Ruby & Sapphire • Spinel • Auction Records

Part 2 of Chapter 10 from Richard Hughes' 1997 book, Ruby & Sapphire. It covers record-setting rubies, sapphires and spinels.

Author's Note – Please read this

I am regularly contacted regarding the value of this or that giant corundum crystal (or even cut stone). Sometimes red, sometimes blue, virtually all are offered with inflated appraisals vastly overstating their true value. The most common scenario is a large ruby-in-zoisite from Tanzania being offered as "Burmese."

I would like to set the record straight once and for all. Such stones are not worth millions of dollars, nor are they worth hundreds of thousands. Indeed, it is the rare stone that would be worth even US$10,000.

The simple fact is that not all ruby is valuable, not all sapphire is valuable. In order to qualify as a gem, a specimen has to have the proper combination of fine color and high clarity. Such large corundum crystals (and cut stones) have a clarity and/or color so poor that it precludes them from being used as gems. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself. If you have such a kilogram-sized piece, slice a small piece off and have it cut. Then have it appraised by a legitimate appraiser (not a scam artist).

Whenever possible in the tables below, I have listed actual sale prices. These are the only true measure of a gem's value. All of the rough specimens listed in the Rough Corundum Giants table are not of gem quality and thus have no gem value (despite what an accompanying appraisal might say).

For more on this, see my article: "Big Time."

Note: For the most up-to-date listing of ruby, sapphire & spinel auction records, see Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel Auction Records at LotusGemology.com.

Summary of important rubies & sapphires

The following tables list important rubies and sapphires. It is hoped they will assist researchers in locating and identifying stones in the future, particularly those of historical interest. Of course, they are merely the first, not last, word on the subject.
Summary of record-setting rubies
Summary of record-setting sapphires
Table 10.3: Famous rubies:
Table 10.4: Titled red spinels:
Table 10.5: Rubies and sapphires in the Mughal treasury:
Table 10.6: Famous blue sapphires
Table 10.7: Famous sapphires other than blue
Table 10.8: Famous engraved/carved rubies & sapphires
Table 10.9: Rough corundum giants:

Summary of record-setting rubies at auction

Name, weight & description	Sale Location	Price realized	Origin	Reference
Sunrise Ruby 25.59 ct; faceted, cushion shape; Cartier ring. Auction per carat and total price record for ruby.	Sotheby's Geneva (Lot 1502) 12 May 2015	$32,420,000 total $1,266,901/ct	Burma Date unknown	Sotheby's, 2015
Unnamed 19.53 ct; oval star ruby cabochon; Etcetera ring. Auction record per carat and total price for a single star ruby	Christie's Hong Kong (Lot 1791) 27 Nov. 2012.	$1,247,412 total $63,871/ct	Burma Date unknown	Christie’s, 2012

Summary of record-setting blue sapphires

Name, weight, description and sale price^a	Source & date found	Current Location	Reference
Blue Belle of Asia 392.52 ct; faceted, cushion shape in necklace; $17,295,796 total ($44,063/ct) at Christie's Geneva (Lot 348), 11 Nov. 2014. Auction record total price for sapphire. Notes: A "reputed gem dealer" allegedly sold this sapphire to Lord Naffield of Britain. The Blue Belle is described as “being held in the highest esteem among blue sapphires owing to its highly prized peacock blue colour and its excellent clarity.”	Pelmadulla, Sri Lanka 1926	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Christie's 2014 From "Sapphires of Sri Lanka" by T. Piyadasa
Jewel of Kashmir 27.68 ct; faceted, octagonal shape; ring; $6,745,688 total ($243,703/ct) at Sotheby's Hong Kong (Lot 1860) 7 Oct. 2015. Auction record per carat price for a single sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Sotheby's 2015
Imperial Blue 17.16 ct; faceted, octagonal shape; ring; $8,372,094 total ($176,106/ct) at Sotheby's Hong Kong (Lot 1938) 7 Oct. 2014. Former auction record per carat price for a single sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Sotheby's 2014
Richelieu Sapphires Sapphire earrings with sapphires of 26.66 and 20.88 cts; $8,372,094 ($176,106 per ct) at Sotheby's Geneva 13 November 2013 sale (Lot 371). Former auction record total price for sapphire.	Kashmir	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Sotheby's 2013
Star of Kashmir Cushion-shaped sapphire of 19.88 cts set in diamond ring; $3,483,017 ($175,202 per ct) at Christie's Geneva 15 May 2013 sale (Lot 306). Former auction record per carat price for a single sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Lawrence Graff	Christie's 2013
Unnamed An octagonal-cut Ceylon sapphire brooch of 60.44 cts; $1,859,965 ($26,000 per ct) at Christie's Geneva 13 November 2012 sale (Lot 349). Auction record total price for a single Ceylon sapphire.	Ceylon Date unknown	Purchased by UK trade buyer	Christie's 2012
Unnamed Cushion-shaped sugarloaf cabochon Kashmir sapphire of 31.53 cts; set in gold and platinum ring within a circular-cut diamond surround, with circular-cut diamond shoulders; signed Van Cleef & Arpels, N.Y., No. 17988; sold for $2,658,500 ($84,3002/ct) at Christie's NewYork 17 April 2012, (Lot 225). Auction record per carat price for a cabochon sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by US trade buyer	Christie's 2012
Unnamed Cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 26.41 cts; sold for $3,838,508 ($145,342/ct) at Christie's Hong Kong 29 November, 2011 sale (Lot 2813). Former auction record per carat price for a single blue sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous Asian private buyer	Christie's 2011
Unnamed Sapphire & diamond bracelet by Cartier; 49.61 cts total weight; sold for HK$53,860,000 (US$6,942,856) at Christie's Hong Kong 1 June, 2010 sale (Lot 2388). Auction record total price for a single lot of blue sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by Ben Mellen & Son	Christie's 2010
Unnamed Cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 42.28 cts; sold for $3,489,167 ($82,500/ct) at Christie's Geneva 20 November, 2008 sale (Lot 279). Former auction record total price for a single blue sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Christie's 2007
Unnamed Cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 42.28 cts; sold for $3,489,167 ($82,500/ct) at Christie's Geneva 20 November, 2008 sale (Lot 279). Former auction record total price for a single blue sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Christie's 2007
Unnamed Cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 22.66 cts; sold for $3,064,000 ($135,216/ct) at Christie's NYC 25 April, 2007 sale (Lot 261). Former auction record per carat price for a single blue sapphire.	Kashmir ca. 1886	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Christie's 2007
Rockefeller Sapphire 62.02 ct; faceted, rectangular step cut; mounted in diamond ring; John D. Rockefeller, Jr. puchased this sapphire from a maharajah (rumored to be the Nizam of Hydrabad) in India in 1934; it was recut by Reginald Miller from 66.03 to 62.02 ct in the early 1970s; sold to Ralph Esmarian at Sotheby's St Moritz, Feb. 20, 1988, for $2,828,546 ($45,607/ct). At Christie's NYC 11 April, 2001 sale, it sold for $3,031,000 ($48,871/ct) (Lot 435). Former per carat and total price world record for a single blue sapphire. The following details are from Christie's: In 1934 John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the sapphire from the an Indian Maharajah rumored to have been the Nizam of Hyderabad through Raymond Yard who advised him on many of his jewelry transactions. Raymond Yard was also a close friend of Raphael Esmerian (1903–1976), the world's leading gem dealer of his time. Esmerian would appraise it on a regular basis. This was an opportunity for him to look at one of his favorite gems and to speak of the stone's perfection. In the early 1940's Esmerian was consulted by Pierre Cartier to improve the stone as it was to be remounted as a brooch for Rockefeller's wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (1874–1948). Cartier recut the stone to approximately 66 carats and made a brooch with calibré-cut sapphires and diamonds. In the 1950's Rockefeller's second wife, Martha Baird Rockefeller (1895–1971) had the brooch redesigned by Raymond Yard. In the winter of 1971, the Rockefeller family sold the jewelry from John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s estate in Zurich. The sapphire was purchased by Raphael Esmerian for approximately $170,000 and then sold the following year to an Italian private client. Upon this man's death, the family consigned the stone once more for auction in the spring of 1980. This time it was bought by Ralph Esmerian, Raphael's son, for approximately $1,500,000. Ralph Esmerian has continued his father's legacy by dealing in rare gems and exquisite objects in New York. It was after this purchase that the stone was repolished to it's weight of 62.02 carats and mounted in a platinum ring. In 1986 it was sold to an American private collector who only collected stones of the highest caliber. Other gems in his collection included the Ashoka, a superb D color, Internally Flawless diamond of 41.37 carats, a 20.00 carat square-cut pink diamond and an extraordinary green diamond of 3.02 carats. In 1988, this collection was sold at auction in St Moritz. The Rockefeller sapphire fetched a world record price of $2,850,000 and was purchased again by Ralph Esmerian who sold it to its present owner.	Burma Date unknown	Purchased by Asian private	Sotheby's, 1988a Hughes & Sersen, 1988b Federman, 1992 Matthews, 1993 Christie's, 2001
Unnamed Sapphire & diamond necklace, with sapphires of 36.00, 31.43, 30.91, 14.55 and 10.96 ct. Sold at Sotheby's New York, Oct. 26, 1989 (Lot 58) for $3,520,000. World record for a single lot of sapphires.	The 30.91-ct stone is from Sri Lanka; others are from Kashmir	Unknown	Sotheby's, 1989

