Burmese - Myanmar Ruby Shop

Burmese - Myanmar Ruby Shop

Ever wanted to visit a genuine Burmese (Myanmar) ruby shop where everything is visible from raw corundum crystals to the most high-end jewelry?  We show you later for the moment here are some ruby stones fact and physical parameter. 

Burmese ruby from the shop

• The ruby stone structure is basically a hexagonal structure different from other red colored stones.
• The hardness level stands at 9.
• The specific gravity of the ruby is 3.99 which is heavier than garnet or red spinel.
• The reflective value is a bit lower than the diamond. The Refractive index is measured at 1.765 when a refractometer is used. It has dichroism when examined through the Dichroscope.
• The Mogok rubies emit different shades of fluorescence when showered with ultraviolet light. This cannot be observed in rubies that occur in other Countries. 

Ruby's red crystals display an internal picture which is distinctly unique.  Often allowing separation from rubies of any other source. The major features are both euhedral ('well-formed') and rounded crystal grains they "go" well along with dense clouds of rutile silk. Repeated twinning is relatively common, as is hexagonal color zoning sometimes in a swirled pattern termed 'treacle'.


Generally, absent however or in small numbers only are the liquid-filled "fingerprints" and feathers which are common in Thai rubies. Crystalline solids of a number of types are characteristic in Burmese rubies. They typically form clusters of rounded and for euhedral wins of a light color or colorless) concentrated particularly in the center of the crystal. The most often reported inclusions are calcite spinel and corundum plus apatite. Futile and zircon. Calcite is present as both rounded and angular rhombs and may be recognized by its cleavage and the polysynthetic twin lamellae.

The stone quality in Myanmar  (Burma) is superior

Not only to any other ASEAN country but worldwide. Red rubies are always discovered together with sapphires since both are corundum gems. Similar gemstones are found in other places of the globe such as Madagascar, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. It is the clarity and rich red fluorescence conditions which make the Burmese Ruby superior to all other. Additional low scale/quality mining is done in Thailand, Cambodia and other places on the globe.

The picture at right is traditional "stone painting" this are all gemstones such as rubies, jade, sapphire and other.

The best method of observing the strong red fluorescence of ruby is to focus ultraviolet light in the absence of any visible light. The presence of iron as an impurity quenches the red fluorescence because energy is transferred to the iron and appears as heat.

Another newer mining area beside Mogok in Myanmar is further southeast near the border region to Thailand, that is Mong Hsu.

The minerals found there is of lower quality and are mainly heat treated already at the mine. Since their value is lower because of that the price range is also different, on the other hand, if one is not an expert without a lab this is difficult to proof, here are rough ruby stones grown on marble from Mong Hsu.

Rubies from other sources such as Madagascar, Sri Lanka and more

They do not contain enough iron to fluorescence, and thus their color is generally duller and lifeless compared.

Here are dresses and accessories matching the red ruby.

In ancient times it was believed that a fire burned inside a ruby, as we can guess now this was not that far from the truth. To summarize, white light falling on a stone causes electrons to jump to a higher electric charged state. This produces the absorption of green-yellow and violet light. Thus blue and red light is transmitted, giving the stone a purplish-red hue

Rough Ruby from Mogok which become jewelry later in the workshop, a bit later they will be on the selection table. The difficult thing is to find some with high-end clarity since they always have many inclusions. That explains the treatments because when heating up the mineral most inclusions are melting away.

Ruby Shopping

With rubies and other gemstones, there are several distinctive sources to buy them. A popular and easy shopping method is for sure the internet try ruby shopping here this is a very safe and trusted way of doing it. What makes it even double safe is the possibility to change the items or even take it back. Since with gemstones and jewelry always some money is involved nobody wants to risk to loose anything.  

To find natural ruby gems and jewelry go shopping at the Bogyoke Market in Yangon.

There are many stores selling them. Some are "front ends" of mines at Mogok and Mong Hsu northeast of Mandalay.

The gems are available mounted as jewelry, usually in white and yellow gold and as loose stones of different sizes and forms or as cabochons.  

When you buy any of them be careful because they also have spinel which looks almost identical, actually they have been running under one name until 1800 when a new specification was made on an international level were a new classification was made and this two were separated. 

