Editor’s Note
This article details the discovery and unveiling of the Estrela de FURA, a record-breaking 55.22-carat ruby that emerged from a larger rough stone found in Mozambique. Its journey from a historic find to a polished gem highlights a significant moment for the colored gemstone industry.
New York, April 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — When FURA Gems announced the historic discovery of the world’s largest gem-quality ruby in September 2022, the news made headlines worldwide, generating immense excitement and captivating the gem market. Unearthed in July 2022 from Fura’s ruby mine in Montepuez, Mozambique, this remarkable gem weighed an astonishing 101 carats. It was subsequently named Estrela de FURA (Portuguese for “Star of FURA”) in tribute to its exceptional depth of color and size, shining a spotlight on Mozambique as a rich source of premium-quality rubies. Even in its rough, untouched state, Estrela de FURA was considered an extraordinary natural treasure by experts due to its fluorescence, remarkable transparency, and a vibrant red hue traditionally associated only with Burmese rubies, known as “pigeon’s blood.”
Seven months after the announcement, speculation about the ruby’s whereabouts finally ended when Sotheby’s auctioneer Uni Kim officially unveiled the Estrela de Fura 55.22 to the world as the final lot of The Exceptional Luxury Evening Auction in Hong Kong.
Weighing 55.22 carats, this highly significant and rare Mozambican gem is the largest gem-quality ruby ever to appear at auction. The combination of rich saturation, lack of heat treatment, a highly crystalline appearance, and unparalleled size means the Estrela de Fura 55.22, with an estimate exceeding $30 million, is the most valuable precious ruby to ever come to market.
The 101-carat rough crystal underwent a series of examinations, and cutting options were decided early in the year. The Estrela de Fura was then masterfully faceted by a team of artisans. The rough was transformed into a beautiful cushion-shaped stone. According to the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), “multiple internal reflections resulted in a vivid red hue.” The report further stated, “A natural ruby of this size and quality from Mozambique is extremely rare and can be considered an exceptional natural treasure.” The stone is rich in chromium, causing it to emit a fiery red fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun, further enhancing its vividness as if lit from within.
The Estrela de Fura 55.22 carat ruby arrives at a time when color dominates the gem world and rarity drives the market. Rubies of this magnitude and importance are exceedingly rare; only two examples have previously broken the $15 million barrier at auction, making the appearance of this gem itself a landmark event. Gübelin Gem Lab further stated, “It sets a new record not only for rubies from Mozambique but for rubies in general.” The Estrela de Fura 55.22 is expected to surpass the price record set by the 25.59-carat Burmese ruby “The Sunrise Ruby,” which sold for $30.3 million (approximately $1,185,451 per carat) at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2015*.
The stone will be exhibited in Hong Kong, Taipei, China, Singapore, Geneva, and Dubai starting today, ahead of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on June 8 (schedule to be announced).
— Quig Bruning, Head of Jewelry for Sotheby’s Americas
— Dev Shetty, Founder & CEO of Fura Gems
Ruby mining in Mozambique has a long and rich history, with the first significant ruby deposits discovered in the country in the 1960s. However, ruby mining in Mozambique gained substantial momentum in the early 2000s with the discovery of the Montepuez ruby deposit in the country’s north, where the rough stone of Estrela de Fura was first found. The finest Mozambican rubies are characterized by remarkable transparency and rich color, with excellent overall quality. The Montepuez ruby deposit is one of the world’s largest ruby deposits and has attracted significant interest from international mining companies.
*The current world record for a ruby sold at auction is held by the 25.59-carat Burmese stone “Sunrise Ruby,” auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2015 for $30.3 million. This price also established a new per-carat record for rubies at the time ($1,185,451 per carat).