Table 10.3: Summary of famous rubies

Name, weight, description and sale price^a	Source & date found	Current location	Reference
Nga Boh Ruby ('Dragon Lord' Ruby) 44 ct rough; 20 ct cut; presented to King Tharawadi (1837–1846)	Bawbedan, Mogok, Burma Found 1837–1846	Unknown	Streeter, 1892 Smith, 1913 Halford-Watkins, 1934
Chhatrapati Manik 25 rati^b (~21.5 ct); later repolished to 24 rati (~20.7 ct); oval cabochon; ~1 x 1.25 in (2.54 x 3.175 cm); its weight has also been listed as about 40 ct	Unknown (probably Burma)	Unknown	Clarke, 1933, 1934
Nga Mauk & Kallahpyan Rubies 7 ticals rough; cut stones of 98 & 74 ct	Mogok, Burma Found during reign of Mindon Min (1853-78); possibly 1861	Unknown	Streeter, 1892 Keely, 1982 Clark, 1991
Unnamed 36 ct; sold by King Mindon Min (reign: 1853–78) for £30,000	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Brown, 1933
J.N. Forster Rubies Two large Burma rubies brought to England in 1875, weighing 37 and 47 ct. These were put on the market by the Burmese royal family and were later recut by Forster to 32 5/16 and 39 9/16 ct (or 38 9/16 ct); one sold for £10,000, the other for £20,000, respectively.	Mogok, Burma Date unknown (before 1877)	Unknown	Tagore, 1879, 1881 Anonymous, 1887 Streeter, 1892 Brown, 1933 Halford-Watkins, 1934
Maung Lin Ruby 400-ct rough; broken into three pieces, two of which were cut into stones of 70 and 45 ct. The third piece was sold uncut in Calcutta for Rs70,000 (£4,666).	Burma Found during reign of Mindon Min (1853–78)	Unknown	Streeter, 1892 Smith, 1913 Halford-Watkins, 1934
Tagoungnandaing Ruby 18 7/16-ct rough; fine color with trace of blue; sold in rough in London for £7,000. Later cut to 11 ct.	Tagoungnandaing Valley Kyatpyin, Burma 1895	Unknown	Talbot, 1920 Halford-Watkins, 1934
Pingu Taung Ruby 8 7/16-ct rough; found in ludwin in Pingu Taung ('Spider Mountain'); sold in London for £1762	Mogok, Burma 1893	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Unnamed Rough which yielded cut gems of 98 and 74 ct	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Smith, 1913
Unnamed 49 ct rough	Burma 1887	Unknown	Smith, 1913
Unnamed ~304 ct rough	Burma 1890	Unknown	Smith, 1913
Unnamed Weight unknown; probably rough; valued at Rs17,000	Burma March, 1893	Unknown	Nature, 1893
Mandalay Ruby 48.019 ct; faceted; cushion; offered for sale by Sotheby's New York on Oct. 18, 1988. No bids. In 1988, Sotheby's implied that this may have been the 47-ct J.N. Forster ruby described above (ca. 1877), which is impossible as that stone was recut to 38 9 /16 ct.	Mogok, Burma Date unknown (pre-1896)	Unknown	Sotheby's, 1988b Federman, 1988
Unnamed 463/4 ct; oblong form (probably cut); mounted in brooch with four brilliant-cut diamonds; sold (or bought in) at Christie's London on May 7, 1896 for £8000. In 1988, Sotheby's implied that this was identical to the Mandalay Ruby above, but many doubt this version.	Probably Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Church, 1905 Sotheby's, 1988b Federman, 1988
Unnamed 77 ct; rough ruby; Sold in India in 1904 for Rs400,000 (£26,667)	Mogok, Burma 1899	Unknown	Holland, 1905 Smith, 1913
Padansho Ruby 13 ct; rough; of secondary color; flat elongated shape; sold uncut in London for £1514	Mogok, Burma 1901	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Shwebontha Ruby No. 1 15 1/2 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £1500	Mogok, Burma 1901	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Shwebontha Ruby No. 2 9 1/2 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £1444	Mogok, Burma 1902	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Chaungzone Ruby 23 1/2 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £2005	Mogok Valley, Burma 1903	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Red Hill Ruby 7 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £534	Mogok, Burma 1904	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Taroktan Ruby No. 1 9 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £635	Mogok, Burma 1904	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Taroktan Ruby No. 2 7 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £490	Mogok, Burma 1906	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Unnamed 42 ct rough; 22 ct cut; reportedly bought by Indian dealer named Chodilla for 300,000 Kyat (over $100,000). This has possibly been confused with the Peace ruby (see below).	Mogok, Burma ~1906	Unknown	Ehrmann, 1957
J.P. Morgan Collection of cut rubies • 47 ct; Burma; irregular cabochon; not clean • 67 ct; faceted; asymmetrical; pink; Ceylon • 8.81 ct; Burma; carved head • 6 rubies together of 6.72 ct; Cowee Valley, North Carolina	Various sources & dates	American Museum of Natural History	Kunz, 1913b Pough, 1964
Kathé Ruby No. 1 22 1/2 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £1600	Kathé, Mogok, Burma 1915	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Thebaw Ruby ('Lucky' Baldwin's Ruby) Originally 26.12 ct; since recut; appeared at auction, Geneva, May, 1971	Source & date unknown (probably Burma)	Unknown	Krashes, 1986, pp. 8–9
Peace Ruby 42 old ct rough; 25 ct cut; faceted round brilliant; sold for Rs300,000 (£27,500)	Mogok, Burma 1919	Unknown	Brown, 1927 Halford-Watkins, 1934 Keely, 1982
Lady Craddock Ruby 22 3/4 ct; rough; good color, but long narrow shape; sold uncut in London for £4000	Mogok Valley, Burma 1922	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Enjouk Ruby 22 5/8-ct; rough; not quite the best color; sold in London rough for £2447	Enjouk, Mogok, Burma 1923	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1924 Halford-Watkins, 1934
Kathé Ruby No. 2 21.5 ct; rough; sold uncut in London for £1667	Kathé, Mogok, Burma 1924	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Unnamed 96 ct; not stated whether rough or cut; the stone was cracked down the middle, necessitating cutting into two pieces; sold for £7500	Mogok, Burma Aug. 24, 1929	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1930
Unnamed ~100 ct; not stated whether rough or cut	Mogok, Burma Oct., 1930	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1931
Unnamed 19 ct; rough	Mogok, Burma June, 1931	Unknown	Times of London, 4 June, 1931
Pama Ruby 32.90-ct rough; sold in rough for £3270; cut in Paris into a square trap-cut stone weighing 9.25 ct	Kyatpyin, Mogok, Burma 1931	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Unnamed 17 ct; rough	Chaunggyi Valley Mogok, Burma April, 1932	Unknown	Times of London, 27 April, 1932
Unnamed ~30 ct; rough; valued at £7,000	Mogok, Burma Oct., 1932	Unknown	Anonymous, 1932b Brown, 1933
Unnamed 34 lb (15.42 kg); hexagonal prism crystal (not gem quality)	Corundum Hill, Macon Co., North Carolina, USA Date unknown	British Museum of Natural History	Spencer, 1933
Edwardes Ruby 167 ct; crystal; donated to the British Museum in 1887 by John Ruskin, who named it for Major-General Sir Herbert Edwardes, who is credited for maintaining British rule in India during the Mutiny	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	British Museum of Natural History	Spencer, 1933 Bruce, 1977
Unnamed 3,450 ct (690 g); crystal	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	British Museum of Natural History	Spencer, 1933
Unnamed Nearly 20-ct. rough; 7.5 ct cut; valued at ~£10,000	Mogok, Burma ca. 1933	Unknown	Anonymous, 1933
DeLong Star Ruby 100.32 ct; oval cabochon; star; donated by Edith Haggin DeLong in 1937, who bought it from Martin Ehrmann for US$21,400	Burma Pre 1937	American Museum of Natural History	Smith & Smith, 1994
Unnamed 310 ct; star ruby (not known whether rough or cut)	Ratnapura, Sri Lanka May, 1941	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1942
Star of Chanthaboon 10.25 ct; transparent, slightly purplish red (not known rough or cut)	'Hill of the Stars' Chanthaburi, Thailand Date unknown	Unknown	Gühler, 1947
12-rayed star ruby 25.2 ct; cabochon; 12-rayed star; deep violet-red color	Ratuapur [sic?], Sri Lanka ca. 1950?	Unknown (last seen with Fred Pough)	Anonymous, 1950
Stem Cup Cup composed of step-cut rubies set within vertical gold ribs	Source unknown Date unknown	Crown Jewels of Iran	Meen & Tushingham, 1968
Rosser Reeves Star Ruby 138.7 ct; cabochon; star ruby; insured for $150,000 in 1966; this is considered to be the largest fine star ruby in existence	Sri Lanka Date unknown (seen about 1954–6)	Smithsonian	Anonymous, 1966 White, 1991
Unnamed 4.12 ct; faceted; cushion; set in ring with smaller rubies and diamonds; sold at Christie's Geneva on Nov. 24, 1979 for $412,000 ($100,639/ct), then a record price for ruby	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Rush & Rush, 1979
Unnamed 15.00 ct; faceted; pear shape mounted in a pendant brooch; sold at Sotheby's New York, Oct. 1986, for $1,540,000 (~$102,667/ct), then a record price for ruby	Burma Date unknown	Purchased by private European buyer	Anonymous, 1986 Christie's, 1990
