Auctions

‘Estrela de Fura’ Ruby, Purplish Pink Diamond Sell For $30M+ Each At Sotheby’s

AuctionsJun 08, 2023

‘Estrela de Fura’ Ruby, Purplish Pink Diamond Sell For $30M+ Each At Sotheby’s

The “Estrela de Fura” is now the most expensive ruby ever sold at auction, while the purplish pink diamond set a couple records of its own.

The Eternal Pink diamond
“The Eternal Pink,” a 10.57-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond, set a new world record price as well as a new price-per-carat record for a diamond of its color.
View Slideshow
New York—In a first for any auction house, Sotheby’s sold two jewels for more than $30 million each on the same day—one of multiple records set at Thursday’s Magnificent Jewels auction. 

The Mozambiquan ruby “Estrela de Fura 55.22” sold for $34.8 million ($630,288 per carat), a world record for a ruby and any colored gemstone at auction. It topped its pre-sale estimate of $30 million.

A private collector from the Middle East bought the gemstone.

The fancy purplish-pink diamond, “The Eternal Pink,” also sold for $34.8 million ($3.3 million per carat).

Sotheby’s said the 10.57-carat stone is the most vivid pink diamond to ever come to market.

The sale set a world auction record for a fancy purplish pink diamond and a new price-per-carat record for the color grade, though the stone didn’t quite live up to the pre-sale hype

Both gemstones were sold at the Magnificent Jewels auction Thursday, where total sales added up to $95.9 million (estimate $87.9 – $99.1 million), setting yet another record as the highest ever total for any jewelry auction ever staged at Sotheby’s in New York.

The previous record of $65.1 million was set in April 2015.

“We witnessed the historic sale of not one, but two of the most exquisite and important diamonds and gemstones to ever hit the auction block,” Head of Sotheby’s Jewelry, Americas Quig Bruning said.

Estrela de Fura 55.22
“It’s difficult to express the range of emotions I felt when I first laid eyes on the ‘Estrela de Fura 55.22’, but to put it simply, I was entranced. With its unprecedented size, piercing color and rare degree of optical transparency and clarity, it truly deserved the record-breaking price today, as it now joins the ranks of the world’s most legendary gemstones,” Bruning said.

The Estrela De Fura 55.22
The “Estrela De Fura 55.22” is the largest gem-quality ruby to ever appear at auction and the most valuable colored gemstone ever sold at auction. It garnered $34.8 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction on Thursday.

The 55-carat ruby began as a 101-carat rough discovered at Fura Gems’ ruby mine in Mozambique in July 2022, one of the largest ruby deposits in the world.

It had begun collecting accolades before the jewelry auction when named the largest gem-quality ruby to ever appear at auction.

Rubies of this importance and magnitude are exceedingly rare, the auction house said. Only two examples having ever surpassed $15 million at auction, making the gem’s appearance itself a landmark event.

Fura Gems founder and CEO Dev Shetty called the achievement “a monumental milestone in FURA Gems incredible journey.”

“In just five years, our company has experienced extraordinary growth, culminating in a historic moment where we proudly set a world record for any ruby or colored gemstone sold at auction.”

The record previously was held by the 25.59-carat Burmese stone, the “Sunrise Ruby,” which garnered $30.3 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2015 but recently was sold again at auction for much less

In Sotheby’s “First Look” for the gemstone prior to auction, it said even in its rough state, experts considered the Mozambiquan ruby to be, “an exceptional treasure of nature for its fluorescence, outstanding clarity and vivid red hue, known as ‘pigeon’s blood’—a color traditionally associated only with Burmese rubies.”

While Shetty said the 55-carat ruby is a “once-in-a-generation discovery” and “the ultimate representation of Fura Mozambique rubies,” he believes the sale could put Mozambique on the map as a significant source for the gemstone moving forward.

Its name means “Star of Fura” in Portuguese, a nod to one of the languages spoken in Mozambique.

“This ruby is a gift from Mother Earth, and its new owners will carry an enormous legacy for many years to come,” Shetty said.

