Burmalainen rubiini / VVS, paras punainen sävy

Rubies and sapphires are both members of the corundum family with the same hexagonal crystallographic structure. The basic chemical formula is AL₂O₃ .. the same for both ruby and sapphire. It is the presence of trace elements like chromium, iron, vanadium and titanium which are responsible for the wide range of colors in which the mineral occurs. The red color in rubies is primarily a result of the presence of chromium. A red corundum is known as ruby and any other color is called a sapphire. In practice however, the determination is not always so straightforward because there are no internationally accepted standards for the color of a ruby. Gemologists could describe the same stone as a purplish red ruby or a purplish red sapphire and borderline cases are not uncommon.

The heating of rubies and sapphires is a widely used and accepted enhancement process which can improve the transparency and/or the color of the stones. Techniques range from simply throwing gems in a fire to be cooked or burned to employing sophisticated electric or gas furnaces at specific pressures and atmospheric conditions. The treatment is permanent and heated stones do not require special care.

Gem quality rubies are never common and rarely large. Clean stones are always a rarity. The most notable deposits of ruby occur in Burma, Vietnam, Tanzania, Kenya, Thailand, and Cambodia. Ruby is also found in Colombia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and in the U.S.A.

We stock rubies three from localities: Burma, Tanzania, and Madagascar. A brief description follows:

Burma The most famous locality for rubies is the in the district around Mogok in upper Burma. Burmese rubies are known for their fine fluorescent red color in any kind of light. The color of Burmese stones is often said to be “pigeons blood”. Many of the rubies are bright red and may contain traces of blue or pink. The stones are rarely clean but the prices are still higher than the rubies from any other deposit. Another important Burmese ruby deposit occurs at Mong Hsu about 250km east of Mandalay.

Indeed, Burmese rubies can be much more expensive than diamonds! Less than a year after its previous record-setting ruby sale, Christie’s has almost doubled the top price-per-carat paid for a ruby. According to Bloomberg, on February 15, 2006, “Laurence Graff, a London jeweler, paid a record $425,000 a carat for a ruby ring in the Swiss resort of St. Moritz..., smashing the previous record of $275,000 and indicating demand for precious stones is still increasing.” The cushion-cut ruby weighing 8.62 carats was set in a rectangular-shaped diamond bomb? mount, mounted in 18k gold, ring size 3-1/4; Signed Bulgari.”

Tanzania Tanzanian rubies from the Songea deposit are darker and more garnet like in color than Burmese rubies and as a result are also much more affordable. They look best in incandescent and late afternoon light. In morning light they are somewhat darker. The rubies from this mine are usually more clean and less flawed than rubies from other mines. Their garnet like appearance can be misleading and even jewelers can be confused. The color of most gems tends to lighten as the size is reduced and the color of Songea rubies is frequently best in the smaller sizes. Although the colors are somewhat more uniform than the rubies from other mines, the subtle variations in color can markedly affect the resulting valuations and a brighter stone could easily be worth five times more than a darker stone of a similar size. A small percentage of the stones from this deposit can be also be exceptional in terms of color.

Madagascar The most recent discoveries of rubies have occurred in Madagascar at Andilamena and Vatomandry. Indeed, the discoveries are only months old. The deposits differ significantly with respect to their mineralogical and gemological properties. The deposit in Vatomandry produces crystals of nice natural orange/red and pinkish color which do not require heating. The deposit is secondary and the material appears to have been transported from the original source rock.

The deposit in Andilamena is more substantial and seems have been the focus of most of the recent production. The rough is generally somewhat violet and not very clean. Heat treatment can dramatically improve the color and many of the resulting stones will show a pure red similar to rubies from Thailand and Burma.

The actual mining is about 85 kilometers to the north near the national park but Andilamena is the only town in the area. Like many parts of Madagascar, there are gems but no roads to go get to them and most people just walk. The deposit is of a primary character and probably igneous in origin.

Madagascar will probably continue to be a major source of ruby rough. Other deposits in uninhabited areas of north central and eastern and western Madagascar have also been reported.

Ruby has been the world's most valued gemstone for thousands of years. It was said to be the most precious of the twelve stones God created when he created all things and this "lord of gems" was placed on Aaron's neck by God's command. Ruby brings you serenity, and protect against injury.