Alan Caplan's Ruby ('Mogok Ruby') 15.97 ct; faceted; sold at Sotheby's New York, Oct., 1988 for $3,630,000 ($227,301/ct). Auction record per carat price for ruby.	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Purchased by Graff for the Sultan of Brunei for an engagement ring for one of his wives	Keller, 1983 Koivula & Kammerling, 1988 Kapil Malhotra, pers. comm., 6 Feb., 1995
Hixon Ruby 196.1 ct; crystal	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History	Keller, 1983
Unnamed 24.13 ct; star ruby	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Unknown	Punchiappuhamy, 1984
Unnamed 150 ct; rough, ruby	Trat, Thailand 1986	Unknown	Hughes, 1990
Unnamed 8.78 ct; cut; mounted in ring; sold at Christie's New York, April 20, 1988 (Lot 292) for $858,000 ($97,722/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 25.70 ct; cut; set in ring; sold at Christie's Geneva, Nov. 1988 (Lot 587) for SFr1,760,000 ($1,205,479; or $46,906/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 14.00 ct; cushion shape; sold in 1988 for $968,000 ($69,142/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's, 1990
Unnamed 10.35 ct; cushion shape; sold in 1988 for $1,861,000 ($179,807/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's, 1990
Unnamed 10.01 ct; cushion shape; sold in 1989 for $1,497,000 ($149,550/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's, 1990
Unnamed 24.20 ct; cushion shape; sold in 1989 for $3,080,000 ($127,273/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's, 1990
Unnamed 32.08-ct; faceted, set in ring by Chaumet of Paris; sold on Oct. 26, 1989 at Sotheby's New York (Lot 47) for $4,620,000 ($144,015/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Sotheby's, 1989 Matthews, 1993
Unnamed Ruby necklace with diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels; sold by Sotheby's in 1989 for $3,080,000. Auction record price for ruby & diamond necklace.	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Sotheby's, 1989
SLORC Ruby (formerly called the Nawata Ruby) 504.5-ct crystal, later trimmed to 496.5 ct	Dattaw (Dattow) Mogok, Burma February, 1990	Myanna Gems Enterprise Rangoon, Burma	Asiaweek, 1990 Hughes, 1990b Kane & Kammerling, 1992
Nawarat Tharaphu Ruby 5.25 ct; faceted, cut from 9.70-ct rough	Nawarat, Shan State, Burma Mined on April 23, 1990	Myanna Gems Enterprise Rangoon, Burma	Kane & Kammerling, 1992
Unnamed 8.14 ct; cushion, sold in 1990 for $990,000 ($121,621/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's, 1990
Unnamed 12.50-ct; cut, mounted in ring; sold at Christie's New York, Oct. 23, 1990 (Lot 443), for $1,045,000 ($83,600/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 16.20-ct; cut, mounted in ring; sold at Christie's New York, Oct. 23, 1990 (Lot 445) for $2,750,000 ($169,753/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 4.70-ct cut; sold at Feb. 1992 MGE Emporium for $282,000 ($60,000/ct)	Lin Yaung Chi Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Kane & Kammerling, 1992
Unnamed 12.10-ct ruby ring; sold at Christie's Geneva, Nov., 1992 (Lot 606) for SFr2,860,000 ($2,000,000; $165,289/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 9.10 ct; faceted; cushion; sold at Myanma Gem Emporium, Feb, 1992, for $901,000 ($99,011/ct)	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Purchased by David Gol of Switzerland	Clark, 1992
Crown of Mogok Ruby 10.95-ct rough; 5.56-ct faceted oval	Shwe Pyi Aye Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Kane & Kammerling, 1992
Neelanjali Ruby 1,370 ct; cabochon; 12-rayed star	Source unknown Date unknown	G. Vidyaraj Bangalore, India	Matthews, 1993
Eminent Star Ruby Over 30,000 ct in the rough; 6465 ct cut; oval cabochon; star; of poor quality	Source unknown (probably India) Date unknown	Eminent Gems, New York	ICA Gazette, 1994
Unnamed 16.51 ct; faceted, cushion shape; sold in 1993 by Sotheby's for $3,000,000 ($181,708/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Colored Stone, March/April, 1994
Unnamed 38.12 ct; cabochon; sold at 1993 Myanma Gems Enterprise mid-year auction in Rangoon for $5,860,000 ($153,725/ct). Auction record total price for a single ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Anonymous, 1994 U Hla Win (pers. comm., 2 May, 1994)
Unnamed 26.40-ct star ruby cabochon; sold at Christie's New York, April 12, 1994 (Lot 55) for $1,080,500 ($40,928 per ct). Auction record for a star ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 10.11 ct; faceted, cushion shape; sold at Christie's New York in Oct. 1994 (Lot 317) for $948,500 ($93,818/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	GAA Market Monitor, 1995
Unnamed 27.37 ct; faceted, pear shape, mounted in diamond pendant by Harry Winston; sold at Sotheby's Geneva in May, 1995 (Lot 469), for $1,500,000 ($122,750/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	ICA Gazette, 1995 JewelSiam, 1995
Unnamed 12.22 ct; faceted, cushion shape, mounted in ring; sold at Sotheby's Geneva in May, 1995 (Lot 464), for $4,000,000 ($146,145/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	JewelSiam, 1995
Prince's Ruby 174.67 ct; said to have belonged to Shah Jahan [1592–1666]; engraved with calligraphy from the Koran	Source unknown Date unknown	Bower's Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana, CA	Roskin, 1998
Unnamed 9.98 ct, cushion ruby, claw-set, flanked by half-moon shaped diamonds sold at Sotheby's Geneva, 15 Nov., 2000 for $3,300,000 (101,010/ct).	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Unknown	AP, Nov. 16, 2000
Unnamed 32.67 ct, oval ruby, set in ring, sold at Christie's Geneva, 17 May, 2000 for $1,239,000 (124,130/ct).	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's Jewellery Review 2000
Unnamed 8.01 ct; faceted oval; sold at Christie's New York, 12 April, 2005 for $2,200,000 ($274,656/ct).	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Purchased by an Asian private buyer	Christie’s New York, pers. comm., 12 April, 2005
Elizabeth Taylor Ruby 8.24 ct; faceted, oval cut, mounted in a Van Cleef and Arpels ring; sold at Christie's New York (Lot 77), 13 Dec., 2011 for $4,226,500 ($512,925/ct). Gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor, Christmas, 1968. Former auction record per carat price for ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie’s New York, 13 December, 2011
Hope Ruby 32.08 ct; cushion-shaped Burmese ruby ring of 32.08 cts, by Chaumet; sold at Christie's Geneva (Lot 66), 15 February, 2012 for $6,742,440 ($210,000/ct). Former auction record total price for a single ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Purchased by Amer Radwan	Christie's Geneva, 14 May, 2012
Unnamed 38.12 ct; cabochon; sold at 1993 Myanma Gems Enterprise mid-year auction in Rangoon for $5,860,000 ($153,725/ct). Former auction record total price for a single ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Anonymous, 1994 U Hla Win (pers. comm., 2 May, 1994)
Unnamed 26.40-ct star ruby cabochon; sold at Christie's New York, April 12, 1994 (Lot 55) for $1,080,500 ($40,928/ct). Former auction record for a star ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed Ruby necklace with diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels; sold by Sotheby's in 1989 for $3,080,000. Former auction record price for ruby & diamond necklace.	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Sotheby's, 1989
Red Emperor Necklace 104.51 total weight; 60 faceted pear and heart-shaped stones in a Fai Dee/James W. Curren necklace; sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong (Lot 1914), 07 April 2014 for $9,923,077. Former auction record total price for ruby-set jewelry.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7 April, 2014
Unnamed 29.62 ct; oval-shaped Burmese ruby ring by Cartier; sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong (Lot 1762), 07 April 2014 for $7.34 million ($247,805/ct). Former auction record total price for a single ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7 April, 2014
Queen of Burma 23.66 ct; oval in ring by Cartier; sold at Christie's Geneva (Lot 337), 11 Nov. 2014 for $5,995,128 ($253,386/ct). Formerly owned by the Maharao of Cutch.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's Geneva, 11 Nov., 2014
Graff Ruby 8.62 ct; faceted, cushion cut, mounted in ring; sold at Sotheby's Geneva (Lot 470), 12 Nov., 2006 for $8,568,621 total $994,040/ct. Former per carat and total price record for ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Purchased by Lawrence Graff	Sotheby's Geneva, 12 Nov., 2014
Sunrise Ruby 25.59 ct; faceted, cushion shape; Cartier ring; sold for $32,420,000 total ($1,266,901/ct) Auction per carat and total price record for ruby.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Sotheby's Geneva, 12 May 2015

