Ruby

Wholesale ruby — buying guide for the trade

Red corundum. The rarest gem-quality variety of corundum and historically the most valuable coloured stone per carat at the top of the market.

Key properties

Mineral

Corundum (Al₂O₃)

Hardness

9 (Mohs)

Key origins

Myanmar (Mogok, Mong Hsu), Mozambique, Madagascar, Thailand

Typical treatments

Heat, lead-glass filling (heavily traded, disclose!), flux healing

What to look for when buying wholesale

• Burmese / Mozambican origin commands a strong premium. Get it on a credible lab report.
• Lead-glass filled rubies are common and cheap — never confuse with natural even at retail.
• Eye-clean fine rubies under 1ct are scarce; matched pairs even more so.
• "Pigeon blood" is a colour grade defined by SSEF, Gübelin, GRS and AGL — verify whose definition is being claimed.

Certification guidance

For anything above USD 2,000/ct, SSEF, Gübelin, GRS or AGL. Lotus Gemology is the boutique reference for ruby/sapphire.

Treatment disclosure

Heat is universal and accepted. Lead-glass filling, flux healing and beryllium diffusion must be disclosed and dramatically affect value.

Typical wholesale price tiers

Prices are indicative wholesale-to-trade ranges. Actual offers depend on origin, certification and supply at the time of enquiry.

Cuts and shapes

Ruby is faceted into the same core shapes seen across coloured stones and diamonds — round, oval, cushion, emerald-cut, pear, radiant, princess, asscher, marquise and heart — plus antique cuts such as old mine and old European, most associated with period diamond jewellery. See the full Cut Library →