Natural Rough Ruby from the Mine

The natural red ruby color

It is caused by a mixture of chromium. The content of chromium oxide in rubies fluctuates between 0.02 and 0.6 percent. Rubies occur in various hues ranging from pink to red, often with a light blue shade. The rarest and valuable are called with "pigeon blood" color. Such gems contain approximately 0.1 percent chromium trioxide.

Semi Precious Gemstones for Sale

Jewelry shop at Bogyoke market

When exposed to ultraviolet light, some stones fluorescein carmine-red, in sapphires that 
depends on the origin of the stones and the wavelength of the illumination.

Rubies from Mogok

Corundum gems possess a distinct optical effect called asterism where the stone show a three-, six-, or 12 pointed stars. This effect is caused by the reflection of light from thin rutile crystal inside arranged in directions 500 or 1200 degree apart. Asterism is enhanced if a suitable cabochon cut is selected. In the past, this was considered a proof of natural origin but they are now also made synthetically.

The richest Myanmar ruby fields 

They are in Mogok, about 120 km north of Mandalay.There is a production in Thailand but that are mostly gems smuggled in from Burma. Other come from Phailin in Cambodia. Alluvial rubies from Ratnapura in Sri Lanka are prized for their intensive vivid luster. A relative newcomer is Tanzania but the mineral there is not clear. In the USA varieties are found in North and South Carolina and Montana. Some of the most beautiful sapphires of various colors come from Phailin.

Cabochon pictures at Bogyoke Market

How this was handled in the past

When considering that even in the crown jewel of the King / Queen of England are some spinel which the craftsmen who put it together though were natural ruby. A very special for to use the rough stones are "gem paintings".

Gem painting

Gemstones painting

Raw red stones from Mong Hsu

Ruby Gemstones 

Plus gold silver and precious teak wood are the main export goods of the country. There is not much discovered until now but the authorities are working hard on exploration mainly to find metals. Burma, as it was known before, is blessed with almost infinite deposits of semi-precious stones and until now they almost only scratched the surface since there was no scientific and high-tech exploration yet, but that is rapidly changing.

In recent years other mining at Madagascar and Sri Lanka were explored and expanded but it is hard to beat the quality of Myanmar gemstones. For some reasons, mother earth did something different here compared to other countries and with the start of sophisticated mining, this will rapidly expand.

Among some other parameter the "Pigeon's blood" color and excellent clarity are the hallmarks of the top quality stones available here, they are found over 1000 years in this part of Asia together with sapphire since they both come from the corundum family which means they are physically the same only the color is different.

Sapphires are somehow even more interesting 

The rules are, red is ruby others are sapphire and together this are corundum stones because they come in more colors such as blue, pink, yellow, almost white transparent and other.  After processing most stones show their real value and that can be a very high one compared to a diamond with similar parameters they can achieve even higher prices.  

When buying it needs to look very close since garnet, spinel and some synthetic rubies are extremely similar, only an examination in a good lab can figure out what’s up. The Sanskrit word is Ratna raj means royal gem which telling the real value. 

More Precious Gems

It is only coincidental that ruby is both red in color and gives off a red fluorescence; however, this coincidence is responsible, in part, for its intense red shine. This red fluorescence gives ruby an advantage compared with other red stones, such as tourmaline and garnet since it covers up dark areas (extinction) and actually makes the stone glow with a rich crimson hue. 

About ruby colors, among other is a very special one called "pigeon blood color" which has the best-saturated red with a minimum of impurities and no cracks. 
The reason why this is very important is, there are many unnatural stones of low value and people try all kind of tricks to enhance the hues since there are several technical possibilities to do that. If you ever go ruby gem shopping better be very careful not to fall prey to crooks, this is especially relevant in this business in Thailand cheating is normal honesty the exception. 

Today it is almost impossible to find top quality larger ruby stones for sale anymore, means above around 10 mm diameter and excellent clarity. This is one of the reasons why it is very difficult to get 

In ASEAN where are rubies mined?

