A breathtaking ruby known as the "Estrela de Fura" has recently shattered records by selling for a staggering $34.8 million at an auction in New York. Weighing an impressive 55.22 carats, this gem has set a new market value record as the largest gem-quality ruby ever discovered. Unearthed in Mozambique by the Canadian firm Fura Gems, the Estrela de Fura has quickly become a symbol of rarity and beauty in the world of gemstones.
Sotheby's, the renowned auction house, described this extraordinary gem as "exceedingly rare" and "the most valuable and important" ruby to enter the market. Its Portuguese name, Estrela de Fura, translates to "Star of Fura" in Mozambique, paying homage to its origins.
While coloured diamonds often dominate record-breaking gemstone sales, rubies are regarded as some of the world's rarest and most valuable gemstones. The previous auction record for a ruby was held by the Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59-carat stone discovered in Myanmar that sold for $30.3 million in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2015.
The journey of the Estrela de Fura began when it was unearthed in one of Fura Gems' mines in Mozambique less than a year ago. The rough stone garnered significant attention due to its size, weighing 101 carats at the time of discovery, nearly double its current weight.
Before being sold at auction, a gemstone undergoes a meticulous process of polishing, cutting, and cleaning to enhance its colour, brightness, and overall appeal. According to Sotheby's, the Swiss Gemmological Institute's analysis revealed that the cutting and polishing process resulted in vivid red hues due to multiple internal reflections, further enhancing the gem's beauty.
Dev Shetty, the founder and CEO of Fura Gems, expressed his awe at the size and quality of stones like the Estrela de Fura, stating that they are "almost unheard of." He emphasized the care and respect with which the gem was handled throughout the analysis, cutting, and polishing process, recognizing its immense importance and stature.
Mozambique, the country where rubies were originally discovered many years ago, experienced a significant boost in the ruby mining industry in 2009 when a substantial deposit of these precious stones was found near the city of Montepuez. Today, Mozambique is considered one of the most successful nations for mining rubies. Among the treasures unearthed in this region is the Estrela de Fura. Sotheby's described the gem as having "outstanding clarity" and colour resembling the highly coveted "pigeon's blood" often associated with Burmese rubies.
The sale of the Estrela de Fura not only represents a new market value record for rubies but also showcases the allure and desirability of these rare gemstones. With its remarkable size, flawless clarity, and mesmerizing colour, this exceptional ruby has secured its place in history as one of the most extraordinary and valuable gems ever discovered.