Both rubies and sapphires are from the Corundum family, with a hardness of 9, which is the next hardest to diamonds. Believe it or not, they can come in colors of the rainbow.
These stones will have no problems being cleaned with traditional cleaning techniques unless they have evident cracks, fissures or percussion breaks. Cleaning will be the same as diamonds, an expert job can be realized with an ultrasonic and steam cleaner. A commercial jewelry cleaner along with a soft cotton cloth and/or a jeweler's rouge cloth, can also be used for maximum results.
Most of today's rubies and sapphires are color enhanced by heating in a very controlled environment to allow for uniform and maximum color intensity and saturation.
See a large selection of rubies, Ceylon sapphires, color change sapphires and colored sapphires at: Ralph Miller Jewelers, 28 & 30 West 8th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania.
