However, where sapphires and rubies are concerned, the base element is corundum, an extremely hard mineral that easily changes color when other elements are introduced to it as it forms.įinally, there’s emerald – a gemstone in a league of its own, which is made from beryl, a much less dense mineral that can be riddled with ‘inclusions’. They’re composed of different elements, each boasting unique attributes such as toughness, brilliance, and remarkable coloration.įor a diamond, the base element is carbon, and literally nothing else. These gemstones form over the course of millions of years, hardening, growing, and evolving as time goes on. They consist of the traditional and timeless diamond, and the colorful three: emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. It can be argued that there are four ‘big’ gemstones out there that dominate the jewelry world. Read on to learn more about sapphires, rubies, and the differences between the two. Although they’re made up of the same mineral, which is corundum, when that corundum takes on a red coloration, it becomes known as a ruby.

Sapphires occur in a wide range of colors, from blue to yellow, and from pink to orange, but a red sapphire is technically a ruby.

Sapphires are most commonly known for their beautiful blue hues, but can you get a red sapphire?

Orange sapphire