Burmese Ruby
Mogok and Mong Hsu ruby - the pigeon blood standard, diagnostic inclusions, and comparison with other sources.
burma myanmar mogok ruby pigeon-blood corundum
Introduction
Burmese ruby, particularly from the Mogok Stone Tract, represents the
world standard for ruby quality. The term "pigeon blood" was coined to
describe the ideal Mogok colour, and this origin commands the highest
premiums in the ruby market.
Mogok Ruby
The world's finest rubies:
What Makes Mogok Special
- Geology: Marble host rock (low iron environment)
- Colour: Pure chromium red with minimal iron
- Fluorescence: Strong red (adds to colour)
- Clarity: Often clean or with silk that adds softness
- History: 1,000+ years of documented production
The Pigeon Blood Colour
- Ideal: Vivid red with slight blue modifier
- Tone: Medium to medium-dark
- Saturation: High without appearing dark
- Fluorescence: Strong red glow in daylight
- Effect: Seems to glow from within
Pigeon Blood Term
Mogok Ruby Inclusions
| Inclusion | Description |
|---|---|
| Short rutile silk | Fine, short needles (may dissolve if heated) |
| Calcite crystite | Rhombohedral; may be dissolved |
| Apatite | Hexagonal prisms |
| Swirl patterns | Flow-like growth ('treacle') |
| Sphene | Small elongated crystals |
| Negative crystals | Angular voids with fluid |
| Fingerprints | Healed fractures |
Mong Hsu Ruby
Myanmar's other major ruby source:
- Location: Shan State, discovered 1990s
- Character: Often dark cores with saturated edges
- Treatment: Most material heat-treated
- Volume: Major production; lower quality average
- Value: Less than Mogok for comparable quality
- Identification: Dark core often visible even after heating
Treatment Considerations
Understanding treatment in Burmese ruby:
Heat Treatment
- Common, especially for Mong Hsu material
- Dissolves silk, improves colour
- Accepted if disclosed
- Unheated Mogok commands significant premium
Unheated Premium
- Unheated fine Mogok ruby: highest values
- Laboratory certification essential
- Premium can exceed 50-100%+ over heated
- Increasingly rare in fine quality
Thai and Cambodian Comparison
Regional ruby characteristics differ:
Thai/Cambodian Character
- Darker tone: Often darker than Burmese
- Brownish modifier: Higher iron content
- Less fluorescence: Iron quenches fluorescence
- Dense silk: Extensive rutile networks
Distinction from Thai/Cambodian
| Feature | Mogok | Thai/Cambodian |
|---|---|---|
| Fluorescence | Strong red | Weak to moderate |
| Colour | Vivid red | Darker, brownish |
| Iron content | Low | High |
| Silk | Short, may dissolve | Dense networks |
| Premium | Highest | Lower |
Market Position
Burmese ruby in today's market:
- Value: Highest premiums for fine Mogok
- Pigeon blood certified: Exceptional prices
- Supply: Limited; mostly older material in trade
- Ethical concerns: Factor in some markets
- Alternatives: Mozambique filling supply gap
- Investment: Fine unheated Mogok highly collectible