Loose Burma Rubies
Loose Burma rubies are the best rubies you can acquire
Burma is the world’s largest provider of the highest quality Rubies. In Burma, Rubies from the Mogok Valley are considered to be the world’s finest of these rubies and are highly sought after. other providers of fine quality rubies are Vietnam, Kenya, Tanzania, India and Sri Lanka. Thailand rubies tend to have a darker color and less intensity than the Burmese. African Rubies have more heavy inclusions and India is famous for the Indian Star Ruby.
The two main sources of Burma rubies today are Mogok and Mong Hsu. Mogok is the traditional source and their goods are considered the very best of the Burma gemstones. For hundreds of years, The Mogok Stone Tract has been producing gem quality ruby, sapphire, and spinel. Recently, in 1992-1993, another location was discovered in Mong Hsu, Burma. However, unlike Mogok, these stones look rather like a bad garnet until they are heated, at which point they turn into bright, lively red rubies.
Of course, very few dealers actually travel to the source. Most dealers buy stones directly from Mogok dealers but most of the gems end up in Bangkok after being smuggled across Thailand at Mae Sot or Mae Sai. These stones are usually recut and often heat treated in Bangkok.
With naturally red rubies however it is the small amounts of chromium that impart the deep red color of ruby.
When shopping for loose Burma rubies then, it is important to really establish that it or they are in fact Burmese rubies and not rubies that have been smuggled out of Thailand and heat treated.
A professional jeweler or gemmologist can tell if the rubies are heat treated or not and usually even when they originate from so it is wise to have them appraised before committing to a purchase.
This especially is important if you are purchasing from an auction on line such as eBay.
One needs to ensure that the seller is bona fide and has a returns policy where you can return the gems if they are found to be inferior or not as described.
It pays to be patient when shopping for loose Burma rubies as they way you will eventually get what you want rather than what someone else wants to sell you!