The main place as indicated is Mogok in upper Myanmar and another newer mining area is further southeast near the border region, that is Mong Hsu, but the material found there is of lower quality and are mainly heat treated right at the mine. 

Since their value is lower because of that the price range is also lower on the other hand if one is not an expert with a lab this is difficult to proof, here are rough ruby stones grown on marble from Mong Hsu.

Pretty ruby stones and exotic jewelry

Where are ruby stones sold and bought?

The overwhelming majority is traded in Bangkok and Chanthaburi in Thailand, also many so called "Thai rubies" come from there although they are mined elsewhere, but they are of low quality which means having not a good clarity and are much darker than other actually for the dealers here all red stones are rubies only when asking more it comes out that some are Burmese (Myanmar) ruby other are imported from Madagascar and Sri Lanka.  

They are heat treated in Chanthaburi.

It is amazing that the dealers in this small town south of Pattaya on the east side of the Gulf of Thailand speak quite openly about it but only if someone starts to talk about it because usually, they are very secretive. 

They have a bit of a purplish hue and brownish tinge. The fact is most rubies are still smuggled in (2016) from Myanmar (Burma) they won't admit it because usually Thai always deny anything which could put a negative image on them, they call that "White Lies" and "face-saving".

The decorative work above shows a scene from Bagan Burmese People call this ruby painting where the green is jade stones and the other colors gems too. But the real thing is when ruby stones are paired with diamonds. Both are not attractive when they get mined but when cut, facets applied and polished they can become fascinating jewelry of many variants such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, brooches and more. These pretty gems are either natural or synthetic (simulated) and usually set in white and yellow gold.

Best red ruby gemstone jewelry

What about Ruby jewelry in a modern style? Just imagine such a fascinating clear ruby paired with some diamonds and set on a white or yellow gold ring, that's real pretty stuff. In general when buying the red gems as jewelry make sure to have some "sparkler" around because the ruby itself has no fire it's the diamond which delivers and it probably matches yellow gold best.

The main consideration when shopping for this cute little things is should it be a cabochon or faceted. Many buyers prefer the deep red mystic red of cabochons to the other. Also, think about taking a top notch Burmese (Myanmar) red stone or maybe an African having an immense difference in prices because of the clear issue and other property. Ask the store if the gemstone is heat treated or other "enhancements" this is really necessary when you would like to enjoy your little jewelry for many years to  There are two main versions of the gemstones the ones mined in Mogok Myanmar (Burma) and the other. The gems found there are a bit different in their physical composition and often clear.


Although all red stones have inclusions the combination of clarity and color (pigeon blood color) is unmatched and that's the reason why they are so expensive it is somehow similar to jadeite which is much superior to nephrite for the parameter, the latter is also known as "Chinese Jade".

Fascinating natural ruby jewelry is a highly sought jewelry worldwide. Women love them but also men wear them with a few smaller diamonds around. When looking through web pages you often will see differences of thousands of dollars although the stones are similar sized and won't look bad. There are two more parameters which are similarly important as the size this is clarity and fluorescent, the fact is that only Mogok Rubies show this on an interesting level especially the clarity is very important. Although there are no rubies without inclusions but the transparency level is very important, it somehow is similar to jade the more transparency the stone has the higher the price is. 

Ruby jewelry let the user really shine, add some diamonds and it will sparkle. 
Mining  is either from deep under the surface or washed out from the earth
and stones of a stream.

Although maybe they won't tell the true anyway but if they say no have it written down when you buy. In Chanthaburi, they are rather honest but in Bangkok, they always lie on this subject because the price difference between enhanced and not is tremendous.

There are many more buyers from the Indian subcontinent in Chanthaburi then in Bangkok since they are mostly honest. I think the reason is if a buyer sits down at the "gem alley" he/she gets a local person with the table they use for the transaction and they look after that there is less cheating.

They take this serious, which is a good sign since in Thailand betraying people, not only foreigner, is rather normal they have a real problem to keep the true and the cheat apart. Better read this for heat advancements, there are some more things for surface repair, actually after the heat treatment is done it stay's there is no degrading after a while. But with all other stuff, it takes around 3 years after you can take it and throw it away.

