
Rubellite
The red tourmaline

overview
Naming : Its name is derived from the Latin word for red or reddish.
Mineral group: Rubellite is a variety of elbaite, a representative of the silicate minerals and belongs to the tourmaline group. For this reason, rubellite is often referred to as tourmaline.
Colour : Rubellite comes in all shades of red. The most valuable is the shade of red that resembles a high-quality ruby.
Special feature : The color intensity of the rubellite changes depending on the viewing angle.
Quality factors
Color
Rubellite exists in a wide range of red tones - from light pink to very dark red. Occasionally, rubellite has a hint of violet. The more its color resembles a precious ruby, the more valuable the rubellite gemstone is.
carat
Carat weight refers to the weight of a gemstone. The value of a gemstone usually depends on the carat weight. However, other factors also play an important role, such as the color, clarity and cut of the gemstone. One carat (ct) corresponds to 0.2 grams.
purity
In general, the gemstone is very transparent and eye-clean.
cut
The facet cut is often used for rubbelite because it particularly highlights the color properties of the gemstone.

Dichroism in Rubellite
Like other tourmalines, rubellite has the property of strong dichroism. This means that the color intensity changes depending on the viewing angle.
Special Rubellites
In 1786, Tsarina Catherine the Great received a 255-carat ruby-red rubellite from the Swedish King Gustav III. This valuable rubellite - a red tourmaline - was long thought to be a ruby. A red tourmaline is only called a rubellite if it has the same fine ruby red color in artificial light as it does in daylight.
Special occasions
birthstone
Like other tourmalines, rubellite is the birthstone of October.
wedding anniversary
A tourmaline is a popular gift for a 5th wedding anniversary.

occurrence of rubellite
It was only when Dutch merchants brought rubellite from East Asia at the beginning of the 18th century that it became known in Europe. Until the beginning of the 20th century, rubellite was mainly mined in the Ural Mountains in Russia. For a long time, the so-called "Siberian rubellite" - an almost ruby-red rubellite - was considered a valuable rarity. Nowadays, rubellite mostly comes from Brazil, the USA and Madagascar.

Jewelry with Rubellite
At RENÉSIM you will find different creations with the timeless gemstone Rubellite. Let yourself be enchanted by our jewelry.
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Further articles

Rubellite belongs to the tourmaline group of gemstones. Tourmaline is a gemstone that exists in a wide variety of colors.
To the gemstone lexicon – Tourmaline: gemstone in a wide variety of colors
Rubellite is often confused with ruby, one of the most valuable colored gemstones. The color of the ruby is of great importance - pigeon blood red is particularly popular.
To the Gemstone Lexicon – RubyBuy gemstones
jewelry with colored stones
Gemstones in the Lexicon
grindings in the lexicon