Garnet and ruby are two stunning red gemstones that are easily confused with one another. These two gemstones may have similar coloring but are actually quite different. One notable difference between the two is their durability. Rubies have a Mohs scale rating of 9, while garnet has an average score between 7 to 7.5. The rich coloring of red is also a difference between the two stones. A garnet's color will appear pale in comparison to the fiery color of a ruby.