Rare Burmese ruby sells for $30.3 million at auction
May 13, 2015, 1:49 PM
FILE - This May 6, 2015 file photo shows a Sotheby's employee wearing a ruby and diamond ring by Cartier, with a Burmese ruby weighing 25.59 carats, during a preview at the Sotheby's auction house in Geneva, Switzerland. The ring sold for $30.3 million at auction, Tuesday, May 12, setting a world auction record for any ruby and for any stone by Cartier, according to Sotheby's. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP, File)n
(Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP, File)
GENEVA (AP) — A rare Burmese ruby in a platinum ring with diamonds sold for $30.3 million at auction, setting a world auction record for any ruby and for any stone by Cartier, according to Sotheby’s.
The buyer and history of the piece, with the ruby weighing in at 25.59 carats, was not disclosed. It was auctioned Tuesday as part of the annual Magnificent and Noble Jewels sale by Sotheby’s Geneva.
The price of the cushion-shaped “Sunrise Ruby” had been estimated prior to the sale at $12 million to $18 million. It is known for its “pigeon blood” red color and set between heptagon-shaped diamonds weighing 2.47 and 2.70 carats. The piece is signed Cartier.
The auction house called a natural ruby from Burma of this size and color extremely rare. The ring broke an auction record for any ruby per carat.
In all, the sale totaled $160.9 million and included three other centerpieces from Cartier. A pink diamond ring once owned by Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, the niece of Napoleon I, sold for $15.9 million.
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