a. On April 1, 1914, the carat was standardized as 200 milligrams. Weights before that date are approximate only (see box on page 228). All dollar prices in US dollars unless stated otherwise. [return to to Table 10.3]
b. The rati is an old Indian unit of weight. I have converted it into metric carats using Aziz's average jeweler's rati of 2.66 grains troy, or 0.8618 metric carats. See Aziz (1942, pp. 119–134) for a full account of Indian weights, which varied slightly over time. [return to Table 10.3]

Table 10.4: Summary of titled red spinels

Name, weight, description and sale price^a	Source & date found	Current Location	Reference
Black Prince's Ruby Size unknown (approx. 170 ct); semi-polished; drilled; gold-foil backing; mounted in front of Imperial State Crown	Source unknown (Badakhshan?) Dates back to 1366 AD	British Crown Jewels	Orpen, 1890 Anonymous, 1937 Bank, 1973
Timur Ruby (Khiraj-i-alam, or 'Tribute to the World') 352.50 ct; semi-polished; engraved with the names of its former owners	Source unknown (Badakhshan?)	British Queen's private collection	Times of London, 1912 Twining, 1960
Catherine the Great's Ruby 414.30 ct (or 398.72 ct?); semi polished; mounted in the top of the Grand Imperial Crown (for a full account of this gem, see box, page 282)	Source unknown (Badakhshan?) Possibly early 1400s	Diamond Fund, Moscow	Twining, 1960 USSR Dia. Fund, 1972 Yevdokimov, 1991
Côte de Bretagne Jewel 105 ct; orange-red; carved as an oriental dragon; formerly mounted in the decoration of the Order of the Golden Fleece, along with the French Blue Diamond (Hope Diamond)	Source unknown Dates back at least to 1530 AD	Galerie d' Apollon Louvre, Paris	Patch, 1976
Samarian Spinel 500 ct; blood-red; semi-polished; drilled	Source unknown (Badakhshan?)	Crown Jewels of Iran	Meen & Tushingham, 1968 Bank Markazi Iran, 1971
Katherina & Catherine Spinels 532 ct rough; faceted stones of 146.43 & 27.81 ct	Pamir Mountains Tajikistan	Unknown	Bancroft, 1990

Table 10.5: Summary of rubies and sapphires in the Mughal treasury
(from Aziz, 1942)^a

Description	Weight of cut stone^b	Price (Rupees)
Akbar's reign (1556–1605 AD) Standard ruby	284 rati (~244.75 ct)	100,000
Ruby offered by Raja Ramchand of Bhatha to Akbar	Unknown	50,000
Ruby sent by Prince Daniyal to Akbar	104 rati (~89.63 ct)	Unknown
Jahangir's reign (1605–1627 AD) Ruby presented by Jahangir to Prince Parwiz	Unknown	25,000
Ruby offered by Asaf Khan to Jahangir	Unknown	40,000
Ruby presented to Jahangir by "Mirza Husain"	Unknown	100
Ruby ring in one piece sent to Jahangir by Murtaza Khan from Gujarat; said to be of good color, substance and water	37 rati (~31.89 ct)	25,000
Ruby sent by same	59 rati (~50.85 ct)	"
Qutbi ruby; offered by Vazir Khan	Unknown	Unknown
Ruby offered by Asaf Khan to Jahangir; of beautiful color and well-shaped; Abu'l-Qasim bought it in Cambay for Rs75,000	168 rati (~144.78 ct)	60,000
Ruby bestowed by Jahangir on Prince Parwiz	Unknown	"
Celebrated ruby offered by Rana Amar Singh to Prince Khurram, and by the latter to Jahangir; originally from Raja Maldeo	192 rati (~165.47 ct)	"
Qutbi ruby presented by I'timadu'd-Daula to Jahangir	Unknown	22,000
Ruby of the purest water and brilliance offered by Prince Khurram	Unknown	80,000
Exceedingly beautiful and clear ruby offered by Prince Khurram to Jahangir at Ajmer	Unknown	60,000
Ruby offered to Jahangir by Mahabat Khan	Unknown	65,000
Ruby sent by Jahangir to Shah Sultan Khurram	Unknown	>30,000
Ruby purchased by Mahabat Khan from a European and offered to Jahangir	286 or 291.5 rati (~246.47 or 251.21 ct)	100,000
Fine ruby offered by Prince Shah Jahan to Jahangir; largest ruby in the treasury	456 rati (~372.10 ct)	200,000
Very fine ruby of good color offered by Prince Shah Jahan to Nur Jahan	132 rati (~113.76 ct)	50,000
Ruby bestowed by Jahangir on Prince Shah Jahan; Akbar's mother had given it to Prince Salim upon the latter's birth	221 rati (~190.46 ct)	125,000
Ruby in Nur Jahan's necklace	Unknown	10,000
A very fine qutbi ruby offered by Prince Shah Jahan to Jahangir	72 rati (~62.04 ct)	40,000
Ruby offered by Asaf Khan to Jahangir	300 rati (~258.54 ct)	125,000
Engraved ruby of Timurid family sent by Shah 'Abbas of Persia to Jahangir, who then gave it to Prince Shah Jahan. This history was engraved upon it in three inscriptions; later set in the middle slab of the rail of the Peacock Throne	288 or 312 rati (~248.20 or 268.88 ct)	100,000
Ruby offered by Lashkar Khan	Unknown	4,000
Ruby offered by Khan Jahan	Unknown	100,000
Sapphire sent by 'Adil Khan to Jahangir; large and fine, of a beautiful, rich color	151 rati (130.13 ct)	100,000
Qutbi sapphire offered by I'timadu'd-Daula to Jahangir; exceedingly delicate	Unknown	Unknown
Shah Jahan's reign (1628–1658 AD) Central ruby of Shah Jahan's sarpech; superior in quality even to the much heavier 456 rati ruby of Jahangir	288 rati (~248.20 ct)	>200,000
Aurangzeb's reign (1658–1707 AD) Bright-colored ruby sent by 'Abdu'l-Aziz Khan of Bukhara to Aurangzeb	Unknown	40,000
Ruby sent by 'Adil Khan of Bijapur to Aurangzeb	125 rati (~107.73 ct)	20,000
Ruby offered by Husain Pasha, the ruler of Basra	Unknown	"
The favorite, unparalleled 'oriental topaz' (yellow or orange sapphire) of Aurangzeb; of very high color; cut in 8 panels	152.16 English ct	181,000
'Oriental amethyst' (violet sapphire) mounted in the middle of Aurangzeb's chain of pearls and emeralds; a long table; perfect in beauty	40 rati (~34.47 ct)	Unknown

a. Many of the above rubies may, in fact, have been spinels, particularly the larger pieces. [return to Table 10.5]
b. The rati is an old Indian unit of weight. I have converted it into metric carats using Aziz's average jeweler's rati of 2.66 grains troy, or 0.8618 metric carats. See Aziz (1942, pp. 119–134) for a full account of Indian weights, which varied slightly over time. [return to Table 10.5]

