BURMESE RUBY-A TRUE ONE OF A

KIND GEMSTONE

 Burma, by reputation and experience, continues to produce some of the world's finest Rubies. While the original locality for Ruby was most likely Sri Lanka (Ceylon), the classic source is the Mogok Stone Tract in upper Burma. So much so that one of the recognized titles of the Kings of Burma was "Lord of the Rubies." You may have noticed throughout the book that I call the country "Burma" not Myanmar. In 1989 the charismatic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kui was placed under house arrest and the country was renamed Myanmar. Many democrats oppose the name change and we agree with their example.

"Pigeon's blood" is the traditional way describe a rare and valuable Burmese Ruby color. This color meant the first two drops of blood by a freshly killed pigeon-red with a slight touch of purple to it. Some people feel this is a bit barbarian but the description is still recognized.

Burmese Rubies come from the Mogok Valley in north-central Burma and Möng Hsu in northeast Burma (also spelt Monghsu or Maing Hsu, it is pronounced "Mong-Shoe").

Möng Hsu is 140 miles southeast of Mogok. It is located between the Nam Pang and Salween Rivers. It is closed to foreigners and the road is so bad it takes around 14 hours to travel there from the nearest town of Taunggyi. Typical of many areas in Burma's Shan States, the population of the Möng Hsu area consist of Shans in the valleys with hill tribes (Palaungs at Möng Hsu) living in the mountains. The Palaungs cultivated tea before the discovery of Ruby.

While Ruby mining in Mogok dates to the 6th century, Rubies were not discovered in Möng Hsu until 1991 when a local resident, who used to be a Ruby miner at Mogok, went bathing in the Nam Nga stream and found red gems between his toes and among the pebbles on the river's banks. Thus began Burma's most recent Ruby rush as the town's population quadrupled overnight from approximately 8,000 people to over 30,000 people at the peak. This tapered off by 1993, but since the advent of high temperature treatment Möng Hsu has become increasingly important source of Burmese Ruby. 

Ruby mining in Burma was initially restricted to alluvial deposits, but has now also moved to host rock deposits in the surrounding hills. Burma's Rubies occur in a crystalline limestone (marble). Millions of years of weathering freed the Rubies from their host rock, carrying them down from the hills to the valley floors, where they have settled in the bottom of the streams and rivers. It is from these ancient alluvial river gravels (know in Burma as "byon") that the majority of gems have been recovered.

  

