Materials science 1: Sapphire and ruby
properties, production, and differences
Whether they are mystically blue or shiny red – gemstones have fascinated humans from the beginning of time. And, at Mevisto they - quite literally - play a key supporting role: We manufacture one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry that serve as more than just a memory of a beloved person and are worn by relatives, friends and family members. We craft these pieces from ruby and sapphire. But, what is actually the differences between these two types of gemstone, how are they made and what makes them so special? We will get to the bottom of these questions.
Ruby and sapphire: Wherein lies the difference?
The simple answer is: in the color. The more complicated one: there is no difference as far as the material is concerned. How can that be? It is probably best to start at the beginning: Rubies and sapphires both belong to the family of corundum minerals. This mineral is grouped into the classes of oxides and hydroxides – and technically needs to be counted as an aluminum oxide. While chemically pure corundums are colorless, there are a number of colored variants that possess the same material composition and crystal structure. These variants include the aforementioned rubies and sapphires. So, ultimately, it is the color that distinguishes these otherwise completely identical gemstones. And, these variations are furthermore determined by such components as chrome, iron or titanium. While rubies sparkle in vibrant red, the term “sapphire” encapsulates all color variations ranging from deep blue to purple and from green to yellow, pink, and blue. The name “ruby” comes from the Latin word “rubinus”, while linguists have argued that the designation “sapphire” likely originated in the Aramaic term “Saphira” for “the beautiful”. Corundums with a pink-orange hue are furthermore referred to as padparadscha sapphires. They are also called “Padmaraga”, a term that means lotus flower in the Sinhala language.
Rubies and sapphires: Properties and deposits
Now that we have established the differences, what is there to say about the properties of sapphires, rubies, and similar gemstones? Scoring a 9 on the 10-point Mohs hardness scale, corundums, for all practical purposes, are the hardest minerals, second only to diamonds. Sapphires, rubies and other corundum variants also score high marks with such properties as temperature and abrasion resistance, which make them eligible for use as a key industrial material. These minerals commonly form long, prismatic or columnar to barrel-shaped crystals, but can also possess granular aggregates. The largest confirmed find of a corundum mineral to date measured 152 kilograms in weight and was over one meter long. Naturally, there are many corundum deposits across the globe – especially in regions that are rich in aluminum and undersaturated with silicon. Ever since the end of the 19th century it has also been possible to manufacture them synthetically. The pioneering work that led to this discovery was performed by French chemist Auguste Verneuil, who in 1888 succeeded for the first time in producing synthetic rubies using the “flame fusion process”. Today, sapphires and rubies can also be made with the help of the pultrusion process and the flux method. The production process for all of these synthetic variants starts with molten aluminum oxide. This material crystallizes in a second step at so-called “seed crystals”. To achieve the desired results, hydrothermal synthesis additionally utilizes high pressure.
Our Mevisto gemstones
At Mevisto, we also manufacture sapphires and rubies – but ours are like no other: They carry elements of a departed person in them. Our work is rooted in many years of research and the application of a method that we devised ourselves. At the heart of every personalized gemstone are 50 g of ashes or 10 g of hair taken from a cherished person or animal. This biogenic material is subjected to a special treatment at the beginning of the process. This means: Certain elements are extracted. This essence varies from person to person and from animal to animal, and, more than that: It is one of a kind! And this is exactly what sets apart our rubies and sapphires: They reflect the character of the living being they carry inside. Their nature. Their essence. Whatever you want to call it. This core material can be used in a next step to grow a crystal in a kiln at temperatures above 2,000°C. During this process, the previously extracted elements are bound to the atomic structure of the gemstone. In the last step, the gemstone is polished and finished into its final shape. Afterwards, it will find a place in our own, specially designed 18-carat gold jewelry or a piece of jewelry customized to your personal specifications. You can choose from a wide selection of colors to truly make this gemstone your own. The choices range from colorless, champaign, peach, orange, and brown to pink, red, purple, and blue. By the way: We are unable to predict how light or dark a ruby or sapphire will turn out to be. As we like to say in this regard: “The particular shade is chosen by the deceased.” That is because the final outcome, again, hinges on the essence of the dearly departed person or animal, which is why every single production process is uniquely exciting for us as well.
Sensing the energy of deceased loved ones
We can safely say that every one of our gemstones carries inside of them the character or spirited work of a deceased person. Or, as one of our customers put it ever so befittingly in our guest book: “My grandma was a person of special importance to me! Even during her lifetime on this planet, which I was privileged to share for a few decades, I came to admire many of her traits and have been trying to incorporate them in my own life ever since. When she departed this Earth, I had the strong desire to retain more of her than just a “normal” memory. I now have the privilege of wearing this ring with a gemstone like no other and of sensing the energy that she exuded up to the moment she passed away. An incredible feeling!“
Special exhibit near Vienna Central Station
You can also learn more about ruby and sapphire production and about our work at an exhibition that is currently being hosted at the Funeral Museum near Vienna’s central station. A special exhibition housed in a unique location is solely devoted to this topic.