Ruby (Pre-embargo)

Item Description

Rubies are arguably the most famous, desirable and valuable stones in the world. Not only have they been dubbed the "King of Gems", they have been revered for centuries for their amazing color and quality. The famous Rubies from the Mogok Valley in Myanmar are certainly some of the most storied stones in the world. The best examples are the standard for how good Ruby can be. I will point out that TOP quality Rubies from Mogok can sell for as much as $500,000 per carat today, though they are exceedingly rare. This gem has an attractive glowing reddish-pink color, and is certainly gem quality. It has a "Round Step" cut. The stone is slightly included, and the color is strong and saturated, even for the smaller size. PLEASE NOTE: This stone was imported to the US long before the embargo of September 30, 2008. Additionally, it's important to note that there is NO MINING taking place at Mogok right now. The combination of the pandemic and the civil war in Myanmar has left all of Mogok empty. It is unclear when or if mining will resume, and you can rest assured the price of Rubies and other gems from this area will almost certainly be higher once the area is back in production. Buy this gem now because they are disappearing from the market rapidly.
This stone is from the estate of former Phoenix area dealer Marvin Rockey. Rockey's Gems was a significant business in the early days of Arizona lapidary material, and he was a prominent dealer and buyer in the Arizona area of local lapidary and carving material from throughout the state, including Bisbee, the Ray Mine, Miami mines, and the Peridot finds on Indian lands in the 1950s-1970s. This stone was kept back from the retail stock for its quality and beauty, in a tray of special material, and was found in his estate (sold to us only recently). Today, these are not only rarely seen but of a highly desirable old quality, and sought after by collectors and gem / jewelry enthusiasts alike.