Mogok (Ruby Land)
Mogok also known as Ruby Land is 128 miles north of Mandalay and oven shaped surrounded by four mountains namely, Myomin Taung 5955 feet in the east, Taungme Taung 7544 feet in the north-east, Pingu Taung 5354 feet and Daw Nan Kyi Taung 5277 feet in the west. The town is covered with green and lush forest with wet weather mixed national races of Shan, Palaung, Lisu and Bamar are the main residents living together. Geologists estimate that the rock layer of Mogok is one of the most natural rock layers of Myanmar and it existed about one thousand million years ago where human beings had been living in pre-historic era.
Mogok is famous worldwide for its precious gems like rubies sapphires and others Gems are extracted by digging traditional methods and mining by machinery equipment in respective gem tracts. Gems industry comprises of extraction, cutting and marketing and the market is owned by both the state and the private sector. During the reign of King Mendon in 1852, the King directly dealt with foreigners in sale of the gems.
Private gem dealers open sale shops and venues called “Hta Pwe”. In gem markets there are lovely and noble traditions enforced by them selves and these are:
• Nobody sells imitated gems at the Mogok market.
• Valuable stones are purchased at the barging prices weather the prices are high or low.
• If a dealer is bargaining another will not over take him to bargain and
• Gem dealing is also done under set conditions.