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

The “Estrela de Fura,” a remarkable gemstone weighing 55.22 carats, achieved yet another milestone in its illustrious journey. At the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auction, this exceptional gem shattered records by fetching a staggering $34.8 million. Surpassing the previous record set by the “Sunrise Ruby” in 2015, which sold for $30.3 million, the “Estrela de Fura” proved to be an even more valuable acquisition.

Sotheby’s described this gem as “exceedingly rare” and immensely “valuable and important.” Discovered in Mozambique by the Canadian company Fura Gems, the name “Estrela de Fura” pays tribute to its status as the gem firm’s prized find. Even in its original state, experts recognized that the “Estrela de Fura” was truly unparalleled. Its deep red hue, known as “pigeon’s blood,” is a characteristic shared only by select Burmese rubies.

Before the auction, the estimated value of the ruby was set at $30 million. Rubies of this caliber have been few and far between, with only two previous sales surpassing $15 million. Sotheby’s marveled at how nature had already crafted the gem, stating in a “First Look” video release prior to the auction.

In addition to the “Estrela de Fura,” another remarkable jewel also broke records at the Magnificent Jewels auction. “The Eternal Pink,” a rosy-pink jewel weighing 10.57 carats, achieved the same sale price of $34.8 million. The total sales at the Magnificent Jewels Auction reached an impressive $95.9 million, surpassing the previous record of $65.1 million set in April 2015. This auction now stands as Sotheby’s highest-grossing jewelry auction ever held in New York.