Question 1

What is a pigeon blood ruby?

Accepted Answer

Pigeon Blood is the most prestigious colour designation in the ruby world. It describes a vivid, deeply saturated red with a warm internal glow — softer and warmer than commercially saturated reds, with an almost fluorescent intensity. The term originated in Myanmar's Mogok Valley, where the finest rubies have exhibited this characteristic hue for centuries. Today, LMHC-member laboratories apply the designation based on colour criteria regardless of geographic origin, meaning a Mozambique ruby can receive a Pigeon Blood certificate if its colour meets the standard. Pigeon Blood rubies represent less than 1% of all ruby production and command the highest per-carat prices of any coloured gemstone.

Question 2

How do you detect synthetic rubies?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic rubies can be identified through a combination of gemological testing techniques. Under magnification, natural rubies typically contain characteristic inclusions — silk (rutile needles), mineral crystals, and fingerprint-like healing fractures — that are absent in most synthetics. Flame-fusion synthetics often show curved growth lines and gas bubbles, while flux-grown synthetics may contain flux remnants. Advanced testing using spectroscopy (FTIR, UV-Vis), fluorescence analysis, and microscopy can confirm natural vs. synthetic origin with certainty. At Lim Gems Factory, every ruby above 0.5 carats undergoes gemological screening, and we recommend independent laboratory certification (LMHC-member labs) for stones above 1 carat. We never knowingly sell synthetic material as natural.

Question 3

What affects ruby pricing?

Accepted Answer

Ruby pricing is driven by five key factors, in order of importance: (1) Colour — vivid, pure red commands the highest premiums; secondary brown, orange, or pink modifiers reduce value. (2) Origin — Burmese rubies carry a significant origin premium; Mozambique offers the best quality-to-value ratio. (3) Treatment — unheated rubies of fine quality command 3–10x premiums over comparable heated stones. (4) Size — pricing increases exponentially with carat weight; fine rubies above 2 carats are genuinely rare. (5) Clarity — eye-clean stones with no visible inclusions are the standard for fine grades. At wholesale, a 1-carat vivid red Burmese unheated ruby can be priced 50–100x more per carat than a 1-carat heated commercial-grade Thai ruby.

Carat Range	0.1 ct – 15 ct+
Available Cuts	Round, Oval, Cushion, Emerald, Pear, Marquise, Radiant, Heart, Cabochon, and custom shapes
Calibration	±0.1 mm
Origins	Myanmar, Thailand, Mozambique
Treatment	Heated & unheated — full disclosure on every stone
Certification	Independent certification on request — GIA, GRS, GIT, AIGS, and other LMHC-member laboratories
Minimum Order	Varies by stone, size, and grade — share specs for a quote

Origin	Color	Price	Best For
Myanmar (Burma)	Pigeon blood — vivid, warmly saturated red with intense glow	$$$$	Investment, high-end retail, collectors
Mozambique	Vivid red — strong saturation, good transparency	$$–$$$	Fine jewellery, best value for top colour
Thailand	Brownish to slightly purplish red — deep, saturated tone	$–$$	Commercial jewellery, volume production

Rubies

Four Origin Profiles

Pigeon Blood

Burmese Ruby

Thai Ruby

Mozambique Ruby

What we supply

Compare Origins

Myanmar (Burma)

Mozambique

Thailand

Frequently asked

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