Table 10.6: Summary of famous blue sapphires

Name, weight, description and sale price^a	Source & date found	Current Location	Reference
St. Edward's Sapphire Weight unknown; blue; faceted cushion; mounted in Maltese cross atop the British Imperial State Crown	Source unknown Legends date to 1042 AD	British Crown Jewels, Tower of London	Sitwell, 1953
Stuart Sapphire Slightly over 104 ct; 1.5" (3.81 cm) long x 1" (2.54 cm) wide; oval; mounted on the band at the rear of the British Imperial State Crown	Source unknown Dates to 1214 AD (probably in the crown at the coronation of King Alexander II)	British Crown Jewels, Tower of London	Orpen, 1890 Younghusband, 1921 Anonymous, 1936 Anonymous, 1951 Twining, 1967
Unnamed Oldest known talismanic sapphire existing in western Europe; once served as a clasp for the Imperial mantle covering the sacred remains of Charlemagne; presented to Napoleon Bonaparte when he arrived at Aix-la-Chapell after the conquest of Germany; mounted in gold, with a splinter of the Cross in its setting, it was supposed to give its possessor dominion over the whole world.	Source unknown Date unknown	Cathedral of Reims (Rheims) France	Abbot, 1933
Catherine the Great's Sapphire 337.10 metric ct; faceted; oval; blue; estimated value at over US$250,000 (1951)	Source unknown Date unknown	Diamond Fund Moscow	Anonymous, 1951b Zeitner, 1984 Krashes, 1986
Unnamed Old weight listed as 252 and 25/32 ct; modern weight is 260.37 ct; once part of the Russian regalia	Source unknown Date unknown	Moskow	Anonymous, 1951a J. Bergman (pers. comm., 5 July, 1998)
Unnamed 258.18 ct; faceted; oval-cushion; mounted in brooch; may be the same stone as above	Source unknown ca. 19th century	Diamond Fund Moscow	USSR Dia. Fund, 1972
Ruspoli's Sapphire ('Wooden Spoon Seller's Sapphire' or 'Great Sapphire of Louis XIV') 135.8 ct; faceted; rhomb shaped (only six facets); said to have been found by a wooden spoon seller in Bengal; sold by the House of Ruspoli (Rospoli?) of Rome to a German prince (salesman?), who in turn sold it to the French jeweler Perret for 170,000 francs. Later purchased by Louis XIV.	Said to be Bengal; probably Burma or Sri Lanka Date unknown	Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Paris Valued at £100,000 in 1791	Tagore, 1879, 1881 Streeter, 1892 Bank, 1973 H.-J. Schubnel (pers. comm., 16 Dec., 1994; 5 Jan., 1995)
Loop Sapphire No. 1 252 ct; oval; dark indigo color; cut in 1840; displayed at London Exhibition of 1862 and Paris in 1867; named after Loop, the London cutter who fashioned it	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Loop Sapphire No. 2 Once 225 ct; table cut, recut in 1856 (current weight unknown); displayed at London Exhibition of 1862 and Paris in 1867; sold in Paris for nearly £8000	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1934
Unnamed Cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 22.66cts; sold for $3,064,000 ($135,216/ct) at Christie's NYC 25 April, 2007 sale (Lot 261). Per carat and total price world record for a single blue sapphire.	Kashmir ca. 1886	Purchased by anonymous phone bidder	Christie's, 25 April, 2007
Le Saphir Merveilleux ('Hope Sapphire') Weight unknown; blue in daylight, violet in candlelight	Source unknown Date unknown	Orleans Collection France	Streeter, 1892
Star of India 563.35 ct; blue star sapphire, cabochon; donated as part of J.P. Morgan Collection; reportedly cut by Albert Ramsay ca. 1905 in London; brought to London from India by British Army officer	Sri Lanka Date unknown	American Museum of Natural History	Kunz, 1913a Anonymous, 1935b Sofianides & Harlow, 1990
Midnight Star 116.75 ct; cabochon; star; deep purple-violet color; donated as part of J.P. Morgan Collection	Sri Lanka Date unknown	American Museum of Natural History	Sofianides & Harlow, 1990
J.P. Morgan Collection of sapphires; various cut gems, including: • 188, 158.72, 154 (153?), 69 ct; blue; Ceylon • 14.22 ct; blue; engraved; India • 29 Yogo sapphire (two are above 3 ct)	Various sources & dates	American Museum of Natural History	Kunz, 1913b Pough, 1964 Voynick, 1985, pp. 188–9
Unnamed 951 ct; rough or cut unknown; seen in 1827 in the treasury of the king of Ava	Unknown (Burma?) Date unknown	Unknown	Tagore, 1879, 1881 Smith, 1913
Unnamed 19 ct rough, 8.5 ct cut (cut as a seal); believed to be the second-largest sapphire ever found at Yogo Gulch	English Mine Yogo Gulch, MT ca. 1910	Unknown	Kunz, 1911 Voynick, 1985
Unnamed 10.2 ct cut; believed to be the largest cut Yogo stone in existence	Yogo Gulch, MT Date unknown	Smithsonian	Voynick, 1985, p. 189
F.G. McIntosh collection 83 Yogo sapphires	Yogo Gulch, MT Various dates	Cal-Tech, Pasadena, CA	Voynick, 1985, p. 189
Unnamed Rough, weight unknown; sold for Rs28,000 (£1,870)	Redhill Mine Mogok, Burma, 1917	Unknown	Times of London, 11 July, 1917
Unnamed 113 ct; rough; sold for Rs45,000	Bernardmyo, Mogok, Burma May 10, 1919	Unknown	Times of London, 11 July, 1919
Unnamed Weight unknown; rough; sold for Rs40,000	Mogok, Burma 1919	Unknown	Times of London, 15 July, 1919
Unnamed 50 ct (probably cut); sold for £1,200	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Times of London, 12 Nov., 1924
Unnamed 570 and 680-ct rough sapphires; sent to be exhibited in the Ceylon Gallery of the Wembly Exposition; many fine stones were found in the same field in a short period of time	Balmadulla, Sri Lanka 1923	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1924
Unnamed Over 40 ct rough; 10.87 ct cut	Bo Ploi, Thailand ca. June, 1927–1929	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1929
Unnamed 437 ct; not stated whether rough or cut; valued at over £11,000	Mogok, Burma 1928	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1929
The King 392.75 ct; star sapphire; seized by US Customs 1916; bought by William G. Willman, New York City, who refused offer of $100,000	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Anonymous, 1935b
Gem of the Jungle 958 ct. rough; cut stones of 66.50 (66.53?), 20.25, 20.00, 13.11, 12.25, 11.33, 11.11, 5.50 and 4.33 ct; purchased by Albert Ramsay for over £13,000	Gwebin, Mogok, Burma August, 1929 (or July, 1930)	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1930 Mineral Industry, 1931 Ramsay & Sparkes, 1934 Halford-Watkins, 1935a
Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott's sapphire ring Oval sapphire engagement ring given by Duke of Gloucester	Kashmir Date unknown	Unknown	Anonymous, 1935a
Star of Bombay 182 ct; cabochon; blue-violet star sapphire; bequeathed to Smithsonian by Mary Pickford	Source unknown Date unknown	Smithsonian	White, 1991
Star of Asia 330 ct; cabochon cut; blue-violet star sapphire; acquired in 1961 from Martin Ehrmann; once said to belong to the Maharaja of Jodhpur	Burma Date unknown	Smithsonian	Desautels, 1972 White, 1991
Logan Sapphire 423 ct; faceted cushion; blue; donated to Smithsonian in 1960 by Mrs. John A. (Polly) Logan	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Smithsonian	Desautels, 1972 White, 1991
Star of Artaban 316 ct; star; donated by Ingram	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Smithsonian	Desautels, 1972
Blue Belle of Asia 392.52 ct; faceted, cushion shape in necklace; $17,295,796 total ($44,063/ct) at Christie's Geneva (Lot 348), 11 Nov. 2014. Auction record total price for sapphire. Notes: A "reputed gem dealer" allegedly sold this sapphire to Lord Naffield of Britain. The Blue Belle is described as “being held in the highest esteem among blue sapphires owing to its highly prized peacock blue colour and its excellent clarity.”	Pelmadulla, Sri Lanka 1926	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Christie's 2014 http://www.rootsweb.com/ ~lkawgw/sapphire.htm From "Sapphires of Sri Lanka" by T. Piyadasa
Unnamed 630 ct rough (upon breaking up for cutting, it proved less valuable than expected)	Kathé Mogok, Burma May, 1930	Unknown	Times of London, 31 May, 1930 Mineral Industry, 1930, 1932 Brown, 1933
Unnamed 293 ct rough	Kathé Mogok, Burma, 1930	Unknown	Brown, 1933
Unnamed nearly 1000 ct rough	Gwebin, Mogok, Burma Aug. 12, 1932	Unknown	Brown, 1933
Unnamed 514 ct; rough	Mogok, Burma Dec., 1932	Unknown	Brown, 1933
Unnamed 435 ct; not known whether rough or cut; star sapphire	Kathé, Mogok, Burma 1932	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1934
Unnamed 390 ct; rough; sold for over £3,000	Mogok, Burma 1930s	Unknown	Halford-Watkins, 1935b
Unnamed 18 ct (not known rough or cut); said to be largest fine Pailin sapphire; sold for Tcs. 12,000 (48,000 Baht)	Pailin, Cambodia Date unknown	Unknown	Gühler, 1947
Star of Lanka 193.39 ct; oval cabochon; blue gray color; star	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Royal Ontario Museum Toronto, Canada	Meen, 1963
