Ruby Corundum Family

Rubiesare the most valuable members of the corundum family. Large gem quality rubiescan be more valuable than comparably sized diamonds and are certainly rarer.There is a relative abundance of smaller, (1-3 carat,) blue sapphires comparedto the scarcity of even small gem quality rubies, making even these smallerstones relatively high in value.Origin definitely matters.Stones of Burmeseorigin (now called Myanmar) generally command the highest prices.  Thereis a mining tract in the Mogok region which is the primary source of gemquality rubies.  Mogok rubies also hold color in virtually any lightingcondition, which is a major contributing factor to the demand for gem qualitystones.

About fifteen yearsago (the late 1990's) gem quality rubies began appearing in much more abundancefrom the Mong Hsu region of Myanmar. These gems were often treated at very hightemperatures to enhance their color.  While conventional heat treatment isaccepted practice in the trade, the level of heat that needed to be applied toMong Hsu rubies in order to enhance the color led to some controversy in theindustry.  Concerns were raised not only regarding heat treatment moregenerally, but also over whether rubies from Mong Hsu should be distinguishedfrom others of Burmese origin.  There’s still no agreement amongstthe trade about whether or not Mong Hsu should be distinguished from Burmaruby.