The World's Most Expensive Ruby Sells For Record-Breaking $34.8M USD

Weighing in at 55.22 carats, the “Estrela de Fura” is the world’s largest known gem-quality ruby – and this Thursday, the stone broke another record when it sold for a whopping $34.8 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auction. The sum fetched exceeded the previous gem auction record — $30.3M USD for the 25.59-carat “Sunrise Ruby” in May 2015 — by over $4M USD, although it was technically a better buy: the “Estrela de Fura” cost roughly $530,206 USD a karat while the “Sunrise Ruby” went for rougly $1,184,056 USD a karat.

Described by Sothebys as “exceedingly rare” and highly “valuable and important,” the “Estrela de Fura” was discovered in Mozambique by Canadian firm Fura Gems. Its name is Portuguese for “Star of Fura,” nodding to its status as the gem firm’s prize discovery. Even in its untouched initial state, experts knew “Estrela de Fura” was like no other; the stone’s deep red coloring is known as “pigeon’s blood,” a hue only select Burmese rubies exemplify.

The ruby’s pre-sale estimate was $30M USD. Prior to auction, rubies of this stature remained few and far between, with only two previous ruby sales surpassing $15M USD. “Nature preshaped it for us,” Sotheby’s fawned in a “First Look” video release before the auction.

“Estrela de Fura” was not the only jewel to break a record at the recent Magnificent Jewels auction. A 10.57-carat rosy-pink jewel dubbed “The Eternal Pink” tied the ruby’s sale at $34.8M USD. Overall sales at the Magnificent Jewels Auction totaled $95.9M USD, breaking April 2015’s gem auction record of $65.1M USD, and making this auction the highest-grossing jewelry auction staged at Sotheby’s New York.

If you want to learn about more accessible jewelry, check out our interview with Aaron Changpo around his genderless line.