On Oct. 7, an executive order officially lifted the 8-year-old ban on Burmese rubies and jade entering the United States. President Obama first announced his intention to end the blockade against gems from Myanmar (the former Burma) during a Sept. 14 meeting with the country’s leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  While it’s not clear how much ruby mining continues in the country’s 1,000-year-old gem industry, Burmese origin still holds considerable cachet, and the country’s best rubies are considered among the most desirable gems in the world.  The ban was first enacted with the passage of the JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act in 2008, an attempt by Congress to put pressure on the country’s military government. The following year, provisions were added that strengthened the ban.  The blockade had an immediate effect on the ruby business, leading