Fine Rubies, especially Burmese rubies are among the rarest and most expensive gemstones in the world. Prized for their beauty, durability, and rarity, it is the quality of the color which most determines the value of the stones. The ideal Ruby color is that of a red traffic light, a highly fluorescent red of high intensity. Demand for gem quality Ruby has always been strong with mining records from Burma dating back almost 500 years.

The word ruby comes from the Latin word for red -- ruber. They are a form of corundum which is colorless in its pure state. The red color is produced by small traces of chromium. Traces of iron make the color more brown. Although Burmese, African, Thai and Cambodian rubies have the same chemical and physical properties, they differ noticeably in color and hue.

Burmese rubies are the best rubies in the world and the most sought after. Burma ruby is the rubies that we specialize in. Burma ruby displays a true red to pinkish red color in most kinds of light. African, Thai and Cambodian rubies are usually much darker and browner in color and similar to garnet. Many rubies on the market have been heated to enhance the color. This is a generally accepted practice in the gem trade and gem labs classify them as natural rubies.

Rubies and Sapphires which are both members of the corundum family have the same hexagonal crystallographic structure. The basic chemical formula is AL2O3; is the same for both ruby and sapphire. It is the presence of trace elements like chromium, iron, vanadium and titanium which are responsible for the wide range of colors in which the mineral occurs. The red color in Rubies is primarily a result of the presence of chromium. Red corundum is known as Ruby and any other color is called a sapphire. In practice however, the determination is not always so straight forward because there are no internationally accepted standards for the color of a ruby. Gemologists could describe the same stone as a pinkish red ruby or a pinkish red sapphire and borderline cases are not uncommon.

The heating of Rubies and Sapphires is quite common and an accepted enhancement process (when no other color enhancing elements are added) which can improve the transparency and the color of the stones in a natural way. Techniques range from simply throwing gems into a fire to be cooked to employing sophisticated electric or gas furnaces at specific pressures and atmospheric conditions. The treatment is permanent and heated stones do not require special care. We at AJS Gems, wash and re-cut all our rubies so they have no surface pits filled with any glass-like material (glass fill). We sell only Natural Gemstones.

Gem quality rubies are rare and rarely large, clean stones are always a rarity. The most notable deposits of Ruby occur in Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Madagascar. Ruby is also found in Colombia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and in the U.S.A.

Vietnam: abounds in natural resources and precious gemstones in particular. Vietnam's two largest Ruby mines are Yen Bai and Nghe An. Vietnam gemstones such as Ruby, Star Ruby, sapphire, spinel and zircon have been inconsistent in recent years. Vietnam's Ruby is highly valued in terms of quality, with the best said to be equal to that of Burma.

Madagascar: The most recent discoveries of Rubies have occurred in Madagascar at Andilamena and Vatomandry. The deposits differ significantly with respect to their mineralogical and gemological properties. The deposit in Vatomandry produces crystals of nice natural orange/red and pinkish color which do not require heating.
The deposit in Andilamena is more substantial and seems have been the focus of most of the recent production.
Like many parts of Madagascar, there are gems but no roads to get to them most people just walk. The deposit is of a primary character and probably igneous in origin.
The rough is generally somewhat violet and not very clean. Heat treatment can dramatically improve the color and many of the resulting stones will show a color similar to that of rubies from Thailand, red with a brown secondary tone.

Tanzania: Tanzanian Rubies from the Songea deposit are darker and more garnet like in color than Burmese Rubies. Their garnet like appearance can be misleading and even jewelers can be confused. The color of most gems tends to lighten as the size is reduced and the color of Songea Rubies is frequently best in the smaller sizes.

Burma: Burmese Rubies are considered the best, for one simple reason there color. The most famous localities for Rubies are in the districts around Mogok in northern Burma and at Mong Hsu about 250km east of Mandalay. Burmese Rubies are known for their fine fluorescent red color in any kind of light. The color of Burmese stones is often said to be “pigeons blood”. Many of the Rubies are bright red and may contain traces of blue or pink. Rubies are rarely clean and the prices for Burma Rubies are higher than that of Rubies from any other deposits.


Ruby has been the world's most valued gemstone for thousands of years. It was said to be the most precious of the twelve stones God created when he created all things and this "lord of gems" was placed on Aaron's neck by God's command. Ruby brings you serenity, and protect you against injury.