The largest ruby ever to be put up for auction has broken records at Sotheby’s. The gemstone, named Estrela de Fura, captivated bidders with its extraordinary size and exceptional beauty. It was cut from a rough stone weighing 101 carats, which was discovered in July of the previous year at the Montepeuz ruby mine in Mozambique.
The highly anticipated sale, featuring a collection of 100 distinctive jewellery pieces with an initial starting price of $21 million, the Estrela de Fura was destined to be the star attraction. It certainly lived up to its billing, commanding a staggering final price of $30 million, plus fees and commissions. The identity of the buyer remains anonymous.
The previous record for a ruby at auction was held by a 25.59 carat Burmese ruby, sold for a total of $30.33 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva back in 2015. The Estrela de Fura has now claimed the crown, solidifying its place as the largest ruby ever to go under the hammer.
In addition to the Estrela de Fura, Sotheby’s achieved another remarkable feat with the sale of The Eternal Pink, a rare 10.57 carat diamond sourced from a mine in Botswana. This captivating gemstone commanded the same impressive price of $34.8 million. The sale set a record per carat for a stone of its colour, reaching an astounding $3.29 million.
Although The Eternal Pink didn’t surpass the highest-ever price paid for a pink diamond, which stands at $71.2 million for the 59.60-carat Pink Star sold in Hong Kong in 2017, its sale at Sotheby’s demonstrates the continued allure and demand for exceptional coloured diamonds.
Sotheby’s also stated that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Estrela de Fura will be dedicated to establishing the Fura Training Academy, which aims to enhance educational and technical opportunities in the areas of mining, carpentry, and agriculture. This initiative seeks to foster increased access to education and skill development in these fields and enhance the overall industry.
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