EXQUISITE BURMESE RUBY
1.12CT BURMESE CUSHION CUT UNTREATED	GEM GRADE REPORT A natural cushion cut gem from the old mine at Mogok. I purchased it rough in Rangoon. Top gem "Pigeon Blood" color and eye-flawless. Bought from a small miner who brought it from Mogok and showed it to me in Mandalay. It was recut in Bangkok to improve its brilliance. Dimensions: 6.0x5.5mm Call for price. Comments: Exceptionally rare top color natural from the old mine at Mogok Weight: 1.12 carats Shape: cushion *Color:       Hue: 5.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 5.0 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 4.8 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   5.0 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
1.63CT BURMESE ROUND UNTREATED	GEM GRADE REPORT A natural unenhanced round, well cut, top color Burmese ruby, an old mine stone from Mogok. How many have you ever seen? I've seen two and they are both available here. This one has visually pure medium dark "pigeon's blood" 85% red with 15% purple, just a touch more than the 2.09. Exceptional color and brilliancy and at 6.42mm very finely made. *Color:       Hue: 5.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.9 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 5.0   Proportions: 4.7 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.8 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.9 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
2.09 CT BURMESE ROUND UNTREATED	GEM GRADE REPORT This is a top-gem round Burma ruby that is totally unenhanced. It is from the old mine at Mogok. Never saw a two carat round one before I found this one in Asia. The stone is a pure medium-dark toned pure primary red (90%) with perhaps 10% of a secondary purple hue. This is the hue that the Burmese call pigeon's blood color which always has a bit of purple. Clean, well made and very brilliant. 6.7mm Comments: A wonderful stone with just the slightest bulge below the girdle. A truly beautiful gem   *Color:       Hue: 5.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 5.0 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 4.8 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.7 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
3.01CT BURMESE OVAL UNTREATED	GEM GRADE REPORT Magnificent pigeon blood color! Photographed with magnification. The gem is eye-flawless. Fully brilliant, really an exceptional gem and well priced. 8.08 x 6.98mm. Comments: Investor's Choice: Certificated by GRS (Swiss Lab, Bangkok). Fine three carat "pigeon blood" stones are extremely rare.   Weight: 3.01 carats Shape: oval mixed *Color:       Hue: 4.8   Saturation: 4.7   Tone: 4.9 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.8 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 4.5 *Clarity:   4.8 *Crystal:   4.7 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7	ASK FOR PRICE
.71ct ROUND BURMESE UNTREATED     $2600	GEM GRADE REPORT Just a little (5%) lighter in tone and a pure red without the slight purplish secondary hue of the traditional "pigeon's blood" color, the lovely round gem is very finely cut, eye flawless and exceptionally brilliant. Perfect face, 5.1mm Comments: A beautiful 3/4 carat gem Weight: 0.71 carats Shape: round brilliant *Color:       Hue: 4.6   Saturation: 4.8   Tone: 4.6 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.6 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.6   Proportions: 4.8 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.8 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.3 SCALE OF 1-10
. .80carat Emerald Cut  Heat Treated   $1850	GEM GRADE REPORT A sweet little emerald cut, with only eighteen facets the stone has got to have exceptional transparency (crystal) to glow like a red hot coal as this one does. The gem is eye-flawless, the slight veils visible in the enlarged image are not visible in the gem at 5.7 x 4.2mm Comments: Rare to find a gem emerald cut.   Weight: 0.80 carats Shape: Emerald Cut *Color:       Hue: 4.7   Saturation: 4.8   Tone: 4.9 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.7 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 4.7 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.9 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7 SCALE OF 1-10
1.12carat Cusion Unheated	A natural cushion cut gem from the old mine at Mogok. Top gem "Pigeon Blood" color and eye-flawless. Bought from a small miner who brought it from Mogok and showed it to me in Mandalay. It was recut in Bangkok to improve its brilliance. Dimensions: 6.0x5.5mm Call for price. Comments: Exceptionally rare top color natural from the old mine at Mogok GEM GRADE REPORT Weight: 1.12 carats Shape: cushion *Color:       Hue: 5.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 5.0 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 4.8 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   5.0 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE "
Burma Ruby Pair 1.07ct $3,424.00	GEM GRADE REPORT   This is a perfectly matched pair of slightly purplish Burma "pigeon blood" gems. They are very well cut with no extra weight beneath the girdle and a perfect 4.8mm face. Comments: Perfect side stones!   Weight: 1.07 carats Shape: Round mixed. *Color:       Hue: 4.7   Saturation: 4.8   Tone: 4.9 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.8 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 4.9 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.8 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7 SCALE OF 1-10	"
1.08 Carat Burma Ruby	GEM GRADE REPORT   A lovely "pigeon blood" Burma round, eye-flawless and very well cut with 80-90% overall brilliance. 6.0mm. Rarely see a one carat stone with a 6mm diameter. This one looks more like a stone that would weigh 1.25 carats. Comments: Asking to see the pigeon's blood is like asking to see the face of God As a suite, a perfect 10. Weight: 1.08 carats Shape: Round mixed. *Color:       Hue: 4.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.8 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.0   Proportions: 4.9 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   5.0 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.8 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
1.42ct BURMESE OVAL UNHEATED	GEM GRADE REPORT   A beautiful cushion cut with exceptional brilliance, top Pigeon's Blood color and 100% eye flawless. The stone is a bit bulbous and deep. Often, as in this case, that translates into 90%+ brilliance and a broad viewing angle. You can rock this gem to 10% off the perpendicular without extinguishing the fire. 5.8x6.0mm. Call for price. Comments: GRS Grading Report pigeons blood Weight: 1.42 carats Shape: cushion *Color:       Hue: 5.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 5.0 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.9   Proportions: 3.8 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.8 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.8 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
1.43ct BURMESE ROUNDS UNTREATED	GEM GRADE REPORT   Another exceptional pair of Burmese pigeon blood gems. These are exceptionally well cut and eye-flawless with no excess weight beneath the girdle. The face is perfect at 5mm. Comments: Excellent side stones Weight: 1.43 carats Shape: Round mixed. *Color:       Hue: 4.7   Saturation: 4.8   Tone: 4.9 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.7 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 4.9 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.8 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7	ASK FOR PRICE
1.72 Carat Burma Ruby	GEM GRADE REPORT   Alive with brilliance! Excellent crystal! A beautiful eye-flawless gem. A slightly rectangular cushion that is alive with brilliance and has a wonderful transparent crystal. 6 .61 x 5.89 x 5.02 Weight: 1.72 carats Shape: Rect. cushion *Color:       Hue: 4.7   Saturation: 4.8   Tone: 4.6 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.7 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.9   Proportions: 4.2 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.8 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.7 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
1.84 Carat Burma Ruby	GEM GRADE REPORT   A beautiful pigeon blood cushion. Top color, eye-flawless with exceptional brilliance. The camera brightens it up a bit and over --emphasies the crystal but the color is a bit deeper and the stone is mysterious and deep. 6.7-6.55mm. Swiss Lab, Bangkok (GRS) "Pigeon Blood" Comments: A rare stone of top Pigeon Blood color. Shape: Sq. cushion *Color:       Hue: 5.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 5.0 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.8   Proportions: 5.0 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.5 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.8 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
2.05 Burma Ruby	GEM GRADE REPORT A very special ruby. The picture tells the story. Perfectly proportioned with exceptional color, cut and crystal. A true gem. 8.6x5.9mm Comments: Perfect! *Color:       Hue: 5.0   Saturation: 5.0   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 5.0 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.9   Proportions: 5.0 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   5.0 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.9 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
2.25 Carat Burma Ruby	GEM GRADE REPORT   A very fine, bright stone, eye-flawless with excellent brilliance and sparkle. 8.58 x 6.03 x 4.88mm Weight: 2.25 carats Shape: oval mixed *Color:       Hue: 4.7   Saturation: 4.8   Tone: 4.7 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.7 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 4.9   Proportions: 4.4 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   4.8 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.6 SCALE OF 1-10	ASK FOR PRICE
2.56 Carat Burma Ruby	GEM GRADE REPORT A truly fine pair of 6.4mm round pair of Burma rubies diamond cut for maximum scintillation. These are the true very slightly purplish Pigeon Blood color. 6.4mm Comments: Exceptionally bright.   *Color:       Hue: 4.9   Saturation: 4.8   Tone: 5.0 *TOTAL COLOR RATING: 4.8 SCALE OF 1-5 *Cut:       Brilliance: 5.0   Proportions: 5.0 *Clarity:   5.0 *Crystal:   5.0 *TOTAL QUALITY RATING: 9.8	ASK FOR PRICE
5.03 Carat Burma Ruby	The unobtainable, a fine quality Burma ruby above 5 carats! This is a breathtaking gem. Stones of this size and quality are almost never seen. A good picture. The gem is eye-flawless and a pure scarlet red with full brilliance and scintillation. 9.54 x 8.77mm Comments: Wonderful color in a size rarely seen! Certified by GRS (Swiss Lab, Bangkok)	ASK FOR PRICE