Mozambique Rubies are beautiful crimson red gems from Montepuez in Northern Mozambique. Favorably compared to Ruby from famous sources with historic pedigree, such as gems from Mogok, Burma, Mozambique Ruby has significantly impacted the marketplace as connoisseurs discover the rare beauty of this new source for an enduring gemstone.
Hardness 9
Refractive Index 1.762 – 1.778
Relative Density 3.97 – 4.05
Enhancement Heat
Beauty
Named from the Latin ‘ruber’ (red), Ruby’s beautiful hues embody the color of love, passion and romance. Mozambique Rubies display intense ‘classic’ crimson reds with a medium tone and saturation that is the marketplace ideal.
As transparency and inclusions also affect Ruby’s color and subsequent beauty, Ruby is clarity classified by the Gemological Institute of America as a Type II gemstone (some minor inclusions that may be eye-visible). To maintain beauty and quality, our Mozambique Rubies have been optimally cut with an excellent clarity for the type.
Such lapidary negates color unevenness due to zoning (location of color in the crystal versus how the gem is faceted) and excessive windowing (areas of washed out color in a table-up gem, often due to a shallow pavilion). Due to the alluvial nature of Mozambique Ruby crystals, octagons, ovals, pears, rounds, and square octagons are most common, with marquises and princesses les frequent, and typically more expensive.
Mozambique Ruby looks beautiful when viewed in both natural and incandescent light.
The birthstone for July, Ruby is a truly mesmerizing gemstone with a rich history, potent symbolism, and a popularity spanning over 2,500 years. Ruby and Sapphire are color varieties of the mineral Corundum (crystalline aluminum oxide), which derives its name from the Sanskrit word for Rubies and Sapphires, ‘kuruvinda’. Trace amounts of elements such as chromium, iron and titanium as well as color centers are responsible for producing Corundum’s rainbow of colors.
Rarity
Far scarcer than Diamonds, Rubies are extremely rare, highly coveted and one of the world’s most expensive gemstones.
Ruby sources include Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam. A major international gemstone hub, Thailand is the middle point for approximately 90 percent of the world’s Rubies as they journey around the globe.
While referenced during the country’s colonial period (1505 – 1975) and sporadically available for almost 20 years, Mozambique Rubies remained relatively unknown until the discovery of deposits in the Niassa Province in 2008 and at Montepuez in the Cabo Delgado Province in April 2009. Covering 33,600 hectares, Montepuez (Central Area, Glass A, Maninge Nice, Mugloto and Ntorro) is the world’s largest Ruby deposit, and the source of our gems.
Montepuez is now a highly regarded source of beautiful Ruby that responds well to traditional heating. Not surprisingly, demand for these scarce gemstones remains high, especially in the qualities typified by our Mozambique Ruby, resulting in intense competition among gemstone buyers.
Durability & Care
One of the world’s hardest gemstones (Mohs’ Hardness: 9), Mozambique Ruby is an excellent choice for everyday jewelry. Mozambique Ruby should always be stored carefully to avoid scuffs and scratches. Clean with gentle soap and lukewarm water, scrubbing behind the gem with a very soft toothbrush as necessary. After cleaning, pat dry with a soft towel or chamois cloth.
Map Location
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