The largest ruby ever auctioned is going under the hammer at Sotheby’s for an estimated $30 million
The largest ruby ever sold at auction will go under the hammer this summer at Sotheby’s in New York, where the auction house describes the gem as “an exceptional treasure.”
The ruby is called Estrela de Fura – Fura Star in Portuguese.
It was found in July 2022 in Mozambique, in a mine operated by Fura, a Dubai-based mining company.
The 55.22 carat gemstone is unusual not only for its size and clarity, but also for its location: until the discovery of Estrela de Fura, only Burma was thought to have rubies of such color and clarity.
Some analysts said the “once in a century” find shook up the gemstone industry.
Sotheby’s has posted an estimate of over $30 million which, if reached, would likely be the most valuable ruby ever sold at auction.
The Estrela de Fura will go on sale in June at Sotheby’s in New York, with an estimated price of $30 million
The ruby is depicted before being polished, as a 101-carat rough stone
Sotheby’s said that even in its 101-carat raw, untouched state, the ruby was “regarded by experts as an exceptional treasure of nature.”
It is celebrated “for its fluorescence, outstanding clarity and vibrant red hue, known as ‘pigeon’s blood’ – a color traditionally associated only with Burmese rubies.”
Quig Bruning, head of Sotheby’s Jewelry America, said the find had changed the perception of African gemstones and aligned them with Burmese.
“It is undoubtedly positioned to become the standard bearer for African rubies – and gemstones in general, creating global awareness for their ability to match, and even surpass, those from Burma, traditionally the most sought after and recognizable source for rubies,” he said.
The Gubelin Gem Lab, one of two laboratories that assessed the gemstone, said the size and quality of the ruby was “almost unimaginable.”
“It was almost unimaginable to see a natural ruby of this size, with such a combination of quality features spared from handling,” the New York-based firm said.
“The 55.22 carat natural ruby sets a new record not only for Mozambican rubies, but for rubies in general.”
Experts have said that the ruby, found in Mozambique, changes the perception of the quality of African stones
The other gem lab, the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), also based in New York, wrote that gems “show vibrant red hues due to multiple internal reflections.”
They said that “a natural ruby from Mozambique of this size and quality can be considered very rare and thus an exceptional treasure of nature.”
The current world record for a ruby sold at auction is held by the Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59-carat Burmese stone, which was auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2015 for $30.3 million.
This price also set a new record for each ruby per carat ($1,185,451 per carat) at the time.
The ruby was found in an area of Mozambique, Cabo Delgado province, where ISIS-inspired Islamic militants have been attacked.
The town of Montepuez was attacked in October, with hundreds of people fleeing their homes Human rights guard.
Two mines operating in the area – not operated by Fura – were forced to cease operations due to the attacks.