Ruby
A vivid red shade named for the polished ruby gemstone
Ruby is a bright red or pinkish-red colour, named after the cut and polished ruby gemstone. The name was first recorded in English in 1572, and the colour is known for its strong, vivid appearance. Ruby has inspired several related shades and is used in colour standards and design.
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- Ruby is named after the gemstone's polished appearance
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1572
- Ruby red is a standard colour in the RAL system
- Antique ruby is a darker shade, named in 1926
- Deep ruby appears in the British Standards 381 list
What colour is Ruby?
Ruby is a colour that matches the look of a cut and polished ruby gemstone. It sits between red and pink, with a vivid, strong tone. Its brightness and slight purplish tinge set it apart from other reds. The colour is often linked with the gemstone's rich, striking appearance.
Where does Ruby come from?
The name 'ruby' comes from the gemstone of the same name, which is known for its deep red hue. The first known use of 'ruby' as a colour name in English dates back to 1572. Over time, the colour has inspired many shades and has become a standard reference in design and colour systems.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
The flag uses the four Pan-Arab colours: a red bar at the hoist with green, white and black bands. It was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of the United Arab EmiratesThe flag is a black double-headed eagle on red, the banner of the fifteenth-century hero Skanderbeg. Fans chant Kuq e Zi, red and black.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of AlbaniaArmenian scribes painted manuscripts with vordan karmir, a crimson dye made from an insect that lives on the roots of grasses in the Ararat plain.
Sacred and holySource: Armenian cochinealUnder Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 1830s and 1840s, everyone had to wear a scarlet ribbon to show loyalty to his Federalist party. His enemies, the Unitarians, were tied to sky blue.
Politics and protestFearSource: Juan Manuel de RosasThe flag is red, white and red. Legend says Duke Leopold V's white tunic was soaked in blood at the siege of Acre, all but the band under his belt.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of AustriaRed ochre is used in Aboriginal rock art and ceremony, and is traded over long distances. In the Aboriginal flag the red half stands for the earth and for that ochre.
Sacred and holyNature and renewalAweSource: Australian Aboriginal flagShades and relatives of Ruby
Ruby has several related shades, including rubine red, ruber, medium ruby, and antique ruby. Ruby red is part of the RAL colour system, widely used in Europe. Deep ruby appears in the British Standards 381 list. Antique ruby is a darker tone, first named in 1926. Some versions, like big dip o'ruby, are made to look metallic.
Colours that go with Ruby
Harmonies are worked out from the value #E0115F. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Ruby
What colour is ruby?
Ruby is a vivid shade between red and pink, matching the look of a polished ruby gemstone.
Where does the name ruby come from?
The colour is named after the ruby gemstone, known for its deep red hue. The name was first used for the colour in English in 1572.
Are there different shades of ruby?
Yes, related shades include rubine red, ruber, medium ruby, antique ruby, and deep ruby, each with its own tone.
Is ruby used as a standard colour?
Ruby red is included in the RAL colour system, and deep ruby is listed in the British Standards 381 colour list.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Ruby (color)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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