The best is probably to visit Myanmar's Bogyoke Market, the gems are much more expensive than elsewhere but they are not treated. But only when bought by a government registered jewelry stores where is can be traced. When having a look around one will find some people in the open outside space who try to sell the stones out from the pocket which is a very risky thing. They also have cabochons and it needs some investigations. Because they are real genuine and natural it is a different level of buying.

Natural ruby necklaces get very expensive quick since it always includes diamonds and gold for the setting.

Natural ruby earrings make every woman shine maybe it needs dangling style otherwise they won't be visible.

About fine corundum, with many colors and paired with diamonds with the dedication to make women shine and after they feel good and maybe even attract the men better.

This makes some of the red stones even more valuable than diamonds with the same parameter. But another fact is rubies are usually paired with diamonds to make them sparkling jewelry since the red stones by themselves have no "fire". Trade selling & buying is done since ages actually it can't be dated but it always went on in Asia. Rubies in India are very sought after gemstones including diamonds, sapphire and other. Prices are difficult to figure our and most dealer/buyer have their own ideas, it heavy depends on negotiation.

Many other purposes are possible which can create emotions. Never forget the diamonds around, as men, you might be focused on the main subject which is the gemstone but as women, she wants to make it shine and for that, it needs some smaller diamonds.

Although the white clear stones are expensive but having some smaller one can offset budget constraints the biggest problem associated with this gems is its price.
It could be a good idea to browse the internet for ring design inspirations with a natural ruby.

Here are almost endless eye-catching samples to find gemstone beauty and attraction, keep in mind your loved one want to stand out from the crowd and want to shine. It should be charming with a passionate flavor and affordable so no need to loot your bank account.

The tendency in the low price ring segment and other is to use gold plated metal as setting plus cheaper stones and often Swarovski elements with red color as lower price ruby replacement. From the natural side, the gems mostly come from Madagascar and are more or less opaque with faceting. Actually, most people who search for red jewelry a ruby is a centerpiece and there is no much discussion about the property of the gem, the most important subject does it optically look pretty Because this has become a fashion item which will be replaced next month anyway, maybe a new color is "in", the buyer is not so much interested in the physical details but is it appealing? Does it shine, get its attention from others and similar thoughts? The market turnover has changed in recent decades into a "quickie" in search of the latest hype.

A great help to keep beauty manageable is for sure the use of red synthetic stones, also defined as created, CZ, simulated ruby and more.It has become a pure consumer good without a lot of thinking before buying just like visiting the supermarket. This is probably the result of the internet, everything is quick and virtual because what people see on the monitor screen is in reality quite different to what they finally get and to accept this has also something to do with the price. 

About Myanmar Ruby Quality

The Mogok Stone Tract in Upper Burma has traditionally been associated with the finest rubies, but even good stones are extremely rare from this fabled area. `Pigeon's blood' was the term used to describe the finest Burmese stones, but this phrase has little meaning today, for so few people have seen the blood from this bird. 

Better, perhaps, is to compare the color of the finest rubies with the red signal of a traffic light. It is a glowing red color which is diffused throughout the stone as a result of the unique property of fine rubies — a rich red fluorescence to daylight. 

Burmese rubies possess not just red body color but, by a freak of nature, fluoresce red as well.

It is the body hue plus the red fluorescence which give rubies in general, and particularly those from Burma, their incomparable crimson hue. In Myanmar rubies, the shade often occurs in rich patches and zoning can be a problem.

The swirls found in these stones are termed 'treacle' by geologists because of their resemblance to syrup. Not only are faceted rubies obtained from Burma, but also the world's finest star rubies. In these stones, a sharp star and, at the same time, good transparency are sought. Stones which contain too much silk will have rather a poor color because the silk diffuses the light. The best stones will have just enough silk to create the star effect, but not so much as to harm the transparency and color. Such stones are extremely rare and valuable. Good transparency or a 'glass body', as it is known, is of the utmost importance in creating good color in star rubies. Because of the known political problems, Myanmar today produces not many facet-quality rubies, and the major source is now the mines along the Thai/Cambodian border. 

