Sapphires are among the most highly valued gemstones in the world, and among them, the sapphires from Burma (modern-day Myanmar) occupy a special place. These gemstones are known for their exceptional color, rarity, and high value. But their appeal goes beyond aesthetics alone — geopolitical circumstances have greatly influenced the availability and appreciation of these gemstones over the past decades.
Sapphires are among the most highly valued gemstones in the world, and among them, the sapphires from Burma (modern-day Myanmar) occupy a special place. These gemstones are known for their exceptional color, rarity, and high value. But their appeal goes beyond aesthetics alone — geopolitical circumstances have greatly influenced the availability and appreciation of these gemstones over the past decades. The history of Burma begins as early as the 5th century BC. The kingdom was founded in Tagaung, in the north of Mogok. The Mogok Valley is mainly known for its exceptionally beautiful rubies. Since ruby and sapphire belong to the same family, namely corundum, the sapphires are also remarkable. As early as 1435, the first European arrived in Mogok and observed the trade in rubies and sapphires, followed by the Portuguese Duarte Barbosa in 1501. Several kings succeeded one another until the first war against the British (1824–1826), followed by a second in 1852. In 1886, Burma was annexed to India as “Her Majesty’s dominions,” but was conquered by the Japanese in 1942 before gaining independence in 1948. Since then, the military has taken power.
Burmese sapphires are mainly found in the Mogok region, also known as “the Valley of Gems.” These mines have been producing world-class gemstones for centuries, including rubies and sapphires. What distinguishes Burmese sapphires is their deep, vivid blue color, often described as “royal blue.” Due to the natural conditions in the Mogok region, these sapphires contain a unique chemical composition in their crystal structure, which gives them their special color and clarity.
Unlike sapphires from other countries such as Sri Lanka (Ratnapoura), Thailand (Chantabury), or Madagascar, Nigeria, the Burmese varieties are significantly rarer, especially when it comes to untreated specimens (without heating). Untreated sapphires from Myanmar are extremely rare and are among the most sought-after stones on the market — except for Kashmir sapphires, which are even rarer.
The mining and processing are artisanal. There are several mines in the valley, including Nyaung-bin-tha, Gwebin, Kabaing, etc. Most are family-run, using many superstitious prospecting methods. The cutting process is also artisanal, but this is justified by the high value of the rough stones. Top-quality gemstones cannot be cut industrially, as the loss of weight during cutting would be too great. Since sapphire has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, they are cut on diamond-coated wheels (of various grains/mesh) and polished on copper, tin, or ceramic laps with diamond powder, always kept moist during the process.