Star of Ceylon ~101.01 ct; oval cabochon; medium violetish blue	Source unknown Date unknown	Seattle Private collection	Richard Allen, pers. comm., 9 Nov., 1994
Barberini Jewels Antique sapphire and diamond parure; contains 24 cushion-shaped sapphires; ca. 1800; sold at Christie's New York, Nov. 18, 1971 (Lot 139)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie et al., 1971
Bismarck Sapphire 27 x 21.7 x 15.5 mm, faceted squarish oval, blue; donated by Countess Mona Bismarck	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Smithsonian	Dunn, 1975
Big Sky Sapphire 24 ct rough; 12.54 ct; faceted antique cushion; medium blue; one of largest faceted Missouri River sapphires; sold at Sotheby's New York on 9 Dec. 2015 for $394,000 (31,419/ct) (Lot 344)	Missouri River, MT Found in Sept., 1973 by Mac M. Mader	Unknown	Sotheby's, 2015 Liddicoat, 1975 Zeitner, 1978 Zeitner, 1984
Unnamed 11.81 ct; faceted; cushion; ring; sold at Christie's Geneva on Nov. 24, 1979 for $304,875 ($25,815/ct), at the time a per ct record for sapphire	Kashmir, India Date unknown	Unknown	Rush & Rush, 1979
Unnamed 362 ct; cabochon; blue; star (this may be the same stone as the 393 ct star below)	Sri Lanka Date unknown	State Gem Corp. of Sri Lanka	Wijesekera, 1980
Unnamed 393 (392?) ct; blue star sapphire, cabochon; insured in 1981 for over £1 million; this is probably the finest star sapphire of its size in the world	Sri Lanka Date unknown	State Gem Corp. of Sri Lanka	Daily Telegraph, 25 Aug., 1981 Punchiappuhamy, 1984
Unnamed 58.33 ct; faceted, cushion shape, mounted in 1920s Cartier Art Deco bracelet formerly owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post; sold at Christie's New York, 15–16 Oct. (Lot 454?) for $880,000 ($15,087/ct). This was a world record price for sapphire at the time.	Source unknown (Burma?) Date unknown	Purchased by London buyer	Christie's Magazine, ca. 1982–83
Unnamed ~99 ct; faceted; round; offered in Bangkok in early 1980s for $10,000/ct	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Author
Blue Princess 113.72 ct; faceted; cushion; mounted in necklace with three large sapphires of approx. 24.09, 40.87 and 26.95 ct; sold at Christie's New York, 11 April, 1996 (Lot 487) for $1,320,000. Later sold at Christie's Geneva on 15 May, 1996 for $1,784,800.	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie et al., 1984 JewelSiam, 1997
Unnamed 41.04 ct; faceted; emerald cut; sold at Sotheby's New York, Oct. 1986 for $924,000 ($22,515/ct)	Burma Date unknown	Purchased by American retailer	Anonymous, 1986
Unnamed 152.35 ct; cabochon; round; mounted in panther clip; sold at Sotheby's Geneva, 2–3 April, 1987 (Lot 179) for SFr 1,540,000 ($1,026,667; or $6739/ct); formerly owned by the Duchess of Windsor	Source unknown Made by Cartier, 1949	Unknown	Culme & Rayner, 1987
Unnamed 206.82 ct; faceted; oval cushion; mounted in diamond pendant; sold at Sotheby's Geneva, 2–3 April, 1987 (Lot 119) for SFr 561,000 ($374,000; or $1808/ct); formerly owned by the Duchess of Windsor	Source unknown Made by Cartier, 1951	Unknown	Culme & Rayner, 1987
Rockefeller Sapphire 62.02 ct; faceted, rectangular step cut; mounted in diamond ring; sold to Ralph Esmarian at Sotheby's St Moritz, Feb. 20, 1988, for $2,828,546 ($45,607/ct). Recut by Reginald Miller from 66.03 to 62.02 ct in the early 1970s. Previous auction record per carat and total price for a single blue sapphire.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Sotheby's, 1988a Hughes & Sersen, 1988b Federman, 1992 Matthews, 1993
Unnamed Kashmir sapphire & diamond bracelet by Cartier; 9 sapphires (8 from Kashmir) from 4.17 to 10.52 ct (49.63 ct total); sold at Christie's New York on April 20, 1988 (Lot 306) for $902,000	Kashmir Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed Kashmir sapphire & diamond bracelet; 8 sapphires (7 from Kashmir) from 4.70 to 10.55 ct (50.95 ct total); sold at Christie's New York on Oct. 19, 1988 (Lot 393) for $1,034,000	Kashmir Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 204.39 ct; oval; star; fine blue color and transparency; measures 34.40 x 29.15 x 17.34 mm	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Hargett, 1989
Lone Star Sapphire 9,719.50 ct; 6-rayed star; cut by Dallas cutter John Robinson in Nov., 1989	Source unknown Date unknown	Harold Roper	UPI, 1989 Matthews, 1993
Unnamed Sapphire & diamond necklace, with sapphires of 36.00, 31.43, 30.91, 14.55 and 10.96 ct. Sold at Sotheby's New York, Oct. 26, 1989 (Lot 58) for $3,520,000. Auction world record for a single lot of sapphires.	The 30.91-ct stone is from Sri Lanka; others are from Kashmir	Unknown	Sotheby's, 1989
Unnamed 337.66 ct; cut; mounted in Cartier brooch (ca. 1910); sold at Christie's Geneva, May, 1991 (Lot 328), for SFr3,300,000 ($2,340,000; or $6930/ct)	Probably Sri Lanka Date unknown	Sheikh Ahmed Hassan Fitaihi Saudi Arabia	Lapidary Journal, 1991 Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 31.12-ct sapphire ring; sold at Christie's Geneva, May, 1992 (Lot 426) for SFr 1,628,000 ($1,130,555; or $36,329/ct)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie's New York, pers. comm., 17 June, 1994
Unnamed 502 ct; rough, pyramid-shaped crystal, silky, of good color	Kabaing, Mogok, Burma Feb. 22, 1994	Unknown	U Hla Win, pers. comm., 22 June, 1994
Unnamed 6.28 ct; faceted cushion; sold at Christie's New York, Oct., 1994 (Lot 240) for $233,500 ($37,182/ct)	Kashmir Date unknown	Unknown	GAA Market Monitor, 1995
Le Côte d'Azur 397.095 ct; 42.33 x 31.88 x 29.14 mm; blue oval cabochon, unheated	Burma Date unknown	Private party	Olivier Galibert, 14 August, 1998
Unnamed 35.09 ct; faceted blue cushion, unheated; sold at Christie's New York, Oct. 25, 2000 (Sale No. 9510; Lot 772) for $853,000 ($24,309/ct)	Kashmir Date unknown	Private European party	www.christies.com Colored Stone, Jan./Feb. 2001
Unnamed 478.68 ct; faceted blue cushion mounted in Cartier pendant, unheated; sold at Christie's Geneva, Nov. 19, 2003 (Sale No. 1312; Lot No. 382) for $1,494,480; previously owned by Queen Marie of Romania.	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	www.christies.com
Unnamed 21.29 ct; faceted octagonal-cut Kashmir sapphire ring by Cartier; sold at Christie's Geneva, 13–14 Nov., 2001 (Lot No. 125) for SFR1,549,750 ($945,348; $44,403/ct.). Former auction per carat record for a Kashmir sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Private Middle East party	www.christies.com
Unnamed 27.54 ct; rectangular-cut Kashmir sapphire mounted in ring flanked by pear-shaped diamond shoulders (Lot No. 246); sold for SFr.1,244,000 $982,760; over $35,000/ct.).	Kashmir Date unknown	European private	www.christies.com
Blue Giant of the Orient 486.52 ct; faceted, cushion-shaped sapphire; offered at Christie’s Geneva 19 May, 2004; Sale 1318, Lot 301; did not sell; reportedly sold after auction for US$1 million. Largest faceted sapphire of quality ever offered at auction.	Kuruwita, Sri Lanka in 1907; sold to a Japanese by a Sri Lankan dealer in 1972.	Unknown	www.christies.com
Unnamed Cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 26.41 cts; sold for $3,838,508 ($145,342/ct) at Christie's Hong Kong 29 November, 2011 sale (Lot 2813). Former auction record per carat price for a single blue sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous Asian private buyer	Christie's 2011
Unnamed Sapphire ring with a sapphire of 8.91 cts; $1,370,500 ($154,000 per ct) at Christie's New York 10 December 2012 sale (Lot 141).	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Christie's 2012
Unnamed Cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 15.88 cts set in diamond ring; $1,805,000 ($113,600 per ct) at Christie's New York 15 October 2013 sale (Lot 389)	Kashmir Date unknown	International Trade	Christie's 2013
Star of Kashmir Cushion-shaped sapphire of 19.88 cts set in diamond ring; $3,483,017 ($175,202 per ct) at Christie's Geneva 15 May 2013 sale (Lot 306). Former auction record per carat price for a single sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Lawrence Graff	Christie's 2013
Richelieu Sapphires Sapphire earrings with sapphires of 26.66 and 20.88 cts; $8,372,094 ($176,106 per ct) at Sotheby's Geneva 13 November 2013 sale (Lot 371). Former auction record total price for sapphire.	Kashmir	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Sotheby's 2013
Imperial Blue 17.16 ct; faceted, octagonal shape; ring; $8,372,094 total ($176,106/ct) at Sotheby's Hong Kong (Lot 1938) 7 Oct. 2014. Former auction record per carat price for a single sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Sotheby's 2014
Jewel of Kashmir 27.68 ct; faceted, octagonal shape; ring; $6,745,688 total ($243,703/ct) at Sotheby's Hong Kong (Lot 1860) 7 Oct. 2015. Auction record per carat price for a single sapphire.	Kashmir Date unknown	Purchased by anonymous buyer	Sotheby's 2015

