May 2026
An 11,000-Carat Ruby Discovered in Myanmar's Mogok Valley
Myanmar state media announced on 8 May 2026 the discovery of an 11,000-carat rough ruby in the Mogok gem tract — weighing 2.2 kilograms and described as the second-largest ruby ever found in the country. The stone displays a purplish-red color with yellowish undertones and, according to officials, is in an untreated natural state with a vitreous luster and moderate transparency.
The discovery was made in mid-April 2026 in the Mogok region of Mandalay, the valley that has produced the world's finest rubies for at least a thousand years. The stone is surpassed in size only by the 21,450-carat ruby found in the same region in 1996, but officials asserted that the 2026 stone's superior color, clarity, and untreated status could make it significantly more valuable than its larger predecessor. Other historic Myanmar ruby finds include the NaSaKa ruby (2,789.25 carats, 2022) and the SLORC ruby (496.25 carats, 1990). The announcement reignited the complex ethical discussion surrounding Myanmar's gem trade: the country produces approximately 90% of the world's rubies by some estimates, but human rights organizations including Global Witness have urged international jewelers to suspend sourcing from Myanmar due to the ongoing civil conflict following the military coup of February 2021. The stone's ultimate fate — whether it will be cut, retained whole, or offered at auction — has not been disclosed, and its existence serves as a reminder that the Mogok valley, despite decades of intensive mining and political turmoil, still possesses the capacity to produce stones of extraordinary scale.