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.
The believe-it-or-not story of Australia's Lenny Cram and his opal mine in a mason jar.
The history of Burma's jade mines, as seen through Western eyes, from the earliest accounts through World War II.
An account of the authors' 1997 visit to Burma's jade mines.
In 1996, several gemologists set off for Burma's remote jade mines, the first visit by foreigners since the early 1960's. This is the story of their epic journey.
The author makes his first pilgrimage to Burma's Mogok Stone Tract.
A brief history of Burmese (Myanmar) sapphires, along with details of some of the major pieces of yore.
A discussion of brilliance, windows and extinction as they relate to the face-up appearance of colored gemstones. Diagrams demonstrate that extinction is largely a function of cut.
This article traces the shift in Sino–Burmese gem exchange from a Ming-era emphasis on baoshi (寳石; rubies, sapphires, tourmalines and others) to the Qing embrace of Burmese jade, or fei cui (翡翠). Using Yunnan-centered sources, it argues that the term fei cui was first applied to Burmese jade in 1719 (Ni Tui), marking a conceptual turn that paralleled a market one: by the late 18th century, fei cui trade through Tengyue/Dali expanded rapidly, values soared, and top fei cui surpassed Xinjiang yu (nephrite) in price. Court taste—especially under Qianlong—accelerated demand, reorienting extraction and commerce in northern Burma. The study highlights evolving terminology, monopolies over ruby/sapphire, and growing jade-working industries, concluding that Chinese consumer preference was the primary external force shaping Burmese gem mining and exports from the Yuan–Ming through the Qing and into the modern era.
This article is a brief survey of the historical methods of describing and assessing the quality of coloured gemstones, tracing these from ancient times to the end of the 18th century. Examining historical texts and inventories reveals how features and flaws of gemstones were observed and used to determine their value. The article considers various historical periods, including the ancient world, medieval Muslim world, early India, and medieval Europe, highlighting the changing criteria and expertise involved in judging gems. This study demonstrates the historical depth of gem connoisseurship and its influence on modern gem assessment practices.