Table 10.7: Summary of famous sapphires other than blue

Name, weight, description and sale price^a	Source & date found	Current Location	Reference
• 100.18 ct; faceted oval; orange ('padparadscha'); Ceylon (considered among the finest padparadschas of its size in existence) • 75, 100, 151 ct; yellow; Ceylon • 73.5 ct; golden yellow; Ceylon • 33 ct; violet; Siam	Various, mostly Sri Lanka	American Museum of Natural History	Kunz, 1913b Pough, 1964 Crowningshield, 1983
H.C. Maxwell Stuart collection 2,384 sapphires of every color, shade and tint; sold on June 22, 1921 at Christie's for £3,000	Various sources & dates	Unknown	Times of London, 23 June, 1921
Stonebridge Green 195 ct rough; sold for A$30,000	Rubyvale, Queensland, Australia, 1938	Alexander Acevedo, Alexander Gallery, NYC	Anonymous, 1981 Greg Brown, pers. comm., 7 Mar., 2000
Anderson's (Willows) Yellow 28 dwt.,^b 3.5 grains (~218 ct); rough; yellow; later cut to several gems (biggest = 35.50 ct)	Willows field, Queensland Australia, 14 Aug., 1946	Unknown	Morton, 1946 Monteagle, 1979
Clifton-Parr Golden Flower 13.5 dwt. (104.89 ct) rough; 21.25 ct cut; faceted; yellow; found by Eleanor Pacey; reportedly sold ca. 1970 for A$9000	Pacey's Ridge, Anakie, Australia, 13 Oct., 1946	Unknown	Monteagle, 1979
Donovan's Yellow 21 dwt. (163 ct); rough; reddish yellow	Rubyvale, Anakie, Australia, 1949	Alexander Acevedo, Alexander Gallery, NYC	Monteagle, 1979 Greg Brown, pers. comm., 7 Mar., 2000
Golden Willow (Golden Queen) 322 ct rough; 91.35 ct faceted; yellow; value estimated at A$150,000	Willows field, Queensland, Australia, 1952	Unknown	Anonymous, 1952c Anonymous, 1965
Unnamed Weight unknown; green; 6-rayed star	Willows field, Queensland, Australia	Unknown	Anonymous, 1952b
Unnamed 179.41 ct; faceted cushion; yellow	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto	Meen, 1963
Unnamed 43.95 ct; faceted cushion; greenish yellow	Mogok, Burma Date unknown	Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto	Meen, 1963
Unnamed 28.61 ct; faceted; near square; orange ('padparadscha')	Source unknown Date unknown	Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto	Meen, 1963
Black Star of Queensland 1,165 ct rough; 733 ct cut; black star sapphire; rough was used as a door stop for many years; purchased by Kazanjian Brothers and cut in 1948	Klondyke ridge, Anakie, Queensland, Australia, 1938	Unknown	Norwood, 1968 Scholler, 1985
Unnamed Black star sapphire; above 100 ct rough; 67 ct cut	Willows field, Queensland, Australia	Peter Laws (1968)	Norwood, 1968
Unnamed 195.45 ct; faceted; oval; yellow; sold at Christie's Geneva, Oct. 2, 1969 (Lot 246)	Source unknown Date unknown	Unknown	Christie et al., 1969
Pride of Queensland (McKinney/Beck) 471 ct; rough; cut into a 169 ct stone; later recut into a ~159-ct stone; yellow	Reward Claim, Anakie, Australia, 1975	Alexander Acevedo Alexander Gallery New York City	Monteagle, 1979 Walda Scholler, pers. comm., 16 April, 1997
Australian Sun 396 ct rough; yellow	Anakie, Australia, 1976	Unknown	Monteagle, 1979
Centenary Gem 2019.50 ct; rough; yellow-blue parti-color	Anakie, Australia 17 Feb., 1979	Alexander Acevedo Alexander Gallery New York City	Monteagle, 1979 Greg Brown, pers. comm., 7 Mar., 2000
Unnamed 30 ct; faceted oval; pinkish orange ('padparadscha')	Source & date unknown (probably Sri Lanka)	Unknown	Crowningshield, 1983
Unnamed 1,126 ct; rough crystal, pinkish orange, 'padparadscha' color; crystal later cut into several gems, the biggest of 47.00 ct	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Unknown	Crowningshield, 1983 Fryer, 1986
Kingsley Sapphire 162.26 ct; rough; bi-color, yellow and green	Fancy Stone Gully, Anakie, Australia Date unknown	Unknown	Koivula and Kammerling, 1989
Ceylon “Sinflower” 400.06 ct; faceted; yellow	Sri Lanka Date unknown	Michael Scott Collection	Keller and Scott, 2002

