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"The Estrela de Fura"

Frank Hall


A ruby weighing 55.22 carats is the world’s largest gem-quality ruby.  It was sold at Sotheby’s New York for $34.8 million US, a new record for a ruby.  The stone was found in Mozambique in 2022 weighing 101 carats in the rough.

 

Ruby is the birthstone for July and symbolizes passion, protection and wealth.

 

History suggests that rubies were traded along China’s North Silk Road as early as 200 BC and very important to noblemen who decorated their armor with them.

 

Burma was the world’s main source for some of the highest quality rubies until the

1990’s when the quality was depleting.  The Myanmar area began producing good quality rubies, but they are not the rich red hue like the Burmese stones. 

 

The ruby can be heat treated to increase the saturation and transparency which is a common practice for rubies.  Imitation rubies date back to Roman times, though they weren’t synthesized until the early 1900’s. 

 

Ruby is sometimes confused with spinel, garnet and synthetics.

 

The most famous ruby, the “DeLong Star” (100.32 carats) is in the Museum of Natural History, NY.


Courtesy of Canadian Professional Appraisers

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