Besides rubies Burma has also been home to some of the finest sapphires. These are found in the Mogok mine, an area ninety miles north east of Mandalay. Mining there started as early as the end of the 16th century. It is the same area in which the best and most precious Burma rubies are found.
Forbidden for foreigners, we had the opportunity to discover this fabulous valley and to visit the different mining areas. Unfortunately mining areas, where activity was once robust, are now closed. The production fell dramatically and the mines lost money. The shortage keeps the prices high.

The best colour found in Burmese sapphires is commonly called "royal deep blue", a deep pure blue without shades of grey, green or violet. Compared to the well-known cornflower blue found in top quality Kashmir sapphires, the royal deep blue is of a darker shade.

Recently some new sapphire mines were discovered in the Mogok area producing also stones with a lighter shade. A layperson could easily confuse these stones with sapphires from Sri Lanka.
The majority of Burmese sapphires are not likely to be heat-treated, as they do not require it.