In July 2008, US President George W. Bush signed a law that modified existing sanctions against Burma (Myanmar). Hidden in the fine text of that bill was an exemption for the US oil giant, Chevron.
In 2003, the US government signed into law a ban on the importation of any article that was produced, mined, manufactured, grown or assembled in Burma (Myanmar), creating a defacto ban on the importation of Burmese gems. This article examines both the pros and cons of that ban.
The author makes his first pilgrimage to Burma's Mogok Stone Tract, home of the pigeon's blood ruby.
Digital Devil #13. A tale of Burmese rubies, Burmese heat, a Shan princess and a Burmese general.
An account of the authors' 1997 visit to Burma's jade mines.
Myanmar's jadeite mines occupy a privileged place, representing the planet's principal source of fine jadeite jade. This article covers the deposits themselves, along with the cutting, grading and trading of jadeite.
A brief history of Burmese (Myanmar) sapphires, along with details of some of the major pieces of yore.
An essay on buying gems at the source in Asia, with a discussion of how con men play on the greed of those who believe gems will be cheaper at the mines.
A description of the fracture healing of Mong Hsu ruby, along with the problems this has created in the gem trade.
The chapter on ruby and sapphire from Burma (Myanmar) from Richard Hughes' 1997 book, Ruby & Sapphire.
Since the turn of the millennium, the price of fine spinel has risen at an incredible pace. No longer simply the poor man's ruby, spinel is finally getting the attention it deserves as one of the world's premier gems.
An exploration of Thailand's gem border towns with Myanmar (Burma), Mae Sot and Mae Sai.