The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently analyzed a 2.14-carat Ramaura synthetic ruby that exhibited natural-looking milky cloud inclusions. The ruby, set in a ring, was submitted to the GIA’s Tokyo laboratory for identification and origin verification, according to the latest issue of Gems & Gemology.
The gem showed unusual milky clouds, angular graining, and triangular negative crystals filled with flux-like materials and tiny bubbles. While milky clouds typically indicate a natural ruby, the other features are characteristic of flux-grown synthetic rubies.
The GIA used laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to analyze the ruby’s chemical composition. The results showed lower levels of magnesium and gallium but higher levels of lanthanum, platinum, and lead compared to natural rubies. The absence of vanadium further indicated that the ruby was not natural but a Ramaura flux-grown synthetic ruby. This type of synthetic ruby is produced using a special process involving a hot liquid flux. Notably, this is the first report of a synthetic ruby with natural-looking milky inclusions.
The GIA noted that the milky clouds and flux inclusions could easily be mistaken for those in heated natural rubies, potentially leading to misidentification. Therefore, both careful examination of the inclusions and chemical analysis were crucial in confirming the ruby’s synthetic origin.
