Correctly identify natural ruby with red gems

On the market the more common red stones that stand next to natural ruby are red spinel, garnet and tourmaline. In daylight or under a shop lamp they can look very similar. A GRA report records identity after instruments and trained observation — not after color alone.

Red spinel is often transparent and vivid. Garnet may show a denser body color and different refractive behaviour. Red tourmaline (rubellite) can approach ruby in hue but belongs to a different mineral species. Separating them protects trade descriptions on invoices and jewelry invoices.

When a stone already carries a printed GRA number, enter that number on the Certificate page. A match opens the stored laboratory record. A miss is not a grading opinion — check the printed digits, then write to CC@ccreport.hk with a photo of the paper report if needed.