Mozambican masterpieces by FURA

Rubies are rarer by far than diamonds — and some of the finest rubies today come from Mozambique. Mindful of the opportunities, FURA Gems, a fast-moving young mining company, is resolute in expanding the ruby market even as it gets ready to hold its inaugural ruby auctions in Jaipur this month.

Gemstone miners do love rubies. For centuries Burma, now Myanmar, was the leading source of rubies. But Burma’s mines have been running out, and sanctions have squeezed supply, so fewer and fewer high-quality rubies have been available to consumers. Notwithstanding the depleting resources, miners have been able to bring this scarcity to an end.

Some of the loveliest rubies now come from Mozambique, in Africa, from sources discovered as recently as the late 2000s. Mozambican rubies are characterized by a rich hue and perfectly balanced fluorescence.

The wide spectrum of colors dark red to hot pink, and sizes open up a world of new possibilities for consumers looking to own distinctive and individualized gemstones. Furthermore, this caters brilliantly to the premium as well as mass segments of the ruby jewellery market.

Buoyed by the prospect, FURA Gems is single-mindedly, efficiently and sustainably expanding its sophisticated ruby operations in Cabo Delgado province.

THE RARITIES

Mozambique’s rubies were formed about 500 million years ago. This makes them several times older than Burmese rubies, though the latter are better known. The rubies of Mozambique have an unusual origin as well as great age. Most other ruby sources around the world are mined in hilly terrain. But Mozambican rubies are often found in the form of sheets of glistening rough stones lying in riverbeds.