Editor’s Note
This article highlights the upcoming auction of the “Estrela de FURA 55.22,” a record-breaking ruby. At 55.22 carats, it is noted as the largest and most valuable gem-quality ruby ever to come to auction, with an estimated value surpassing $30 million. Mined in Mozambique, it will be a centerpiece of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale this June.
Weighing 55.22 carats, this rare gemstone rough is the largest and most valuable ruby ever to appear at auction.
With an estimated value exceeding $30 million, it was mined in Mozambique as a 101-carat rough and has undergone a cutting process.
The Estrela de FURA 55.22, the largest gem-quality ruby in existence, is set to be the highlight of Sotheby’s upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction in June.
— The Gübelin Gem Lab
NEW YORK, April 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The historic discovery of the world’s largest gem-quality ruby, announced by FURA Gems in September 2022, made headlines worldwide, generating immense excitement and captivating the gem rough market. Mined in July 2022 from FURA’s ruby mine in Montepuez, Mozambique, this rough weighed a remarkable 101 carats and was subsequently named Estrela de FURA (Portuguese for ‘Star of FURA’), highlighting both its exceptional color and size and promoting Mozambique, a premier source for premium rubies. Even in its rough, uncut state, Estrela de FURA was hailed by experts as an extraordinary natural treasure due to its fluorescence, exceptional transparency, and a vivid red hue—reminiscent of ‘pigeon’s blood’—typically associated only with Burmese rubies.
Seven months after its unveiling, the Estrela de FURA 55.22 was officially presented by Sotheby’s auctioneer Uni Kim following the conclusion of the Exceptional Luxury Evening Auction in Hong Kong, putting an end to widespread speculation about its whereabouts. Weighing 55.22 carats, this significant and rare Mozambican gem is the largest gem-quality ruby ever offered at auction. With its rich color, crystal-clear transparency, and incomparable size—all in an unheated state—the Estrela de FURA 55.22 carries an estimated value of over $30 million, making it the most valuable and significant ruby ever presented to the market.
The 101-carat crystal rough, Estrela de FURA, underwent multiple reviews earlier this year to determine the cutting approach. Subsequently, a team of master artisans, known as *attijari*, meticulously cut and faceted the rough, transforming it into a beautiful cushion-shaped gemstone. A report from the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) stated:
The report added:
Rich in chromium, the gem emits an intense red fluorescence when exposed to sunlight (UV), enhancing its vivid appearance as if lit from within.
In today’s market, where a gem’s color and rarity are key drivers, ruby has become one of the most popular colored gemstones. Rubies as significant and large as Estrela de FURA are exceedingly rare. To date, only two rubies have ever sold at auction for over $15 million, making the appearance of Estrela de FURA itself a landmark event. The Gübelin Gem Lab stated that this ruby is:
The Estrela de FURA 55.22 is projected to make history by surpassing the auction price of the Sunrise Ruby—a 25.59-carat Burmese ruby that sold for $30.3 million (approximately $1,185,451 per carat) at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2015, which still holds the world auction record* for a ruby.