For centuries, ruby has been admired for its vibrant colour, remarkable durability and enduring desirability. As July’s birthstone and one of the world’s three precious coloured gemstones alongside sapphire and emerald, it continues to hold a special place within the jewellery industry. Behind the scenes, however, sourcing the finest examples is becoming increasingly difficult.

According to gemstone specialist CR Gems, exceptional ruby is becoming harder to secure, with demand continuing to outpace the availability of high-quality material. Recent buying activity has highlighted just how competitive the market has become, particularly for stones displaying the characteristics collectors and jewellers value most.

A Gemstone Built for Everyday Wear

Ruby belongs to the corundum family, sharing the same mineral composition as sapphire. The presence of chromium gives the gemstone its unmistakable red colour, while its Mohs hardness of 9 makes it one of the toughest gemstones regularly worn in jewellery.

That combination of beauty and durability has helped ruby remain a favourite for everything from engagement rings to heirloom pieces, offering a gemstone capable of standing up to everyday wear without compromising on appearance.

A selection of natural rubies from the CR Gems collection, showcasing the variety of colours, sizes and qualities available to jewellers and gemstone buyers

Buying the Best Is Becoming More Challenging

Keeping pace with demand requires constant sourcing.

CR Gems owner Jas recently travelled to Bangkok, one of the world’s leading centres for gemstone cutting, to replenish the company’s coloured gemstone stock. Ruby was high on the shopping list, reflecting its position as CR Gems’ third most purchased gemstone during 2026 after blue sapphire and emerald.

While the trip secured several impressive additions, one message became clear: sourcing exceptional ruby is proving far more challenging than it once was, particularly when compared with fine blue sapphire.

Watch CR Gems’ buying trip to Bangkok

Why Origin Still Matters

Ask gemstone professionals what influences the value of a ruby and origin will almost always form part of the conversation.

Burmese rubies remain among the most desirable in the world thanks to their reputation for exceptional colour and rarity. Around 60% of CR Gems’ current ruby stock originates from Burma, alongside gemstones sourced from Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania. Each locality offers its own characteristics, giving designers and retailers a broad choice depending on the look they want to achieve.

Colour is equally influential.

The jewellery trade uses the term pigeon blood to describe the vivid, saturated red associated with some of the world’s finest rubies. Although this remains one of the most sought-after appearances, ruby naturally occurs in a range of shades, from lighter pinkish reds through to rich crimson tones, making colour selection as much about personal taste as rarity.

Understanding Ruby Treatments

As supplies tighten, understanding gemstone treatments becomes increasingly important.

Heat treatment is widely accepted throughout the jewellery industry and is commonly used to improve colour and clarity. CR Gems supplies only heat-treated rubies where treatment has been applied.

Other enhancements, including glass filling, also exist within the wider market. These alter the gemstone’s structure more significantly and can have a substantial impact on durability and value, making it important for jewellers and consumers to understand exactly what they are buying.

Naturally, stones combining Burmese origin, vivid colour and no heat treatment are exceptionally difficult to find.

CR Gems recently sourced a 1ct no heat Burmese pigeon blood ruby, bringing together some of the most desirable characteristics available in a single gemstone. Unsurprisingly, it was sold quickly after arriving in stock.

View the recently sold no heat Burmese pigeon blood ruby: gemstonesdatabase.com/media/geminfo/

A 1ct no heat Burmese pigeon blood ruby recently sourced by CR Gems, combining one of the world’s most sought-after origins with exceptional natural colour

The Importance of Cut

Most rubies are fashioned into oval and cushion cuts for a practical reason. The natural shape of ruby crystals allows cutters to retain more of the original rough when producing these designs.

More unusual shapes, including marquise cuts, require considerably more material to be removed during cutting, making them much less common.

CR Gems currently has a 1.53ct Burmese marquise ruby with a CDC certificate, offering collectors and jewellers an opportunity to acquire a cut rarely seen in fine ruby.

View the 1.53ct Burmese marquise ruby: gemstonesdatabase.com/media/geminfo

A rare 1.53ct Burmese marquise-cut ruby from CR Gems, accompanied by a CDC certificate and showcasing one of the least common ruby cuts

Matching pairs present another challenge.

As supplies of fine ruby become more limited, sourcing two closely matched stones for earrings or bespoke commissions requires increasing time and expertise. CR Gems continues to offer pre-matched boxed pairs together with calibrated and melee parcels, ranging from 1mm rounds through to princess cuts, baguettes and other shapes used throughout jewellery manufacturing.

Matching natural ruby pair from CR Gems, illustrating the growing challenge of sourcing closely matched stones for earrings and bespoke jewellery

The Jewels Club Take

Ruby has always occupied a unique position within the coloured gemstone market, but today’s challenge extends beyond demand. Availability is becoming one of the defining stories behind July’s birthstone.

For retailers, designers and manufacturers, understanding origin, treatment, colour and cutting quality is becoming increasingly important as exceptional stones become more difficult to replace. Working with experienced suppliers who can source and verify these gemstones is likely to become even more valuable in the years ahead.

Discover More

Trade customers can browse CR Gems’ ruby collection online, filtering gemstones by origin, colour intensity and size, or visit the company’s showrooms in London, Birmingham or New York without an appointment.

Those searching for particularly rare stones can also register for CR Gems’ mailing list to receive updates when exceptional gemstones become available.

Request a trade account and browse the full collection at www.cr-gems.com

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