An ethical debate concerning "pigeon's blood" rubies and "royal blue" sapphires from diverse origins

Origin heritage argument

GRS states it is not reasonable to disqualify mining areas based on a color grading system, which only allows for those with a traditional heritage (e.g. ‘pigeon’s blood’ label only granted from Burmese rubies). Burmese rubies include both Mogok and Mong Hsu rubies. Mogok is indeed an old mining area with a rich heritage. Mong Hsu however, is a recent mining site, hundreds of miles away from those classical deposits in Mogok. This in itself presents a contradiction to the heritage theory for Burmese rubies. Furthermore, Mong Hsu ruby formation is markedly different from that of Mogok (read publication).

A further contradiction to the above mentioned theory is that with regards to ‘royal blue’ colors, the heritage criterion is not applied, while it is applied for the case of rubies. Hence, Burma, Sri Lanka and recently discovered Madagascar mines are currently being awarded the ‘royal blue’ color descriptor, while Mozambique and other mines are excluded from the ‘pigeon’s blood’ color term. This represents inconsistent argumentation.

Treatment argument

GRS issues Pigeon’s Blood and Royal Blue color designation for corundum that has undergone industry-wide accepted heat-treatment. However, this excludes heat-treatment with the extensive use of borax, any type of diffusion or other solid fillers. GRS believes that a gem’s beauty is vital to its success. GRS has used their descriptors for the past 15 years; and in the interest of market stability it will continue utilizing this established industry wide accepted principle in combination with full treatment disclosure (see timeline below).

Scientific criteria regarding iron concentrations of rubies

It was also recently asserted that only Burmese stones displaying the required ‘internal glow’ (by fluorescence) can be designated as ‘pigeon’s blood’. Their argument claims that iron present in the chemical composition annuls its fluorescence. GRS promotes the more critical view that the total or absolute amount of iron does not produce an absence of fluorescence in a stone. Rather, it is its ratio to, or an excess of chromium concentrations over the iron that produces fluorescence. Highly fluorescent stones from Mozambique displaying that iconic ‘internal glow’ actually include a considerable amount of iron (beside that there is indeed a non-fluorescence type available also).

Furthermore, several deposits are producing rubies with no iron, like Tajikistan, Vietnam and the Mahenge area in Tanzania. GRS disagrees with banning such beautiful stones with their unique heritage from color awards like ‘pigeon’s blood’.

Ethical criteria not to be ignored

GRS maintains that granting the ‘pigeon’s blood’ label only to certain origins results in driving Burmese rubies into a stronger position than other origins. GRS believes that if origin does play such a preeminent role, then it should be the in industry’s utmost interest to promote origins that demonstrate performance in ethical mining. Other mining areas, like those in Mozambique are being led by publicly held companies that are subject to public scrutiny. Burmese mines are often restricted in accessibility and it is difficult to check their mining practices regarding the compliance with international standards.

GRS does not unequivocally advocate the saying that a certain country does it right, while another country does it wrong. There is room for improvement everywhere, and all regions have good and bad players. It is noteworthy to mention, that the ‘Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008’ is still in effect in the US. The view on the effect of this ban has split the opinions in the trade; however, the introduction was made for ethical reasons by the US.

GRS grants rubies from all over the world a chance to obtain a ‘pigeon’s blood’ color designation as equitably as it does for ‘royal blue’ sapphire, as long as it fits our color standards (for example basaltic-type sapphires do not qualify for the ‘royal blue’ color description). If there is a premium for country of origin, it should place the ethical argument at the centre of interest and not the romancing past.

Timeline of events

Further resources

• Peretti, A, 2013. GRS expedition to the Mogok ruby, sapphire and spinel mines. Jewellery News Asia, October 2013, 54-58. (read publication)
• Peretti, A, 2014. Distinguishing traits of Mozambique ruby. Jewellery News Asia, July 2014, 67-68. (read publication)
• Peretti, A, 2015. Mozambique rubies gaining favour in the gemstone world. Jewellery News Asia, November 2015, 1.
• Peretti, A, Falise, T, 2016. Pigeon Blood Valley – History, legends and tales of the Mogok ruby. 1st ed. Hong Kong: Peretti/Falise (in print Jan 2016)
• Dr. A. Peretti petitions the case for AIDS-Children in Mogok to Nobel Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (watch video)

Appendix

.(*) During the trademark registration process at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual property in Switzerland, Gemresearch Swisslab AG obtained the following word / phrase trademarks: GRS type “pigeon’s blood”, GRS type “royal blue”, and GRS type “cornflower”, according to the Nice Classification (NCL) No. 14 (jewellery, gemstones & watches) and No. 42 (science & technology service industry). Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual property declared no objections to using the terms for ruby and sapphire of different geographic origins.

The use of color terms for different gem origins appearing in GRS reports is legally protected in its legal jurisdiction. GRS is a proud holder of these proprietary trademarks furthermore holding corresponding image trademarks in Hong Kong.