Mogok Rubies - Pigeon Blood Rubies – The Most Valuable Gemstones

Mogok Rubies - The King of Gemstones - Pigeon Blood Rubies

The ruby is a gem of the multi-coloured corundum family - the second hardest natural mineral known to man.

All through the ages, the ruby with its magnificent color, outstanding brilliance, hardness and extreme rarity has made it one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth.

Corundum, whose name comes from the Hindi kurund and the Sanskrit kurunwinda, is formed of crystallized aluminum and oxygen. In its pure form it is white or colourless - only the red corundum is called a ruby. All other colors are named sapphires, with hues of orange, pink, blue and green. Tiny amounts of chromium oxide is the element, which gives the ruby its intense and magnificent color.

Color - "Pigeon Blood Ruby" red

The red of a ruby may have various nuances depending on its origin. When reference is made to the very top category it is often "a Burmese ruby" - an indication that it is a rich, passionate, hot, full red color with a slightly bluish hue. Sometimes it is referred to as "pigeon blood" red , a ruby color only associated with the Mogok valley mines in Myanmar.

The color Pigeon Blood Ruby red, is not associated with the color of a pigeon’s blood but rather the color of a white pigeon’s eye. So many have made this mistake.

The color of a ruby is the most important feature of the stone. The color of a Burmese ruby is regarded as exceptional, with a display of unique luster in any light.

Clarity

It is typical of rubies to display inclusions of other crystal habits. Frequently these are hexagonal prisms and blades. If they are rutile needles, they may form a delicate shimmer of light known as "silk". The same inclusions prove conclusively that a ruby is natural and not man-made.

Inclusions within a ruby are actually nature's own "fingerprint" in each stone - a statement of its individuality and its proof of natural origin. So unless they are of a character, which badly decreases the transparency of the stone, the overall quality of the ruby is not impaired.

Cut

The make or the cut is man's contribution to the beauty of the ruby and indeed to the value of the ruby.

Only the professional and expert stone cutter is able to determine the best way to display the inherent beauty of the stone without losing too much valuable weight in the process. The expertise of the Burmese cutters is legendary in this respect.

Very seldom do rubies grow into large crystals. Stones of more than 3 carats in size are very rare.

Symmetry, good proportions, precise faceting and angles are all features which the expert stone cutter aims to adhere to, embracing the final intensity, beauty and value of the ruby.

..and a little Ruby Metaphysic.

A ruby is often associated with strong leadership, self-confidence, skills of negotiation and self-esteem. And a ruby brings wealth, good health and wisdom to its owner.

The Ruby is the birth stone for July.