“Pigeon blood” Ruby and

“Royal Blue” Sapphire

Visut Pisutha-Arnond,
Wilawan Atichat and
Sakrapee Saejoo
 Facts about Ruby & Sapphire
Ruby & Sapphire (Corundum)
is a very hard & durable mineral,
second to diamond
(9 on Moh’s Scale of Hardness).

Owing to the Beauty, Rarity and

Durability of gem-quality corundum,
this gemstone is considered being one
of the most pecious stones,
along with alexandrite, emerald
and diamond.
 History and Lore of Ruby

For thousand of years, rubies

have been considered symbols of
- devotion
- objects of desire
(Crowns of the jewelry lovers like Kings and Queens
off the
th World)
W ld)

In ancient writings, the red stone represented the

power of the Sun.
(and was reportedly presented to Buddha in China
and Krishna in India as prized offerings)
History and Lore of Ruby

Qing Dynasty
Censer,Vase, Box

They are inlaid and

ringed with lines of ruby.
 History and Lore of Ruby
Ruby is the king of gems
Ruby is the gemstone of Romance.
Ruby is the birthstone for July.
Ruby is astrological sign of Leo.
Ruby is anniversary gem for 15th and
40th Wedding anniversaries.
 History and Lore of Ruby

•Wearing fine ruby

bestows good fortune.
•The finer a ruby the
better its chance of
having a positive
influence on its owner’s
life.
RUBY is
Red,
Rare,
Rigid,
Radiant and
Romantic.
 Main Sources of Ruby
l Burma ruby l Vietnam ruby
l Madagascar ruby l Thailand ruby
l Mozambique ruby l Kenya ruby
l Tanzania ruby l Afghanistan ruby
Etc.
 History and Lore of Sapphire

Sapphire has ability to protect

wearer against poisons evil spirits.
Sapphire is the birthstone for
September.
Sapphire is the sign of Taurus.
Sapphire is the traditional gift for 5th
and 45th wedding anniversaries.
 Main Sources of Sapphire
l Kashmir sapphire l Nigeria sapphire
l Burma sapphire l Thai sapphire
l Ceylon sapphire l Montana sapphire
l Madagascar sapphire l Australia sapphire
Etc.
 GIT has developed
Color communication system
and
Color grading system of corundum
since 1999 (2542
2542))
Colored Stone Quality Standards of GIT

Since 1999 GIT has developed

Color communication system
Color grading system of corundum
Clarity grading system of corundum
Cut grading system of corundum
 Research Methodology
1. Literature survey: Publications and Internet
2. Color grading system survey: Trade and Laboratory
3. Procurement of Master Stones and Color Matching-Munsell Color
System
4. Survey:
– Questionaire
– Gem Trade survey
– Training in Factory
– Meeting with Traders and Academic Consultants
– Gem Trade survey and Interview with gemstone expert.
 Colour
Quality Standard

4 Cs
Colour
Cut
Clarity
Clarity
Carat weight

Cut
GIT Color Grading in
2010

“Pigeon blood” Ruby and

“Royal Blue” Sapphire
Colour

Top
Color quality
 Vivid Red

Pigeon’s blood color

Pigeon Blood Rubies in the Trade

Pigeon Blood Ruby

 Some top-
top-quality, large un
un--treated stones are
extremely rare and command exceptionally high prices.

An un-treated 15.97 ct Burmese ruby, price auction in 1988 was

US$ 3.63 Million (US$ 227,301/ct).
Hughes, 1997; Ruby & Sapphire, Photo; Graff, London
Pigeon's blood
GIT Gem Testing Laboratory

Red
Colour

Top
Color quality
Vivid blue sapphire
GIT standard

Royal Blue
Royal Blue Sapphires in the Trade

Royal blue sapphire

* Present very hard to find them in the trade.

Royal blue
 Cornflower blue sapphire*

Kashmir Sapphire
The best quality sapphire from
Northern India
- Velvet blue (violetish blue to blue)
- Medium tone and high saturation
- Fine silks and minute particles
 Some top
top--quality, large un
un--treated stones are
extremely rare and command exceptionally high prices.

A 22.66 ct Kashmir sapphire sold for US$ 3.064 Million (US$135,000/ct)

at an auction in NY on 25th May 2007. The world’s most expensive
sapphire,
sapphire Photo:Gary Roskin
Ruby Year 2002
THAILAND –JAPAN COLORED STONE PROMOTION 2006
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand

(Public organization)
Bangkok, Thailand.
www.git.or.th
+66 02 218 5470 - 4