The world’s largest ruby is on display in Hong Kong: expected to fetch over US$30 million at a Sotheby’s New York auction, the 55.22-carat ‘Estrela de Fura’ from Mozambique could break sales records

Apr 21 , 2023

A representative from Sotheby’s Hong Kong holds up the Estrela de Fura Ruby in Hong Kong on April 17. Photo: AFP

The Estrela de Fura, or ‘Star of Fura’ in Portuguese, was unearthed from Fura’s Montepuez mine in July 2022, weighing a whopping 101 carats as a rough gemstone

The current world record for a ruby sale was set by the Burmese Sunrise Ruby in May 2015; the Estrela de Fura will be displayed at Taipei, China, Singapore, Geneva and Dubai before its auction in June

The largest ruby in the world to come to auction will be offered by Sotheby’s in New York in June, the auction house said at a preview in Hong Kong on Monday, and is estimated to achieve more than US$30 million.

The Estrela de Fura Ruby, the largest and most valuable ruby ever to appear at auction (55.22 carats) is expected to fetch at least US$30 million at Sotheby’s New York in June. Photo: AFP

That would probably make the 55.22-carat gem, known as the Estrela de Fura, the most expensive ruby ever sold at auction, said Uni Kim, a specialist in Sotheby’s jewellery department in the Asian financial capital.

“It is from Mozambique, which is also one of the new and more popular origins that we see for rubies, apart from the more traditional and the classic Burmese pieces,” Kim added.

An employee shines a light at the 55.22 carat The Estrela de Fura ruby, the largest in the world, during a preview at Sotheby’s, in Hong Kong, on April 17. Photo: Reuters

The current world record for a ruby sold at auction was set in May 2015 by “Sunrise Ruby”, a 25.59-carat Burmese stone that fetched US$30.3 million at Sotheby’s in Geneva.

The new stone, whose name means “Star of Fura” in Portuguese, was unearthed from mining company Fura’s ruby mine in Mozambique’s northern region of Montepuez in July 2022.

“The Estrela de Fura” ruby is from Montepuez in Mozambique. Photo: Reuters

Kim said the ruby, to be offered at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale, was a 101-carat rough gemstone when first discovered, fuelling excitement among many in the gem industry.

The quality and size of the gemstone “is almost unheard of”, Dev Shetty, the chief executive of Fura Gems, said in a statement.

“The Estrela de Fura” ruby was 101 carats when first discovered, and has caused plenty of buzz in the gem industry for its size and quality. Photo: Reuters

“We estimate Estrela de Fura to be sold in excess of US$30 million,” Kim added. “Hopefully we’ll be able to see it just setting a new record for Mozambique rubies.”