In this Article, Burmese ruby refers to any ruby gemstone mined from Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is widely considered one of the world’s rarest and most valuable varieties due to its exceptional color, quality, history, and price. Here we explore its characteristics, benefits, prices and tips on purchasing this precious stone.
What is a Burmese Ruby?
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Burmese ruby is a variety of corundum, an aluminum and oxygen mineral composed of layers. Corundum’s various hues depend on trace elements such as iron, titanium, chromium or vanadium that occur naturally within it; red-hued corundum is known as ruby while any other hued varieties are called sapphires.
Burmese ruby stands out with its deep and rich red hue – often described as “pigeon blood” or “blood red”. This hue is caused by an abundance of chromium in corundum crystals that emit fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Burmese ruby also boasts excellent clarity and brilliance due to the presence of tiny rutile needles, known as “silk”, that scatter light within its stone and contribute to its brilliance.
Burmese ruby has been mined from Myanmar’s Mogok region for millennia. The Mogok valley is an immense geological marvel where rubies can be found among marble, limestone and alluvial deposits. Mogok rubies are highly prized due to their quality and rarity, representing only 10% of worldwide production; others come from Africa, Australia or America but usually inferior in both color and quality compared to Burmese rubies.
Why is Burmese Ruby So Valuable?
Burmese ruby has long been considered an emblem of wealth, power, and love. Prized among royalty, nobility and celebrities alike for its beauty and brilliance, many famous examples of Burmese ruby include:
- In 2015, The Sunrise Ruby set an auction world record by selling for an astounding $30.3 Million, setting both an all-time record price for any colored gemstone ever sold as well as most expensive ruby ever seen at auction.
- Graff Ruby was an 8.62-carat Burmese ruby that set a world record price per carat of $997,727 when sold in 2014.
- Elizabeth Taylor Ruby Ring was originally given to her by Richard Burton in 1968 and sold at auction for an astonishing $4.2 Million after her death.
- The Neelanjali Ruby, a 1,370-carat Burmese ruby which claims to be the world’s largest ruby, and owned by Indian businessman G. Vidyaraj is believed to be the largest gem in existence.
Burmese ruby is also prized for its metaphysical qualities, with belief being held that wearing it has many health-boosting benefits for its wearer. According to gemstone lore, Burmese ruby may include:
- Enhance vitality, energy, and passion
- Promote courage, confidence, and leadership
- Attract love, romance, and loyalty
- Protect from evil, danger, and misfortune
- Heal blood disorders, infections, and inflammation
How to Buy Burmese Ruby?
Purchase of Burmese ruby can be both exhilarating and daunting; due to high demand and limited supply of Burmese rubies there may be unscrupulous sellers trying to take advantage of them by offering fake, treated, or low quality rubies that could deceive or cheat buyers. Therefore it is wise and essential to do proper research when shopping for this gemstone.
Here are a few tips on how to purchase Burmese ruby:
- Be familiar with the 4 Cs of ruby quality: color, clarity, cut and carat. Color is of primary importance in terms of value and beauty of rubies; aim for deep, vivid red colors without brownish or purplish tones in them. Clarity is the second-most essential factor, as it determines its brilliance and transparency. Aim for a stone with no visible inclusions or cracks. Cut is thirdly essential; its effects determine its shape and proportions. Do your research to select a well-cut ruby with great symmetry and polish that maximizes light return and color saturation. Carat weight is also a critical factor, affecting size, rarity and value of rubies; look for large and heavy ones as these tend to be rarer and more valuable.
- Evaluate the ruby’s origin and certification. Burmese rubies are among the most desirable and expensive varieties available, yet can be difficult to authenticate. While sold as Burmese, many may actually originate elsewhere such as Thailand, Madagascar or Mozambique – to avoid being misled, obtain a certificate from a reputable gemological laboratory such as GIA, AGL or SSEF that verifies both origin and quality; additionally this certificate will help determine whether your ruby is natural or treated as some varieties can undergo heat, irradiation or diffusion processes that alter color and clarity – natural untreated Burmese rubies will always be more valuable due to being rarer and costlier compared with treated ones – thus increasing value over time.
- Burmese ruby is one of the world’s most expensive gemstones, with prices ranging between $10,000 and $100,000 per carat, depending on its color, clarity, cut and carat. As these prices can also fluctuate widely depending on seller market and demand conditions – therefore before making a final decision it is advisable to shop around and compare both price and quality before making a final choice. Using online tools such as Gemval you can also get an estimation of its worth according to its characteristics and current market trends.
- Work with a trustworthy seller. To make sure that your Burmese ruby purchase is genuine and high-quality, always buy from a reputable and trustworthy seller with an impeccable track record, long history and solid guarantee. These sellers may be found online, in jewelry stores or gem shows; do your research beforehand regarding credentials, reviews and policies of any seller before purchasing from them; additionally ask for receipt, certificate and return policy should anything go amiss after your purchase.
Burmese ruby gemstones are stunning and precious gems, ideal for jewelry collections or as a thoughtful present for loved ones. But purchasing one may be complex and risky process that requires knowledge, caution and diligence – by following the tips in this article you may just find and buy the Burmese ruby of your dreams for lifelong enjoyment and pleasure.
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