PB2 — The Middle Tier in the Trade's Pigeon-Blood Ruby Stratification
PB2 — The Middle Tier in the Trade's Pigeon-Blood Ruby Stratification
Strong red rubies with slight reductions in saturation, fluorescence, or clean appearance relative to PB1
PB2 is dealer shorthand for the middle tier within the pigeon-blood colour range in ruby. Stones designated PB2 carry strong red saturation and the basic colour signature that qualifies for pigeon-blood discussion, but show some reduction relative to PB1 — slightly lower fluorescence, a faint purplish modifier, minor colour zoning visible under examination, or somewhat reduced transparency. The term has no formal laboratory standing; it is a stratification used by dealers to price stones within the broad pigeon-blood band and is most commonly heard in Bangkok and Hong Kong wholesale circles.
Position relative to PB1 and PB3
The pigeon-blood designation issued by Gübelin Gem Lab, SSEF, Lotus Gemology, and AGL is a binary comment on the laboratory report — either the stone qualifies or it does not. The trade's PB1, PB2, PB3 stratification overlays a market hierarchy on top of the laboratory comment, separating the qualifying population into three commercial tiers. PB2 sits below PB1 in saturation, fluorescence, and overall presence, and above PB3 in the same parameters. The differences are real to the experienced eye but small relative to the gulf between any pigeon-blood-qualifying stone and stones graded simply as vivid red without the pigeon-blood comment.
In pricing terms, PB2 stones typically trade at a discount of twenty to forty per cent below comparable PB1 examples of the same origin, size, and treatment status, and at a corresponding premium above PB3. The exact premiums vary with market conditions, the prominence of the laboratory issuing the report, and the auction or wholesale context.
Origin and treatment
PB2 stones are encountered across the major ruby origins. Mogok Burmese material in PB2 condition remains the price benchmark; Mong Hsu and Mozambique stones produce significant PB2 populations. Heat treatment is common; unheated PB2 stones command additional premiums of fifty to one hundred per cent or more over heated stones of equivalent visual quality, depending on origin.
Limitations of the term
As with PB1, the PB2 designation is informal. Buyers should rely on the laboratory's colour comment, fluorescence note, and origin and treatment determination as the documentation that drives price. PB2 functions usefully as dealer shorthand for sorting within the pigeon-blood population but does not substitute for the laboratory report.