Did you know that a ruby is just a red sapphire? Like sapphires, heat treatment of rubies is an age-old, standard, industry accepted, and PERMANENT treatment designed to generally improve clarity and color. Approximately 99% of rubies used in jewelry are heated which is designed to improve the clarity of the ruby and may also improve its color. No special care is necessary for heat treated rubies and there is no loss of color or clarity over time.