“Today’s achievement not only validates our belief but also establishes a significant achievement for Fura Gems, and sets a precedent for Mozambique rubies, elevating them to the esteemed status of their Burmese counterparts.”

Sotheby’s previously said a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Estrela de Fura will be allocated toward setting up the Fura Training Academy, with the goal of promoting access to education and technical training in the fields of mining, engineering, carpentry and agriculture.

The Eternal Pink
“It was equally an honor to have handled a diamond as breathtaking and extraordinary in nature as ‘The Eternal Pink,’ and its price today reaffirms that Sotheby’s is the premier destination for the world’s rarest diamond creations,” Bruning said.

The Eternal Pink Diamond
“The Eternal Pink” sold for $34.8 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels on June 8. It set a world auction record for a fancy purplish pink diamond and a new price-per-carat record for the color grade.

The internally flawless, fancy vivid purplish pink diamond’s sale price of $34.8 million far surpasses the previous record for a diamond of this color grade, a 10.64-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond sold for $19.9 million ($1.9 million per carat) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2019.

However, the price paid for The Eternal Pink fell just below its pre-sale estimate.

Previously, the auction house thought the diamond would challenge the price-per-carat record for any diamond or gemstone sold at auction that is currently held by the Williamson Pink Star (sold for $57.7 million/$5.2 million per carat), placing The Eternal Pink’s pre-sale estimate at $35 million/$3.3 million per carat at the lowest.

De Beers, in partnership with the government of Botswana, unearthed the rough that became The Eternal Pink at the country’s Damtshaa mine.

Over a period of six months, it was fashioned into a cushion cut by Diacore’s team of artisans, who aimed to “maximize the diamond’s electric ‘bubblegum’ color to full potential,” the auction house said.

Bruning commented, “I proudly speak on behalf of the global Jewelry Department at Sotheby’s when I say how truly privileged we are to have been a steward of these ultra-rare gems and today’s results are further proof that there is continued demand for the finest diamonds and gemstones of the very highest order.”

 Related stories will be right here … 

More Jewelry Auction News
Sotheby’s found buyers for 91 percent of all lots at the auction, with more than two-third of sold lots achieving prices above their highest pre-sale estimates. Beyond the two jewels that surpassed the $30 million mark, an additional four pieces sold for more than $1 million.

Also up for sale at Sotheby’s Thursday were the 11 pieces in the collection of Constance Prosser Mellon and Constance Barber Mellon, all of which sold, totaling $6.9 million in combined sales. It outdid its collective estimate of $3.9-$6.1 million.

Highlights include a prolonged five-minute battle between eight bidders for a Cartier sapphire and diamond ring from the collection of Constance Prosser Mellon, culminating in a final sale of $3.3 million (estimate: $1.5-$2.5 million).

A Cartier sapphire and diamond ring from the collection of Constance Prosser
A Cartier sapphire and diamond ring from the collection of Constance Prosser sold for $3.3 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction Thursday.

The 33.51-carat royal blue sapphire is of classic Burmese origin with no indication of heating.

Also from Constance Prosser’s collection, a sapphire and diamond necklace created by Cartier in the 1950s, found a buyer for $2.8 million (estimate $2-$3 million).

A Cartier sapphire and diamond necklace from the collection of Constance Prosser
A Cartier sapphire and diamond necklace from the collection of Constance Prosser sold for $2.8 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels on June 8.

The necklace features five Kashmir sapphires, weighing a total of approximately 34.95 carats, and is further accented by round, baguette and square-cut diamonds.

“Epitomizing the bold visual language and finest quality of craftsmanship for which the prestigious house is so well-known, the necklace is also a fascinating embodiment of Cartier’s design evolution in response to the fashion of the times, illustrated here with the shortened choker—a noted departure from the longer, draped necklaces of the Art Deco period,” the auction house said.

Further property from the collections of Constance Prosser Mellon and Constance Barber Mellon will be sold in Sotheby’s Fine Jewels sale on June 14.

The catalog is available on Sotheby’s website.

“Today’s record-breaking result is a direct reflection and further confirmation of Sotheby’s position as a market leader at the highest echelon of the global jewelry industry,” said Sotheby’s Head of Magnificent Jewels, New York Catharine Becket. 

