. 

For instance, the original ruby gemstone price in India starts from INR 5,000 to INR 70,000 and can extend more. The wide difference in the price of manik stone depends upon its quality. The price of the stone is determined by the 4C’s. Color, clarity, cut, and carat weight parameters for ruby stand as vivid red color, high clarity, precise cut, and high carat weight.  

Here is a detailed guide on it: Understanding The 4 C's of Ruby Gemstone

Glass filled stones on the contrary are less valuable and not suitable for astrological gemstones. They are mostly used in regular jewelry and people buy them for affordable designs. However, because of too much treatment, it lacks durability and can be broken easily. 

Known more here: Ruby Price Guide-How Much is a Ruby Worth

The Original manik stone makes high-end jewelry and is also preferred astrological gems. They add to your good health and help in bringing you out of professional and personal troubles. As per Vedic astrology, natural gems harness powerful energy from related planets and radiate the same around the wearer. 

The Ultimate Hack to Identify a Real Ruby

When buying an original manik stone ask for a certification. It features specifications highlighting the type of treatment. Ask for a certificate from your gem dealer from recognized laboratories such as GIA, IGL, and more. Choose wisely, pay for natural ruby gemstones that not only reflect an exclusive red color but also hold value.