When it comes to rubies, the most prized of those gems come from the mountainous region of the Mogok Valley in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Remote and difficult to get to, especially during the rainy season when dirt roads become oversized craters of mud that are impassable for vehicles, Mogok is where you’ll find the mines that have produced some of the world’s most extraordinary rubies. Burmese rubies are prized for their vibrant hues that range from purple red to dark pink red. Highly desired throughout history, the availability of Burmese rubies has been sporadic. For over 800 years, the mines were worked by hand and they’ve often been closely guarded with intermittent production until they were pretty much tapped out, pushing the price of these red gems way up.
Just how expensive are the finest Burmese rubies? Sotheby’s auction house in Geneva sold the 25.59-carat Sunrise Ruby for $30.4 million, a record setting price in 2015. One year later in 2016, Christie’s auction house in New York City sold the 15.99-carat Jubilee Ruby for $14.16 million. The size and color of these two Burmese rubies made them rare enough to command astronomical prices.
The Lore of Burmese Rubies
There has always been a lot of mystery and folklore around Burmese rubies. The gems are so important to the area that legend has it that one of the country’s early rulers refused to let rubies leave the country, believing that it would drain him of his power. Burmese warriors believed that the painful process of inserting a piece of ruby into their flesh, so that it became part of their body, would make them invincible in battle.
Going International or Not
Mining Burmese rubies and distributing them into the international market has been challenging for a number of reasons. In 1597, the mines were taken over by the King of Burma and the mines were worked by locals for years. Then in 1886 the British annexed upper Burma, where the Mogok mines are located, to its colony, India. The British took over the mines and then leased them to a jeweler in London, Edwin Streeter for seven years. The mining operations were greatly amped up during this time, but numerous challenges such as theft and flooding eventually led to their closure in 1931 when the mines were turned back over to the Burmese government. By now Burmese rubies were showing up in jewelry all over Europe and through the world with their exceptional color sparking desire for these gems. Mining continued until it was interrupted by World War II. The mines reactivated after that and were quite prolific until the communist regime took over the country in 1963 and nationalized the mines. Burmese rubies were not allowed in the U.S. between 2008 and 2016, when they were embargoed due to human rights issues in the country.
While the Mogok mines are known for their outstanding rubies, it is important to note that there are different qualities of rubies coming out of any mine with some being better quality than others. The most coveted gems are those with a true red color and high clarity, with many of those stones being old material from the Mogok mines, sometimes found in antique or vintage jewelry these rubies are highly valued.
The Glow of Red
Due to their exceptional color, Burmese rubies are sometimes called “pigeon blood”, because the color is the same as the blood from a pigeon. How do they get their color? Rubies get their red color from trace elements of chromium, which also causes fluorescence. The fluorescence makes the red appear more intense and the whole stone seems to glow with an inner light. While many rubies can have fluorescence, only gems from Burma will have fluorescence during the day. Another identifier for Burmese rubies are specific silk inclusions that help to identify them as coming from that country. How will you know that a ruby is from Burma? The only way to really be sure is to request a report from the seller from a reputable gemological laboratory that includes country of origin.
Today, rubies continue to come out of Burma, but now they come from the Mong Hsu region where mining started in the 1990s. However, most of the rubies that are found in vintage or antique jewelry come from the storied Mogok mines that have set the standard for ruby beauty for hundreds of years.
Top of Page: Art Deco bracelet with 5 cushion unheated Burmese rubies, weighing approximately 5.25-carats, diamonds, weighing approximately 6.50 carats, circa 1930s; Burmese no heat ruby, weighing approximately 1.50-carats, old mine pear shaped diamond, weighing approximately 1-carat and platinum, Edwardian era ring; Edwardian no heat Burmese ruby, diamond and platinum earrings; Unheated carved Burmese ruby, diamond and platinum Art Deco pendant; Art Deco 1.70-carat Burmese ruby, diamond and platinum handmade ring, accompanied by AGL report.
Authored by Amber Michelle