Why origin matters
For comparable quality, origin can change the price considerably. GIA gives the example of an unheated, intense blue sapphire from Kashmir, worth far more than a similar sapphire from elsewhere. Some sources are associated with a colour, a look and a history.
But a beautiful stone remains a beautiful stone: a prestigious origin never makes up for an average colour.
The origins of ruby
- Burma (Myanmar), Mogok: the historic reference. Rubies formed in marble, low in iron, of intense red with strong fluorescence that seems to "light them up".
- Mozambique (Montepuez): the major current source since the late 2000s. Very fine rubies, often comparable to Burmese ones.
- Thailand and Cambodia: rubies linked to volcanic rocks, richer in iron. A darker red and weaker fluorescence.
- Sri Lanka: often lighter rubies, tending towards raspberry pink.
- Madagascar, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Vietnam: other recognised deposits, some of which produce stones of very high quality.
The origins of sapphire
- Kashmir: the ultimate legend. Deposits worked mainly in the late 19th century and now exhausted. Their velvety blue, due to fine "silk" inclusions, remains the reference.
- Sri Lanka (Ceylon): a source for thousands of years, famous for its bright blues and for sapphires of every colour, including padparadscha.
- Burma (Myanmar): deep, saturated blues, highly sought after.
- Madagascar: a more recent major source. According to GIA, its finest sapphires rival the most classic origins.
- Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Nigeria, Ethiopia: sapphires linked to volcanic rocks, often of a darker blue.
- Montana (United States): sapphires that are often light, blue-green or steel blue.
The origins of emerald
- Colombia (Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez): the reference. Emeralds born from hot fluids circulating through the rock, of deep green, with small typical inclusions containing liquid, gas and a crystal. Muzo is renowned for its warm green, Chivor for a bluer green.
- Zambia (Kafubu region): emeralds formed in schists, of a cooler, slightly bluish green, often cleaner.
- Brazil, Afghanistan (Panjshir), Ethiopia, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Russia: other origins, each with its own signature. Panjshir emeralds can resemble Colombian ones.
Spinel and tsavorite
- Spinel: long mistaken for ruby (the "Black Prince's Ruby" in the British crown is in fact a spinel). It comes mainly from Burma (Mogok), Tanzania (Mahenge), Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Tajikistan.
- Tsavorite: a vivid green garnet discovered in the late 1960s between Kenya and Tanzania, in the Tsavo region that gave it its name.
How a laboratory determines origin
The laboratory compares the stone with its reference collections. It examines inclusions under the microscope, measures chemical elements present in tiny amounts (iron, chromium, gallium…) with advanced instruments, and analyses how the stone absorbs light. Each deposit leaves a kind of fingerprint.
The result remains an expert opinion. When two deposits have similar geology, their stones look alike: GIA acknowledges that an origin cannot always be established, even with the best instruments. The certificate then states "undetermined". Origin is easier to establish for emerald and for many rubies than for blue sapphire.
See the available stones
Frequently asked questions
Does origin change the price?
Yes, often a lot. For the same quality, a Burmese ruby, a Kashmir sapphire or a Colombian emerald sells for more. But colour remains the number one criterion.
Does a certificate guarantee the origin?
It gives a laboratory's opinion, based on analyses, not an absolute certainty. Two laboratories may sometimes reach different conclusions. For an important stone, a certificate from a recognised laboratory, which I explain to you in detail, remains the best reference.
Are rubies from Mozambique less good than Burmese ones?
Not necessarily. Mozambique produces some of the finest rubies today. Burma keeps its historic prestige, but it is the stone itself that must be judged.
Are there still Kashmir sapphires?
Yes, but they are old stones that return to the market through sales or estates. The mines stopped producing long ago, which explains their exceptional prices.
Why are some origins "undetermined"?
Because deposits with similar geology produce almost identical stones. A serious laboratory prefers to write "undetermined" rather than guess.
