April 18, 2026
The Pigeon Blood Ruby: Understanding the World's Most Coveted Colour
Of the many qualities that define an exceptional ruby, colour reigns supreme. The term "pigeon blood" has been used for centuries to describe the most prized shade — a pure, vivid red with a hint of blue...
By Certified Gemologist
The Pigeon Blood Ruby
Of the many qualities that define an exceptional ruby, colour reigns supreme. The term "pigeon blood" has been used for centuries to describe the most prized shade — a pure, vivid red with a hint of blue, saturated enough to glow almost from within without sliding into purple or pinkish territory.
Where the term comes from
The phrase originates in Mogok, Burma (modern Myanmar) — the historic source of the finest rubies on earth. Local traders compared the finest stones to the first two drops of blood from a slaughtered pigeon's nose: a deep, slightly fluorescent red with no brown undertones. Today the term carries real technical weight: GRS, Gübelin and SSEF each define pigeon blood in slightly different ways, but all converge on the same narrow window of hue, saturation and tone.
