Ruby
| Ruby | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Mineral |
| Location | Mining; Dwarvish Sentry; Fishing Treasure Chests; Panning |
| Sell Price | 250g |
The Ruby is a red gem from the deeper floors of The Mines and one of the most useful gems to keep in a chest. It shares its sale price and copy time with the Emerald, so a Crystalarium full of Rubies gives one of the steadiest gem incomes in the game. Clint, the Dwarf and Emily love it, and most other villagers like it, which makes it a safe gift. At the Forge it raises the damage of a melee weapon. One Ruby buys a Spicy Eel from the Desert Trader, and Emily's Rock Rejuvenation special order asks for one on the way to a free Sewing Machine.
The in-game description reads: A precious stone that is sought after for its rich color and beautiful luster.
Location
Ruby Nodes appear in The Mines from floor 80 downwards. Breaking one with a pickaxe gives a Ruby. Gem Nodes can hold Rubies too, and they turn up in The Mines, the Skull Cavern, the Quarry and the Volcano Dungeon.
Taking the Geologist profession at Mining level 5 gives gem nodes a half chance to drop their gem in pairs. That makes every Ruby Node worth more on the long trips below floor 80.
Crates and barrels can also break open to reveal a Ruby. They hold one on the deep floors of The Mines, in the Skull Cavern and in the Volcano Dungeon. In the Volcano Dungeon, the Dwarvish Sentries drop a Ruby about one time in ten.
Away from the caves, Rubies come from Fishing Treasure Chests and from panning, though both are rare. The Garbage Cans around town can hold one now and then. At the Feast of the Winter Star, the villager chosen as the secret gift giver may hand over a Ruby.
Prices
A Ruby sells for the same price as an Emerald and a little more than Jade. A Diamond is worth three times as much. The Gemologist profession at Mining level 10 adds thirty percent to the price, as it does for every gem and mineral.
The Crystalarium is where Rubies earn the most. A copy takes a little over two days, which works out to about 120g a day per machine. That matches the Emerald and Jade, and only the Diamond does clearly better among gems. Rubies also have more uses than most gems, so a row of Ruby Crystalariums gives both money and a ready stock for quests and the Forge.
The Help Wanted board outside Pierre's General Store can ask for a Ruby. Item requests on the board pay three times the normal price and add friendship with the villager who asked. A Ruby request is one of the better payouts the board offers.
Uses
At the Forge in the Volcano Dungeon, adding a Ruby to a melee weapon raises its damage. Each forge level spends a Ruby along with Cinder Shards, and the bonus grows with every level. This makes Rubies the gem of choice for players who want a harder-hitting sword.
The Desert Trader in the Calico Desert trades a Spicy Eel for one Ruby, on any day. Eating a Spicy Eel gives a small boost to both Luck and Speed for several minutes. Trading for it saves cooking it from an Eel and a Hot Pepper.
Emily posts the Rock Rejuvenation special order on the board outside Mayor Lewis' house. It asks for a Ruby, a Topaz, an Emerald, a Jade and an Amethyst within the week. Finishing it pays gold, adds a large amount of friendship with Emily and sends a Sewing Machine by mail.
On Ginger Island, the Gem Birds puzzle can call for a Ruby. With the Remixed Bundles, a Ruby is one of the options for the Treasure Hunter's Bundle in the Boiler Room.
Donating the first Ruby to Gunther adds it to the museum's mineral collection. Mineral donations count towards Gunther's milestone rewards, and fifty minerals bring a free Crystalarium.
Putting a Ruby and Cloth in the Sewing Machine makes a red Shirt. Placed in the spool with a dyeable clothing item instead, a Ruby works as a red dye. It also fits the red dye pot at Emily and Haley's house at 2 Willow Lane.
Gifts
Clint, the Dwarf and Emily love Rubies.
Abigail, Alex, Caroline, Demetrius, Elliott, Evelyn, George, Gus, Haley, Harvey, Jas, Jodi, Kent, Krobus, Leo, Lewis, Marnie, Maru, Pam, Penny, Robin, Sam, Sandy, Sebastian, Shane, Vincent, Willy and the Wizard like them.
Leah, Linus and Pierre dislike them.
A loved gift gives far more friendship than a liked one, so spare Rubies go furthest with Clint, the Dwarf and Emily. Emily loves every gem her special order asks for, so the same stock serves both her gifts and her quest.
These villagers love receiving Ruby as a gift.
| Villager | Image |
|---|---|
| Clint | 
|
| Dwarf | 
|
| Emily | 
|
Notes
A Ruby sold straight away is a fair price, but it is worth more as a Forge material, a Spicy Eel or a loved gift. Keep a few in a chest so Rock Rejuvenation, Help Wanted requests and the Gem Birds puzzle never have to wait.
All Gems
Every entry in this group, with its key details.
| Name | Image | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | 
|
100g |
| Aquamarine | 
|
180g |
| Diamond | 
|
750g |
| Emerald | 
|
250g |
| Jade | 
|
200g |
| Prismatic Shard | 
|
2000g |
| Ruby | 
|
250g |
| Topaz | 
|
80g |