However, the color of Thai rubies usually cannot compare with that of the best of those from Burma. Again, the reason is fluorescence. Those rubies contain traces of iron which quench this red fluorescence. Although heat treatment, which nowadays is performed on virtually all Thai rubies, does improve their appearance considerably, it does not make up for their lack of fluorescence. In Thai rubies, only those facets where light is totally internally reflected will be a rich red; the others appear blackish, as with red garnets. In terms of body color, the Thai stones are actually a purer red than most Burmese rubies. However, the finest Burmese rubies appear red all over: not only is a rich red seen in the areas where total internal reflection occurs but, because of the red fluorescence, the other facets are also red. This glowing red color is what makes fine Burmese rubies so special.

For making a good deal by purchasing colored gemstones there are a few centers on the globe among other is Bangkok and Chanthaburi.

At the weekend, Chanthaburi comes alive when the busy gemstone market comes into full swing. This is a typical Thai market at odd hours. Usually, people are working during the week here they doing the job at the weekend.

Right behind the Chanthaburi River are a row of Chinese-style shophouses and dozens of open-air shops at street level with tables the buyer's rent. They all are here to strike a deal buying this small little colorful things. The tables are rented by Indian, Pakistan, German and Japan dealers. Every table has a Thai "guard" to make sure everything goes the right way. Everyone is here to buy gemstones for a most favorable price.

The tables are marked in Thai language indicating what the buyer wants. Of course, he or she wants to buy gemstones and mostly this are corundum they look for.

Chanthaburi's heydays came with the embargo which the US imposed over Myanmar because the Thai's have been clever enough to see this golden or rather red opportunity and the smuggling of gemstones from Myanmar to Thailand mushroomed. Both ruby mining areas which mean Mogok and Mong Hsu in Burma are relatively close to the Thai border. Once the red rubies and Sapphires plus other gemstones crossed the border they became Thai rubies the same smuggle trade went on with jadeite jade to China.

It helped a lot and nosed the EU and US authorities when they tried to impose the embargo that Chanthaburi and the area beyond the Cambodia border has a long history in mining rubies and sapphires.

In fact, it is quite easy to find out that those gems have other characteristics than the ones from Mogok and Mong Hsu mainly with the rutile and fluorescence.

Almost all colored gemstones on sale are smuggled material from Myanmar. That way they worked around the embargo for decades. Since I don't think that the related US authorities are so stupid not to know about this deals they kept quiet and the Thai made exorbitant profits. The US pushed their politics through at least on the paper and everyone was happy

In particular, if you are searching for a good deal with corundum gemstones which means ruby and sapphire it is possible to find what one wants without lots of problems in a secure environment. It always needs to be aware that there are many crooks around watching for an easy pray.

Precious stones have been sought after and highly valued throughout history, they have been found deep in the earth, in river beds, grown on other stones such as marble (with ruby) and hidden in ruins dating thousands of years ago.

They have been stolen, e.g. the British looted some of the most valued rubies during colonial time in Burma. Today they are also valued as gifts for many purposes. Basically, gemstones are classified into three groups: precious stones, semi-precious stones, and decorative stones.

But that's not all, the system of classification is based on a complex value which includes a combination of rarity, properties, and beauty and used mainly by the trade has never been satisfactory because the lines between the individual categories were often meaningless.

All other are "semi-precious" because of this lack of precision in terminology, many gemologists have abandoned the former classification.

Now many describe any loose gemstone as having to gem quality if it has beauty (so that it delights the eye), rarity (so that it is unlikely that one's neighbors own one like it and durability).

Gems in all variants and colors

The country is full of gem treasures, probably the best are precious stones. From Kachin State in the north with abundant jadeite jade and amber to Mogok and Mong Hsu in north and east of Mandalay.
Plus some diamond deposits in the south and great pearls between the Myeik Archipelago and Kawthaung at south Myanmar at the border to Thailand.

Buying loose gemstones is for sure difficult and a bit of an adventure when somebody does this in the center of the precious stones business which is Bogyoke Market in Yangon it even becomes more exciting. The selection in the old oriental bazaar in the city center is overwhelming with a “sea of colors” they also have plenty of jewelry of all kind imaginable.


