Rubies

Rubies are precious gemstones composed of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide, coloured red by trace amounts of chromium. They rank nine on the Mohs hardness scale, making them one of the hardest natural materials after diamonds. The intensity and quality of a ruby's red colour, ranging from pinkish to deep blood-red, is the primary determinant of its value, with the finest specimens exhibiting a pure, vivid red hue known in the trade as 'pigeon's blood'. Rubies are found in metamorphic rocks and alluvial deposits, with major sources including Myanmar, Mozambique, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania. Mozambique has emerged as a significant producer since the discovery of large deposits in the Montepuez region of Cabo Delgado province in the early 2010s. The gemstones are used primarily in jewellery, where they command premium prices, and in some industrial applications requiring hard, wear-resistant materials. Ruby mining involves both large-scale commercial operations and artisanal extraction, with the stones typically sorted, cut and polished before reaching international markets in centres such as Bangkok, Jaipur and Antwerp. The global ruby market is influenced by factors including supply from key producing regions, consumer demand in major markets such as the US and China, and the availability of synthetic alternatives. Rubies have been prized throughout history for their rarity, beauty and symbolic associations with passion, power and protection.