Table 10.8: Summary of famous engraved/carved rubies & sapphires

Name, weight, description and sale price^a	Source & date found	Current Location	Reference
Rubies Queen Elizabeth I Ruby Cameo Mounted on engraved rock crystal ewer	Made in Milan's Miseroni workshop about 1600	Exhibited at Burghley House, London, April, 1985	Norman, 1985
Unnamed Ruby cameo of the head of Mme de Maintenon (1635–1719); 2.2 cm dia.; mounted in gold ring	ca. 1700	British Museum	Tait, 1986, p. 224
Unnamed Ruby engraved with a chimera; said to be the largest engraved ruby known	Source unknown Date unknown	French Crown Jewels?	Jones, 1902
Ecce Homo ('Behold the Man') 2,890 ct; star ruby; carved in the image of a man	Rough from Mozambique	Unknown	Anonymous, 1959
Carved rubies from Tanzania (ruby in zoisite) • Liberty Ruby: ~8500 ct; carved in the shape of the US Liberty Bell • Mercy Ruby: 22,000 ct; • Good Samaritan: 6.25 x 5.25 in (15.875 x 13.335 cm) These are but a few examples	Rough from Tanzania (ruby in zoisite)	Unknown	Slawson, 1976 Zeitner, 1976 Zeitner, 1984
Sapphires Great Sapphire of the Karlsruhe Museum 24 mm diameter; engraved with the head of Zeus	Source unknown 3rd century AD	Karlsruhe Museum Germany	Duchamp, 1994
Ring of Saint Louis	15th century	Karlsruhe, Germany	Duchamp, 1994
Hercules	Unknown	Karlsruhe, Germany	Duchamp, 1994
Le Sceau de France	Unknown	Karlsruhe, Germany	Duchamp, 1994
Crucifixion Sapphire 20 x 18 mm; cameo	Unknown	Kunsthistorisches Museum	Duchamp, 1994
Seal of Alaric Sapphire 20.6 x 16.7 mm; engraved ('ALARICUS REX GOTHORUM')	Unknown	Vienna Museum Austria	Duchamp, 1994
Sapphire Ring of the Vienna Museum Ring carved from a single piece of sapphire; external diameter = 24 mm (internal = 13 mm)	Unknown	Vienna Museum Austria	Duchamp, 1994
Pertinax Sapphire Octagonal intaglio of the Roman emperor Pertinax (126–193 AD); measures 5.5 x 7 x 5.5 mm	16th century?	National Library Paris, France	Duchamp, 1994
Unnamed Sapphire intaglio; engraved with the face of Helios; from the Baron Roger de Sivry collection	18th century?	Unknown	Duchamp, 1994
15 ct; perfect blue; carved; one side shows leaves radiating from a central stem; thought to have come from India	Unknown	Unknown	Anonymous, 1932b
Unnamed Image of Buddha carved in blue sapphire; mounted on gold pin	Unknown	British Museum of Natural History	Aziz, 1942
Unnamed Engraved sapphire showing woman dressed in a drapery; the gem's color zoning was used to great effect, with one color used for the head, the other for the drapery	Unknown	Formerly in the Russian crown jewels; current location unknown	Anonymous, 1952a
Head of the Roman emperor Caracalla [188–217 AD] Engraved sapphire	Unknown	Unknown	Anonymous, 1952a
Seal of Constantine II 50 ct; engraved sapphire	Unknown	Unknown	Anonymous, 1952a
Portrait of Empress Marie-Theresa Engraved sapphire; fine quality; by Carlo Costanzi	Engraving done in 1705	Unknown	Anonymous, 1952a
Sapphire intaglio made by Jacques Gay upon the recovery of the Dauphin in 1752	1752	Unknown	Anonymous, 1952a
Royal Sapphire of Burma 375 ct; carved blue sapphire; elongated oval, engraved on one side with a petals suggesting a lotus bud, on the other with three concentric circles of lotus, suggestive of a Buddhist emblem; drilled with three tiny holes (probably for suspensions as an amulet); sold at Christie's Geneva, 19 Nov., 1970 (Lot 314) for SF310,000; formerly in Nizam of Hyderabad collection.	Burma Date unknown	Unknown	Christie et al., 1970
Kazanjian Sapphire Carvings • Abraham Lincoln: 2302 ct rough; 1318 ct carved • George Washington: 1997 ct rough; 1056 ct carved • Thomas Jefferson: 1743 ct rough; 1381 ct carved • Dwight Eisenhower: 2097 ct rough; 1444 ct carved • Martin Luther King Jr.: 4180 ct rough; 3294 ct carved • Madonna of the Star: 1100 ct rough; 545 ct carved	Reward Claim, Anakie, Australia Commissioned by the Kazanjians	Kazanjian Foundation of Calif.	Anonymous, 1952a Norwood, 1968 Monteagle, 1979
Millennium Sapphire 89,850 ct (17.97 kg) sapphire crystal; later carved into a 61,500 ct. (12.3 kg) piece. Not gemmy!	Madagascar	Daniel Mckinney	The find of a lifetime See Hughes, 1996, Lettter to the Editor, JewelSiam, Vol. 7, No. 4, p. 28 for an honest reply to the “Find of a lifetime” article Jewellery News Asia, Jan. 2000 Millenniumsapphire.com

Table 10.9: Summary of rough corundum giants

Name, weight, description and sale price^a	Source & date found	Current Location	Reference
Unnamed 312 lb (141.5 kg; 707,500 ct); opaque, red and blue crystal (not gem quality)	Franklin, NC Before 1882	Shepard Collection Amherst College, USA	Kunz, 1892
Unnamed Over 10 lb (4.5 kg); sapphire crystal	Mogok, Burma 1928	Unknown	Mineral Industry, 1929
Unnamed 335 lb (152 kg) hexagonal bipyramid crystal (not gem quality); 2 ft, 3 in (68.58 cm) in width. This is the largest known corundum crystal on record.	Leydsdorp, Northern Transvaal, South Africa Date unknown	Geological Survey Museum, Pretoria, South Africa	Spencer, 1933 Anonymous, 1951a
Unnamed 136.5 lb (61.92 kg); rough brown & cream crystal; 15 x 7 x 12 in. (38 x 18 x 30 cm)	18 km from Santa Barbara, MG, Brazil Date Unknown	Natural History Museum, London (#BM1935, 1060)	Roger Harding, pers. comm., 16 May, 1995
Unnamed 42 lb (19 kg); crystal said to be in the shape of the island of Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka Date unknown	American Museum of Natural History?	Anonymous, 1936 Wijesekera, 1980
Unnamed 63,000 ct (12.6 kg; 27.783 lb); rough crystal, bluish gray pyramid (not gem quality); 27 x 14.25 x 6.75 in (68.58 x 36.195 x 17.145 cm)	Mogok, Burma ca. 1967	Myanma Gems Enterprise, Burma	Anonymous, 1967
Unnamed 40.3 kg; rough, blue-gray color, doubly-terminated bipyramid crystal	Rakwana, Sri Lanka Date unknown	Unknown	Koivula & Kammerling, 1989a
Unnamed 4,230 ct; rough; bluish bipyramidal crystal; not gemmy	Lokekhet ('Kadegadar') Mogok, Burma Sept. 1990	Myanma Gems Enterprise, Burma	Working People's Daily, 5 Feb, 1991 Clark, 1991, p. 68
Devil's Eye Ruby 66,550 ct (13.31 kg) ruby crystal	Possibly from Burma	Unknown	Werner K. Kubesch, pers. comm., 17 Aug., 1998

World's Largest?

AMONG the most difficult tasks facing the gemologist is that of testing the world's largest. 'Tis not a task for the meek; those called upon to test the world's largest somesuch are rarely showered with trust. All specimens are "priceless" and all are "absolutely genuine," having been either family heirlooms dating from Timur's sacking of Delhi in 1398 AD, or recently unearthed from someone's backyard or rice paddy. Thus the owner often demands to watch the proceedings, fearing that, if their back is turned for even an instant, the vulpine tester will slide an identical specimen out from under his cloak for the switch.

During the author's many years practicing gemology, people constantly turned up with the "world's largest" this or that. I've been privileged to examine the "world's largest ruby" (a large chunk of battered red glass), the "world's largest imperial green jade" (a large chunk of translucent green glass) and the "world's largest sapphire" (a large chunk of battered blue glass). But perhaps most impressive of all was the "world's largest pearl." So large was this that a fruit scale had to be used to determine its weight. Indeed, it was a pearl of sorts, but, to be frank, that may be an abuse of the term. It actually resembled something extruded from the rear of an enormous oyster, perhaps shortly after a meal of tainted shellfish. No doubt this extraordinary specimen now rests, yoke-like, between the pendulous breasts of a society maiden on the wrong side of 40.

While owners of such gems may genuinely believe them to be priceless, they surface most often from the bowels of unscrupulous dealers' collections, always with an inflated appraisal claiming them to be more valuable than the British Crown Jewels.

This was the case with the infamous Life and Pride of America Star Sapphire, which featured in many news reports of 1985 and 1986 (Hughes, 1987b). In a story that would warm the heart of even the most jaded observer, one Roy Whetstine claimed to have bought the 1905-ct stone for $10 at the Tucson gem show. But things turned dour when a reporter discovered that one L.A. Ward of Fallbrook, CA, who appraised it at the whopping price of $1200/ct, had appraised another stone of the exact same weight several years before Whetstine said he found it. Photographs of the "gem" revealed an opaque corundum lump that would be put to better use dressing grinding wheels than windows at Tiffany.

R S end dingbat