A gem must, of course, also be portable if it is used for personal wear. Note that the term 'gem' covers cut stones as well as rough crystals and fragments of gemstone material. The term 'jewel' or 'jewelry stone' is more explicit and limited in its meaning because it designates a fashioned (cut) and/or polished stone prepared for setting in a precious or a common metal, or already set in a jewel.

There are certain exceptions to the rule, for example, moldavite is used today in its rough, unworked form in jewelry. As we have just seen, the possession of beauty is one of the criteria used to classify a mineral in the noble society of gemstones.

But how do we measure beauty? Most people would agree that an attractive stone is one that possesses a high degree of brilliance and refraction of light, an attractive color and transparency or translucency.

A red ruby and blue sapphire plus green emeralds, the good ones are all transparent, highly brilliant and attractively colored. However, a gemstone need not be colored for it to be attractive. For example, a diamond is usually colorless but it more than compensates for this by its beautiful 'fire' or color play on the cut edges of the facets (caused by a high refraction and dispersion of light), brilliance and transparency.

One attractive property is sufficient to rank a mineral among gemstones; for example, turquoise is not brilliant or transparent but it has a beautiful azure-blue color. The cut gemstone must retain its beauty, especially its brilliance and transparency, even when set in a jewel and worn. The greatest danger to gems comes from mechanical damage and sometimes also certain chemical agents.
A gemstone must, therefore, be as resistant as possible. Great emphasis is thus laid on hardness, formerly the main factor in the classification of stones into precious and semiprecious categories.

That means 7 or more on the Mohs' scale were ranked among precious stones: softer minerals were classified as semi-precious. Some softer gemstones such as opal and peridot (chrysolite), although very beautiful, are not suitable for rings which suffer the greatest mechanical damage. If they are set in a ring, such stones will in time lose their brilliance and color. Rarity is the another important property a mineral must have if it is to be classified as a gemstone. However, fashion may play a big part in this respect.

From the time the stones are traded they pass through seven or eight different hands, prices steadily increasing in value all the way. Once a stone is found, the miner need not venture far to find a buyer as many small dealers wait patiently at the mines for just such an event. Each morning in mining towns such as Bo Rai and Nong Bon a rough stone market is held where miners and dealers exhibit their wares. It is a colorful scene, with buyers and sellers crowding around small tables in a line, examining stones.

These markets are mainly for the smaller miners, while the big firms sell direct to cutters in Chanthaburi and Bangkok, or cut the stones themselves 'in house'. Smaller sizes and cheaper qualities are offered in large lots, with the most expensive pieces being sold singly.

Raw corundum stones are brought to Chanthaburi for cutting, heat treatment and sale. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday a cut stone market is held at Chanthaburi and the Bangkok dealers descend on the town to look over the week's finds. Along Treerat Road the business is fast and furious, with little time for contemplation. Brokers, or runners, offer the stones, as they can ask higher prices without feeling embarrassed. Offers are made; the parcels are sealed, and off go the runner to consult with the owner.
Now when buying them the not so easy task starts, the main problem is that every seller usually has a different idea about the value contrary to the buyer. Since there are also not strong parameters for evaluation it needs to be careful.

In Asia, there are more or less three good destinations to buy gemstones, that is Chanthaburi and Bangkok in Thailand plus Yangon in Myanmar. The best selection is for sure in Burma, although prices are often higher as in Thailand but the "cheat" level in Myanmar is not as high.

Good places are the Stern Shops in Brazil and some centers in Kenya and Tanzania, don't think there are a lot of opportunities since the peoples there are well aware of the value of the gems. A good indication where some good deals might still be available is if you see lots of guys from the Indian Subcontinent. They somehow sniff this and that directly leads to Chanthaburi south of Pattaya in Thailand. Stay away from Africans they are notorious cheating.

Chanthaburi has a safe environment there since the town is not big and very compact but it needs to be aware that almost all stones traded there is heat treated.

But there is an amazing situation unlike elsewhere in Thailand where cheating and lying is rather normal. When asking the seller, shop people etc. here if the stones are treated they answer honestly, yes. Actually, as long it is only "heat treatment" there is no real problem the gems just look better and it is told which has an influence on the price. The bad stuff comes up when the precious things are surface treated which means cracks are filled with various materials, bleaching is done etc. Because these filling treatments deteriorate after about 3 years and after it is junk, this is the subject to be very careful, here is more about heat treatment and

Many loose gemstone collectors prefer cabochons and they are beautiful indeed.

