This brooch was set with a ruby weighing 4.5 carats, originating from Burma and showing no clarity or colour enhancement. It went on to realise more than $1 million per carat when it sold for $10.2 million at Christie’s in Hong Kong. At the time, Burmese rubies were considered the finest in the world. A sensational ruby ring by Verdura. Sri Lanka has a long history with gemstones and is a great source of sapphires, rubies… However, it wasn’t enough to just wear the rubies. Queen Victoria recalls in her journal having received this extraordinary ruby and diamond parure from Prince Albert in 1849. Alan Caplan Ruby. Burmese rubies come from Burma, a Southeast Asian country. In general, Mozambique rubies are often less expensive than Burmese ruby while holding their own in terms of appearance and beauty. Ironically, this ruby was not an auction success possibly due to the economic recession. Sold for HK$100,360,000 on 2 June 2015 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. Each ruby is evaluated on a case by case basis with the focus on color, carat, clarity and other quality factors. The most famous localities for Burma Rubies are in the districts around Mogok in northern Burma and at Mong Hsu about 250km east of Mandalay. A stunning natural Burmese engagement ring. The Burmese use of Rubies traces back to 2500 BC. The Burmese people believe that rubies help protect the wearer from the 96 diseases that can afflict the human body — they definitely wanted to ensure that Elizabeth remained hale and hearty. Sold for CHF 6,243,000 on 14 May 2012 at Christie’s in Geneva. Couple this with the natural red fluorescence of the gemstone and these rubies obtain a rich, highly intense infusion of color. Even today, the most valuable rubies come from Myanmar! Burmese Ruby is known the world over to be the most exquisite & expensive of all Rubies, commanding as much as $13k per carat for the finest 'pigeon blood … Sold for CHF 5,877,000 on 11 November 2014 at Christie’s in Geneva. To learn more about how to evaluate and buy a ruby, check out our complete ruby buying guide. Rare natural pigeon blood Burmese ruby. Named after Alan Caplan, a famous mineralogist and gemstone dealer, this magnificent 15.97 carat Burmese ruby brought $3.63 million or $227,301 per carat. They are the benchmark against which other rubies are evaluated. Even so, the mines have already gained a reputation for high quality ruby with some even comparable to the famed pigeon bloods of Burma. Just because a ruby is from Burma does not automatically mean that it is of the highest quality and therefore should be more expensive. The Mozambique mines are fairly recent, having only being discovered in 2011. Prices for Burmese rubies are at a premium as the number of stones for sale is limited to items imported before the act. In central Myanmar, the area of Mong Hsu began producing rubies during the 1990s and rapidly became the world's main ruby mining area. The Burmese ruby gemstone has garnered this reputation and name due to its distinguishing characteristics such as top-notch color, cuts, and treatments.. Each lot produced several minutes of intense bidding before the earrings, bracelet and necklace sold for a combined total of $5.4 million. The existence of rubies in Burma was brought to the attention of Europeans by explorer Marco Polo in the 13th century. The History of the Burmese Ruby. As Jewelry Shopping Guide  editors, we write about things that we love and we think you'll like too. It could be said that Faidee has shaken up the jewellery industry, proving that even the impossible is possible. Burma (now Myanmar) is a rich source of ruby mines that has produced high quality rubies since sixteenth century. It was lifted in 2008 and Burma’s gemstones are now allowed to move freely to any country. Though these lacked the rich red hue of traditional Burmese rubies, they were treated with heat to improve saturation and transparency. (p15) Trabert & Hoeffer had formed a working partnership with the French jeweler Mauboussin from 1935 to 1953; (p9) this partnership allowed Trabert & Hoeffer access to European jewels. The rubies and diamonds were set in a series of rose motifs, and if you know your English history, you’ll recognize a heraldic rose that combines white and red petals as the Tudor rose. The record of ruby mining in Burma (Myanmar now) can be traced before the biblical verses on Ruby. The history of rubies is a story rich in splendour and mystery. 