Where Are Rubies & Sapphires Most Prevalent?

Necklace with rubies and sapphires.

Rubies and sapphires are beautiful stones to use in jewelry. Both are a different variety of a mineral called corundum. Rubies and sapphires can be found in different countries around the world.

Location of Rubies

Ruby ring.

Many natural rubies that are on the market come from Burma and Thailand. Burmese rubies can be expensive because they are often of a better color and clarity than Thai rubies. Rubies can be found in mines all over the world, in countries such as Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and the states of North Carolina and Montana in the United States.

Location of Sapphires

Sapphire ring.

Sapphire mines can be found in the same areas of the world as ruby mines, since they are both varieties of the same mineral. Sources of sapphire mines include Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and the states of Montana and North Carolina in the United States. Natural sapphires are more prevalent in Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand than in other countries.

Synthetic Gems

Synthetic rubies and sapphires are less expensive than natural rubies and sapphires and are often used in jewelry. Synthetic rubies and sapphires were first created in 1902 using the Verneuil process. It is difficult to distinguish a natural stone from a synthetic stone; however, a jewel expert will usually have the materials and knowledge to do so.

References

• Ruby and Sapphire
• Minerals: Sapphires
• Millennium Sapphire: The Gem
• Minerals: Ruby

Resources

• Millennium Sapphire: The Gem