When rubies are cut and polished to the right size often with a red and pink color they are real beautiful. Cabochons you can see on the ruby pictures here are usually cheaper because they don have enough transparency to do the good cutting and facetting but nevertheless the magical red fire stills shines through.

However, ruby gemstones are special when they come from the Mogok stone tract. If they come from Mong Hsu most are less transparent and because of this less valuable. The main difference between red stones  from this two location is the quality. Mong Hsu Rubies have less quality in terms of transparency and clearance so they are all already "heat treated" after mining which makes them less valuable but that is difficult to detect.

Most gemstones are of an inorganic material with a particular chemical composition and an internal crystal structure. A few of them such as pearls and amber are from plants and animals, they are known as organic gems.
Naturally, these precious stones are the part of gorgeous jewelry.
Some of these “pretty little things” can be very expensive but also could be a good investment; Now how and where to
At the gem market
buy the gems, one place is online stores and the other is physical such as the markets where these pictures were made.

Variants of Sapphires

When buying the pretty stones online the main problem is, on the monitor you will never see the real stone since none are calibrated and have the correct focus etc. which finally means if you buy one it will look differently for sure. If this is below a certain value threshold, let’s say $ 100,- there is probably no need to care about. If it is in the higher price range you need to take the gem in the hand and check the shape, cut, color, and weight.

Beautiful cornflower sapphires

When you are seriously considering to go shopping for them it might be an idea make some holiday in Myanmar or Brazil, that’s the best countries to find excellent semi-precious stones. There you could get the help of a gemstone expert on location and really check the parameters especially the quality and talk with the dealer for discounted prices. In any case take the gem outside to inspect it because the shops have special lights to make the “little things” look better as they really are.

Amber stones are something special not only are they organically made from resins.

Many pieces also have inclusions of insects and other organic material such as small leaves which are more or less a time capsule from hundreds of millions of years ago.

Amber stones in various colors and transparency are mainly found in the Baltic States and the Ukraine. Other places amber is found is the Kachin State in Myanmar where they also extract jadeite jade and the Dominican Republic. When Amber has the right parameter it becomes very valuable especially sought after by the newly rich of China similar to jadeite jade from Myanmar.

Take at least a 10x magnifier glass with you to be sure you see something and be extremely careful when you don't see inclusions that is a direct indication that here is a synthetic stone, also check for cracks.

Certain people fill up cracks with resin which makes the stone much more valuable if not seen or told. The thing is after about three years the resin fades away and your pretty little thing's value also disappears. Basically keep in mind where people can make quick cash the crooks are not far away.

Buying natural gemstones from an online store has some benefits.

What are the benefits? Usual lower prices, and some risks; you don’t get what you paid for, usual lower quality. Although you might get a 100% genuine product for a much cheaper price it’s the quality you can’t check means you are only can believe or not what the dealer tells on the website. I guess you know that you can write anything you like, rolling that back afterward is a very tedious process. The Internet is a great place to shop but do it only for items below around $ 500, - above the risk to get cheated is far too high. The best is probably as indicated before go on holiday and shop it out in places such as Yangon Bogyoke Market where the gem prices are not as bad and selection is abundant.

Other semi-precious stones

Are several hundred such as turquoise and azurite copper-rich stones blend with water. Malachite, emeralds, and tourmaline are made when water get in touch with magma and then crystallize. Spaces are broken up, are filled with veins of other minerals and form hydrothermal deposits.


In the last hundred years, artificial stones were created in labs which are physically the same as the natural ones. Often even better because much clearer but people like it made by mother nature such as this sapphires. Synthetic gemstones have similar physical properties as the natural ones,actually most are even better and much cheaper as the real ones often substituted in jewelry.

They also don't have all the natural inclusions a genuine gem have and this is also the reason why they can easily be identified as fake, although they are not in physical terms but in value.