2003: First Sanctions on Burmese Gems To commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Harry Winston created real ruby slippers set with 4,600 rubies. The Burmese people believe that rubies help protect the wearer from the 96 diseases that can afflict the human body — they definitely wanted to ensure that Elizabeth remained hale and hearty. “Mogok Ruby.” It broke all previously held records for prices of colored gemstones. As with all corundum, it's also extremely durable, having a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Jacques Cartier had developed a deep interest in India, travelling frequently to the subcontinent, visiting many of its regions, and establishing friendships with several ruling Maharajahs. Sold for CHF 4,003,000 on 14 May 2012 at Christie’s in Geneva. This gives a silky, soft touch to the color and increases its light performance. Burmese Rubies are considered the best, for one simple reason - their color. Always ask about the origin of the stone, and check certification and the after sales policies. They are the benchmark against which other rubies are evaluated. Its rich cultural history, grand architecture, and almost magical gems forever guarantee Burma a place in the hearts and minds of gemstone aficionados for generations to come. Even so, you would think a stone of this color and quality would sell. It is now legal to import Burmese ruby and jade to the US. While the Burmese rubies remain unparalleled in its color and beauty, Mozambique rubies are now supplying over 30% of the world’s rubies. You’d be wrong. Sold for CHF 4,724,000 on 15 February 2006 at Christie’s in St. Moritz, Palace Hotel. 1. Though ruby has a long history, it wasn’t recognized as a variety of corundum until 1800. The second main factor is the presence of miniscule inclusions that increase the dispersion of light across the surface of the gemstone. The demand for Burmese rubies has existed for centuries. Ruby in Chinese History. Often all that is needed to realise a genius idea is a colossal amount of time and effort, luxuries which very few can say they enjoy. Burmese villagers digging in the hope of finding precious rubies. Edmond Chin is the creative mind behind the Etcetera brand, which he founded in 2000. Burmese or Myanmar Rubies are held in the highest esteem with the most vibrant reds and the fewest blemishes or inclusions. The history of Myanmar (also known as Burma; Burmese: မြန်မာ့သမိုင်း) covers the period from the time of first-known human settlements 13,000 years ago to the present day.The earliest inhabitants of recorded history were a Tibeto-Burman-speaking people who established the Pyu city-states ranged as far south as Pyay and adopted Theravada Buddhism. Rubies command higher prices per carat than any other gemstone apart from coloured diamonds — and over the years ‘pigeon blood’ stones from Burma have sparked serious excitement in Christie’s international salerooms, A ruby and diamond necklace by Cartier. Most Burmese rubies come from the districts surrounding Mogok and Mong Hsu, regions in the north and north-east of Burma respectively. Myanmar's economy depends on agriculture for 56% of GDP, services for 35%, and industry for a minuscule 8%. Burmese ruby has a specific gravity … One of the main reasons that Burmese rubies are so valuable is because of their very specific, extremely saturated colour, caused by a high chromium content in the ground from which they are extracted. Inclusion minerals in these rubies are dominated by calcite, dolomite, and rutile with lesser numbers of apatite, feldspar, and probably pyrrhotite and spinel. They have a particular sparkle and are rich in color saturation. Export products include rice, oil, Burmese teak, rubies, jade, and also 8% of the world's total illegal drugs, mostly opium and methamphetamines. Combining the highly sought-after ‘pigeon’s blood’ red typical of old Burmese material and a high degree of transparency, which is rare in rubies, it came to auction with a pre-sale estimate of between $400,000 and $600,000. Discover the history of ruby through the ages and the importance of this beautiful gemstone in the role it's played in many cultures across the globe. The history of the mines here is long, complex, and turbulent. A ruby flower brooch by JAR. This refers to vivid, beautifully saturated gemstones of a color reminiscent of the blood of pigeons that are among the most highly priced and the most sought after. One of the world’s most famous rubies is the Chhatrapati Manik - an oval Burmese cabochon of the very finest colour and weighing … History. If you’re looking for high quality rubies, check out James Allen who has an excellent inventory of natural rubies. This makes it virtually impossible to find a ruby that hasn’t been heat treated to enhance color and clarity. Famed for their unique designs and technical innovation, Etcetera’s jewels are extraordinary creations. There are large deposits of rubies and the sapphires from this area are more rare. The most expensive ruby ever sold at an auction house, the Sunrise Ruby that fetched over 30 million US dollars in 2015, beating all previously held records. Eight hundred years later, Burmese rubies have become so rare that they always create a stir in auction rooms. Boodles ruby ring set with a pink-hued 2ct cushion-cut Burmese ruby mounted in a platinum pierced setting with diamonds. It soared past its pre-sale estimate of CHF 50,000-80,000, before selling for CHF 365,000. 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