Ruby and Sapphire: Gemstones with Beauty and Industrial Utility

Importing country: Sri Lanka

Ruby is a gemstone celebrated for its vivid red color and belongs to the corundum (aluminum oxide) family. Recognized alongside amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond as one of the traditional cardinal gemstones, ruby is the birthstone for July and is also known as “red corundum.”

As a variety of corundum, ruby combines remarkable durability with unique optical properties. Its ability to emit red laser light makes it a critical component in laser technology, while its high hardness allows it to serve as an effective abrasive. Ruby is widely used for polishing precision instruments and optical devices, and its excellent wear resistance reduces abrasion in mechanical parts and tools, extending their service life.

Sapphire, renowned for its captivating blue hue, is commonly used in rings, necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry. It is the birthstone for September and traditionally associated with the 45th wedding anniversary. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, sapphire transmits light across a broad wavelength range, from ultraviolet to infrared, making it ideal for optical components such as windows, lenses, and prisms.

Its outstanding hardness and thermal stability extend its applications to semiconductor wafer substrates, LED chip bases, and smartphone camera lenses. Sapphire’s wear resistance also allows use in abrasives, cutting tools, and other wear-prone components. Furthermore, it maintains stability at high temperatures, making it suitable for high-temperature equipment parts. In the medical field, sapphire is applied in surgical blades, implant materials, and artificial joint components.