Most expensive ruby

The most expensive ruby is the "Estrela de Fura", an unmounted 55.22-carat pigeon's-blood ruby that sold for $34.8 million (£28 m; €32.5 m) at Sotheby's auction house in New York City, USA, on 8 June 2023.

The Estrela de Fura ("Star of Fura") was carved from a 101-carat rough stone that was unearthed in Montepuez, Mozambique, in July 2022 by Fura Gems. It is a "pigeon's-blood ruby" – the rarest and most precious class of rubies, distinguished by its intense colour. It's believed to be the largest carved ruby ever to come to auction; as such, it had a pre-sale estimate of at least $30 m.

The Estrela de Fura surpassed the previous record of 28,250,000 Swiss francs ($30,274,100; £19,552,200; €27,122,000), including commission, paid by an anonymous buyer for the 25.59-carat "Sunrise Ruby", set with diamonds in a ring made by Cartier, at Sotheby's in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12 May 2015. The Sunrise Ruby originated from Myanmar and is also an example of a pigeon's-blood ruby.