“We are honored to have brought to auction this exceptional selection of jewels—anchored by several private collections with storied provenance—encompassing top-quality diamonds, superlative colored gemstones, and signed jewels from the most esteemed houses.” 

The Latest

Bergman Jewelers family
IndependentsApr 01, 2025
Bergman Jewelers in Omaha Closing After 137 Years

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

QVC Group Inc. logo
MajorsApr 01, 2025
QVC Group to Cut 900 Jobs in the U.S.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

Coconut Grove Jewelry & Watch Show
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
U.S. Antique Shows Adds Fall Show in Florida

The debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.

bench jeweler 1872x1052.png
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They Deserve

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The Jewelry Symposium (TJS)
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
TJS to Host Discussion on Jewelry Industry’s Labor Shortage

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.

Weekly QuizMar 27, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann Collection Bracelets
CollectionsApr 01, 2025
Monica Rich Kosann Says ‘Good Grief’ in Peanuts Jewelry Collection

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Graphic for What Do We Mean When We Say “Recycled” Gold webinar
Recorded WebinarsMar 31, 2025
Watch: What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Recycled’ Gold?

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

Facets-of-Fire-Difference-You-Can-See.jpg
Brought to you by
Natural Diamonds Should Mean More

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

Mindi Mond Clarity Earrings
TrendsMar 31, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Dripping in Diamonds

Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

Lashbrook ring
MajorsMar 31, 2025
Lashbrook Expands Into Luxury Golf Gifts With Acquisition

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

Bulgari and LVMH Watches CEO Jean-Christophe Babin
WatchesMar 31, 2025
Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin Will Also Head LVMH Watches

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Surveillance footage of robbery
CrimeMar 28, 2025
2 Suspects Arrested in $1.7M Smash-and-Grab Robbery of NY Jewelry Store

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Nephrite and Jadeite by Heinrich Fischer, Richard W. Hughes
SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in English

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

LÖF The Valentine Ring
CollectionsMar 28, 2025
Piece of the Week: Löf’s ‘The Valentine’ Ring

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

Eggs on a shelf
SurveysMar 27, 2025
Consumer Confidence Falls in March Amid ‘Gloomy’ Outlook

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

Austin Butler
WatchesMar 27, 2025
Austin Butler Joins Breitling as Brand Ambassador

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

ICA Congress Brazil 2025
SourcingMar 27, 2025
Susan Jacques, Gaetano Cavalieri to Headline 2025 ICA Congress

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

Bailey’s Fine Jewelry storefront
IndependentsMar 26, 2025
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Acquires Fellow NC Independent Jeweler

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Bulova 150 Art Deco Miss America Watch, 150 Art Deco Pocket Watch
WatchesMar 26, 2025
Bulova Celebrates 150th Anniversary With Art Deco Watches

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.

Alex Wellen
MajorsMar 26, 2025
QVC Group Appoints New President

Alex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.

Jewelers of America’s new logo
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2025
Jewelers of America Announces New Funding Initiative

The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.

Diamond earrings held in gloved hand
CrimeMar 25, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Earrings Swallowed Following Grab-and-Run Theft Recovered

The two pairs of earrings, snatched from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida, are valued at a combined $769,500.

Emmanuel Raheb CEO of Smart Age Solutions
ColumnistsMar 25, 2025
The Smart Lab: Using Short-Form Videos to Sell More Jewelry

The time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

Pomellato Nudo High Jewelry Campaign
CollectionsMar 24, 2025
Pomellato’s Latest ‘Nudo’ Collections Revamp its Classic Design

From striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.

Jamie Singleton, Bill Brace, Rebecca Wooters, Bill Luth
MajorsMar 24, 2025
4 Top Executives to Depart Signet Jewelers Amid Turnaround

The jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.

Sothebys Watchcheck
WatchesMar 24, 2025
Sotheby's Now Offers Watch Repair Services

The auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.

Swarovski lab-grown diamond Galaxy earrings
FinancialsMar 21, 2025
Swarovski Says Its Lab-Grown Diamond Sales Doubled in 2024

The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy