Sotheby’s Ruby Masterpiece That Still Resonates Years Later As the Lunar New Year approaches in February, people naturally turn to reflection and nostalgia. In a previous article, we reviewed the four most eye-catching rubies at auction in 2024. But if we look further back, which ruby remains truly unforgettable? That brings us to June 8, 2023, when Sotheby’s New York held its Magnificent Jewels Spring Auction. The sale featured 89 lots with a total value of USD 95.9 million. The most important highlight of the auction was the 55.22-carat cushion-cut ruby “Estrela de Fura,” which sold for USD 34.8045 million, breaking the previous world record for a ruby at public auction. This extraordinary ruby can be traced back to the Montepeuz mine in Mozambique. The original rough weighed 110 carats and, after cutting and polishing, became a 55.22-carat cushion-cut ruby. Certified by GRS as “Pigeon Blood”, the ruby displays strong fluorescence under ultraviolet light, along with an intensely vivid red color and exceptional, rare clarity. It is the largest gem-quality ruby ever offered at public auction. The stone was ultimately acquired by a private Middle Eastern collector for USD 34.8045 million, achieving an astonishing average price of USD 630,000 per carat. Although only two years have passed, no ruby in the world has yet matched this stone in both size and quality. Over the past two years, ruby prices have continued to rise, and it can only be said that the buyer showed remarkable vision.
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