Prince of Burma

The red colouring of the rubies is due to colour-generating metallic oxides engrained in the crystalline structures. As the rubies from Mogok have formed in marble surroundings with a low content of iron, they display a particularly intense luminosity, which sets off the natural carmine red of the rubies. The best specimens are of "pigeon-blood" colour and therefore especially rare and precious. Most of the raw rubies are cut in Mogok since the market for cut rubies is much bigger. It is therefore quite unusual for an uncut ruby like the Prince of Burma to leave the country.^[1]

A robbery occurred in August 2008 at which prospective buyers turned out to be criminals. On his way to the appointment, the German gemstone trader was deliberately hit by a car and his briefcase stolen. Severely injured, the trader was taken to hospital while the thieves escaped with the gem. After a joint investigation of German and Austrian authorities three suspects were arrested in a hotel in Villach, Austria on November 4, 2008. The booty, a gemstone collection including the Prince of Burma, was secured.^[2]