A bit of ruby history

Burma (Myanmar) in ASEAN the country is the main producer of all kind of precious and “semi-precious stones” since around thousand years and probably more.

Plus gold, silver, pearls, amber and more lots of jewelry items and gemstones are on display at dozens of shops and many are really valuable with a creative design that includes rubies and sapphires plus jade and other.

In Yangon (Rangoon) is one of the last old style oriental bazaar of the east, something like that Marco Polo must have seen. Gems and other materials are brought from the north of the country to Yangon where creative people craft them into great pieces of jewelry many jade and silver items are produced in Mandalay. It's really amazing what ideas the people put into jewelry creations, there are also plenty of typical ethnic jewelry items using other local materials.

Myanmar has a long tradition as a source for high-quality precious stones, already since the 15th Century trader from Arab countries, India, China and Europe come to buy gemstones, Chinese and Indians came via overland border and other visitors over the Ocean.

Until the 19th Century rubies and spinels were considered the same. 

Clearly visible in the English crown where a spinel was included as a ruby. With emeralds, sapphires, and other precious stones there was no confusion.

Here is a translation from Dutch travelers report of the 16th Century about Burmese Gemstones.

Rubies are of many sorts, but the best are those that are called carbuncles, which are rubies that weigh above 25 carats, which are rather rare to be found. 

The best rubies with exceptional colors are from India called tockes, which are like Carbuncles; there are others called ballax, which are of a lower price than the first, and they are red. Another red variety is called espinellas, today spinel, that are of color like fire, and are less esteemed than the other two sorts because they have not the same properties as the premier red stones.

Blue and yellow sapphires are available as cabochon they are also sold in white like diamonds and others of a cornflower color or much like white cherries when they are ripe. Others found half white, half red, and a thousand such other sorts.

Of emeralds which the Indians call pache, and the Arabians Samarrut, there are none throughout all India, yet it is reported some have been found there, but few and not often, they are brought in from Cairo in Egypt and are likewise called Oriental.

Many are also brought out of the Spanish Indies and carried into the lands via Pegu, where they are much worn and esteemed by Venetian traders (who have traveled there with emeralds and bartered them for rubies and jewelry) they become very rich. Some used jade as a replacement for emeralds.

All the said stones are likewise used in medicines and Apothecaries drugs.

They are found in great numbers in Persia, and brought into India from (beyond) Ormus, by hundred pounds at once, earth and together, which in India are little esteemed, for that the Indians and Portugal’s do not wear many of them, and make small account of them.

The jasper is much found in the land of Cambaia, but not much regarded: they make dishes and cups thereof; it is of color green like emerald. Chrisolites and amatistes are many in the Island of Ceylon, Cambaia, and Ballagatte, (and) the stone called alakecca, (which) is also called Bloodstone, because it quickly stanches blood, other stones called milk stones, which are good brought to their perfection and ripeness, and being perfect they are of color red, like the carbuncle and tockes aforesaid but wanting somewhat of their perfection.

Those that are half rubies, and half safire’s, which the Indians call nilcandi, grow always in one rocks, whereby they are often times found, half one, half other. The rubies by the Arabians and Persians are called lacut by the Indians manica. The sapphire is not of as great estimation as the ruby and yet is one of the most precious stones next to diamond, and the rubies they do grow and are found in rocks like diamonds.

How to Value Rubies

Ruby and diamond jewelry how to handle them? When you have a ruby to value (or esteem) that is squared table wise, (as it should be), and that such a ruby is to accompany a diamond of the same weight in carat it is (both) fine and good. The ruby is not sold by weight, because it has no certain thickness, for that many of them are made thin for pleasure to the sight, and the better to lay the ground or leaves under them, and it may very well be thin, but not very much, for them it should be a let (and hindrance) unto it; if a ruby be whole or perfect (both) in color, cleanness, thickness, squareness, and form, it is worth a hundred buckets;

But there are very few that are perfect in all points since have always some faults or spots that are covered or hidden; but right perfect there are very few and not many men have any great knowledge therein; therefore I will say, to make our account, that a ruby which in common is accounted perfect and good, is worth seventy buckets. As it is easy to imagine buying gemstones is not as easy.

Here are dresses and accessories matching the red ruby.