Besides red color what are characteristics of Rubies?

Question

are rubies faceted(cut) identically to diamonds? How can tell difference between rubies and common glass?

Answer 1

here you go:

Ruby is a pink to blood red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The common red color is caused mainly by the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. It is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald and the diamond.

Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color (the brightest and best "red" called Pigeon Blood Red, command a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality). After color follows clarity: similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like rutile inclusions will indicate the stone has been treated one way or another. Cut and carat (size) also determine the price.

for more details refer to this site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubies

Answer 2

red,shiny,really really pretty

Answer 3

Very valuable, hard, and supposedly can be used in some sort of new age fuel? don't no about the last one, but thats about all i know.

Hope I was of assistance :)

Answer 4

A ruby is a lot harder than common glass.