LES Mozambique Rubies

Mozambique rubies display an intense red, sometimes with a slight orange or purple undertone. Burmese rubies (Mogok) offer a deeper red with superior UV fluorescence. This fluorescence gives Burmese rubies their characteristic brilliance, known as "pigeon's blood" red. Mozambique rubies generally show fewer visible inclusions. On price, Burmese rubies trade at three to ten times more for equivalent quality. The choice comes down to budget and the precise colour character you are seeking.

Several factors explain the price gap. First, historical rarity: Burmese rubies carry 800 years of cultural and commercial heritage, commanding an unrivalled prestige premium. Second, fluorescence: Burmese rubies display superior fluorescence that amplifies their brilliance in light — a characteristic highly prized by collectors. Third, volume of production: the Montepuez mine produces more rubies than all Burmese mines combined. This relative abundance exerts downward pressure on prices.

Price varies according to quality, weight and treatment. For a heated ruby of good quality at one carat, expect €1,000 to €3,000 per carat. For two to three carats of equivalent quality, expect €3,000 to €8,000 per carat. An unheated Mozambique ruby trades at two to three times more. Exceptional stones with vivid colour and no visible inclusions exceed €15,000 per carat. At equivalent quality, a Mozambique ruby costs three to ten times less than a Burmese ruby.

The Montepuez mine is operated by Gemfields, a mining group listed in London. Since 2013, Gemfields has published a responsible conduct code covering health and safety, financial transparency, traceability and environmental standards. The mine is subject to regular independent audits, and Gemfields publishes detailed data on its mining practices. It is one of the few ruby operations in the world to offer this level of transparency. This does not make Montepuez a "Fairtrade mine" in the strict sense, but its traceability standard remains among the highest in the ruby sector.

Mozambique rubies offer a varied palette of reds. Gem-quality stones display a vivid, luminous red, sometimes with subtle purple or orange overtones, ranging from cherry red to deep intense red. Certain stones even attain "pigeon's blood" quality, a designation traditionally associated with Burmese rubies — though this remains rarer at Montepuez than at Mogok. Mozambique rubies are also noted for their generally superior visual clarity compared with their Burmese counterparts.

Approximately 90% of Mozambique rubies undergo high-temperature heat treatment. This process intensifies colour and improves transparency. It is internationally accepted by the market and does not affect the stone's durability. Unheated rubies (noted as "NH" or "no heat" on the certificate) are rarer and more highly valued, trading at two to three times more. Bonnot Paris offers both options. We do not sell any ruby treated with lead glass — a contested process that alters the structure of the stone.

Only a gemmological certificate issued by an independent laboratory can attest to the origin of a ruby. The leading laboratories include SSEF (Switzerland), GRS (Switzerland), AGL (United States) and Gübelin (Switzerland). They determine origin through spectroscopic analysis of inclusions and chemical composition — each deposit leaves a distinct geological signature that experts are trained to identify. Be wary of any seller who claims Mozambique origin without an independent certificate. Bonnot Paris delivers every ruby with an origin certificate issued by a recognised laboratory.