Single crystals of ruby have been obtained from fluxed melts based on the systems LiO2-MoO3, Li2O-WO3, Na2O-WO3, 2PbO-3V(2)O(5), PbO-V2O5-WO3, PbF2-Bi2O3 and Na3AlF6 by both the TSSG method and spontaneous crystallization at the temperatures 1330-900 degrees C. Al2O3 solubility has been measured for the flux composition of 2Bi(2)O(3)-5PbF(2) in the temperature range 1200-1000 degrees C and dissolution enthalpy has been defined as 29.4 KJ/Mol. The composition of grown crystals was studied by electron microprobe analysis. The synthetic ruby contains from 0.51 to 6.38 at% of chromium admixture depending on the crystal growth conditions. Experimental results on growth conditions, composition and morphology of grown crystals are presented for each flux and temperature interval. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.