Burmese Ruby Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Burmese Ruby Inclusions

Explore Burmese ruby inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural rubies from Myanmar (Burma), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

In this Burmese ruby, the stone was broken after polishing (probably during the setting process). To cover up the mistake, blue cement was used to glue the chip back in place. The cement quickly liquified when the hot point was touched to it, revealing the fraud.
When Burmese rubies, such as this stone from Mong Hsu, are heat treated, they often develop a zoned chalky fluorescence in shortwave UV. In this position, the stone’s original blue core has been removed by the heat treatment, but that zone does not display the chalky fluorescence, just fluorescing red.
When Burmese rubies, such as this stone from Mong Hsu, are heat treated, they often develop a zoned chalky fluorescence in shortwave UV.
When a ruby is heat-treated at a high enough temperature, the angular channels of fingerprints begin a “necking down” process where they become more rounded, as seen here. This is particularly true if fluxes are used during the treatment.
The vast majority of Mong Hsu rubies are heated with fluxes to heal their fissures. This is a rare example of a fingerprint in an Mong Hsu ruby that has not been heated. Note the angular nature of the negative crystals. Overhead lighting was used to reveal the interference colors on the surface of the liquid-filled channels.
The vast majority of Mong Hsu rubies are heated with fluxes to heal their fissures. This is a rare example of a fingerprint in an Mong Hsu ruby that has not been heated. Note the angular nature of the negative crystals and the two-phase fillings.
This high-temperature ruby bead necklace was impregnated with red wax. Here the wax has filled a small cavity in one of the ruby beads. One can clearly see a gas bubble in the red wax.
This necklace of ruby beads from Mogok, Burma was high-temperature heat treated. The treatment was easily unmasked by examination in short-wave ultraviolet light, where the beads displayed a characteristic zoned chalky red fluorescence.
Deep blue core and diaspore silk within an unheated ruby from Mong Hsu, Burma. Heat treatment is typically performed to remove this blue color. Its presence suggests the stone has not been heated.
A fingerprint within a rare untreated ruby from Mong Hsu, Myanmar. Most Mong Hsu rubies are heat treated, often with flux, and the individual negative crystals within the fingerprint become more rounded.
Stepped growth on the surface of a natural ruby crystal from Mogok, Burma.
The secret silken world of this untreated ruby from Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract is revealed with overhead lighting that reflects off of the undissolved rutile silk. The lack of breakdown proves that the gem has not been subjected to high-temperature heat treatment.

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Burmese ruby inclusions may include mineral crystals, rutile silk, healed fissures, fluid inclusions, negative crystals, growth features and other internal features formed during or after crystal growth. Such features are important to gemologists because they can provide evidence useful in identifying ruby and evaluating a possible Burmese origin.

Burmese Ruby Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion Burmese ruby gallery includes microscopic features documented in rubies from Myanmar (Burma). Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Burmese Ruby

Inclusions are an important part of geographic origin determination in ruby. Their form, composition, orientation and associations can provide evidence that, when considered together with other gemological properties, may support or contradict a Burmese origin.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Burmese rubies.

About Hyperion

Hyperion is the Lotus Gemology searchable inclusion database. It allows users to browse gemstone inclusions by gem type, geographic origin, treatment and keyword.