Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel Auction Records • Under the Hammer • Lotus Gemology

World auction records for ruby, sapphire and spinel.

Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel Auction Records • Under the Hammer • Lotus Gemology

In the world of precious stones, it is common to reference auction prices. Not because they represent the highest prices paid, for they don’t; the finest gems generally trade hands in private sales at prices above the auction market. We reference them because the auction scene is an open reflection of the world gem market.

Unlike real estate, gems can and do travel, and therefore have a worldwide value. While auction prices do not always accurately reflect the market (due to bidding wars, etc.), they are public, and thus useful for those wishing to better understand prices. But they are not the only tool. Prospective buyers should not just visit auctions, but also the offices of dealers and jewelers. Dip your spoons into as many bowls as possible. In this way readers will begin to develop a taste for pricing.

What follows is a listing of auction price records for ruby and sapphire. We started tracking this data in the mid-1990's while working on Ruby & Sapphire (1997) and have continued to maintain it here, including information with our latest book Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide (2014). In 2017, we published Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide, with completely updated tables. Unless stated otherwise, all prices are US dollars and are the latest we are aware of.

 

ruby sapphire auction records webPer carat auction records for ruby and sapphire as of June 2025. Click on the diagram for a larger image.

In 2012, this 32.08 ct Burmese ruby ring by Chaumet sold for a spectacular US$6,736,750, or $209,998/ct, then a total price world ruby auction record. Image © Christie’sIn 2012, this 32.08 ct Burmese ruby ring by Chaumet sold for a spectacular US$6,736,750, or $209,998/ct, then a total price world ruby auction record. Image © Christie’s

This 8.62 ct Burmese ruby ring by Graff sold for US$8.57 million ($994,040/ct) at Sotheby's Geneva on 12 November, 2014, then a total price world ruby auction record. Image © Sotheby'sThis 8.62 ct Burmese ruby ring by Graff sold for US$8.57 million ($994,040/ct) at Sotheby's Geneva on 12 November, 2014, then a total price world ruby auction record. Image © Sotheby's

The Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59 ct Burmese ruby ring by Cartier sold for US$32.42 million ($1,266,901/ct) at Sotheby's Geneva on 12 May, 2015, a per carat and total price world ruby auction record. It currently holds the title as the most expensive colored gemstone in the world. Image © Sotheby'sThe Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59 ct Burmese ruby ring by Cartier sold for US$32.42 million ($1,266,901/ct) at Sotheby's Geneva on 12 May, 2015, a per carat and total price world ruby auction record. It currently holds the title as the most expensive colored gemstone in the world. Image © Sotheby's

This lovely matched pair of rubies (14.54 and 13.12 ct) set a new auction per carat and total price record for Mozambique ruby at Tiancheng International's 3 Dec. 2017 sale in Hong Kong. They featured a Lotus Gemology report. Photo: Tiancheng International.This lovely matched pair of rubies (14.54 and 13.12 ct) set a new auction per carat and total price record for Mozambique ruby at Tiancheng International's 3 Dec. 2017 sale in Hong Kong. They featured a Lotus Gemology report. Photo: Tiancheng International.

Ruby Auction Records (in US$)

Name, weight & description Sale Location Price realized Origin Reference
Sunrise Ruby
25.59 ct; faceted, cushion shape; Cartier ring.
Auction record per carat price for a single ruby
Sotheby's Geneva
Lot 502
12 May 2015
$32,420,000 total
$1,266,901/ct
Burma Sotheby's, 2015
Estrela de Fura
55.22 ct; faceted, cushion shape
Auction record total price for a single ruby
Sotheby's New York
Lot 59
8 June 2023
$34,800,000 total
$630,206/ct
Said to be Mozambique Sotheby's 2023
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 Christie’s, 2012
Unnamed
14.54 and 13.12 ct; faceted; oval matched pair; earrings; with report from Lotus Gemology
Auction record per carat and total price for Mozambique ruby
Tiancheng Hong Kong
Lot 194
3 Dec 2017
$6,153,846 total
$222,481/ct
Mozambique Tiancheng, 2017

 Auction records for ruby as of June 2025Auction records for ruby as of June 2025

 

Rockefeller Sapphire

At 62.02 ct, the Rockefeller Sapphire hails from Myanmar's Mogok Stone Tract. It sold at Christie's NYC 11 April, 2001 sale for $3,031,000 ($48,871/ct), at the time both a per carat and total auction record for sapphire. Image © Christie's

The "Jewel of Kashmir," a magnificent 27.68 ct sapphire set a new per carat auction record for sapphire on 7 October 2015, when it sold for $6,745,688 ($243,703/ct) at Sotheby's Hong Kong. Image © Sotheby'sThe "Regent Kashmir," a magnificent 35.09 ct sapphire set a new per carat auction record for sapphire on 27 May 2025, when it sold for $7,398,522 total ($272,374/ct) at Christie's Hong Kong. Image © Christie's 

Weighing in at a massive 392.52 ct, the Blue Belle of Asia set a new auction record total price for sapphire, being hammered down at US$17,295,796 at Christie's Geneva's 11 November 2014 sale.  Image © Christie'sWeighing in at a massive 392.52 ct, the Blue Belle of Asia set a new auction record total price for sapphire, being hammered down at US$17,295,796 at Christie's Geneva's 11 November 2014 sale.  Image © Christie's

Sapphire Auction Records

Name, weight & description Sale Location Price Realized Origin Reference
Blue Belle of Asia
392.52 ct; faceted, cushion shape; necklace.
Auction record total price for sapphire of any origin and total price record for a single Ceylon sapphire
Christie's Geneva
Lot 348
11 Nov. 2014
$17,295,796 total
$44,063/ct
Ceylon Christie's, 2014
Regent Kashmir
35.09 ct; faceted, cushion shape; ring.
Auction record per carat price for a single sapphire of any origin and total price record for Kashmir sapphire
Christie's Hong Kong
Lot 1930
27 May 2025
$9,557,600 total
$272,374/ct
Kashmir Christie's, 2025
Unnamed
130.50 ct; faceted, cushion shape; brooch.
Auction record total price for a single Burmese sapphire
Christie's Geneva
Lot 321
18 May 2011
$7,127,453 total
$54,616/ct
Burma Christie's, 2011
Unnamed
25.87 ct; sugarloaf cabochon; cushion shape; ring. 
Auction record per carat price for a single cabochon sapphire
Sotheby's New York
Lot 488
9 Dec. 2015
$5,122,000 total
$197,990/ct
Kashmir Sotheby's, 2015
Unnamed
28.08 ct; faceted, cushion shape; ring
Auction record per carat price for a single Burmese sapphire
Christie's Geneva
Lot 1917
12 Nov. 2019
$2,517,805 total
$89,665/ct
Burma Christie's 2025
Unnamed
39.19 ct; faceted; emerald cut; cushion shape; brooch.
Auction record per carat price for a Ceylon sapphire
Christie's Geneva
Lot 129
12 Nov. 2019
$1,995,000
$50,900/ct
Ceylon Christie's, 2019

Sapphire auction records from 1979 through 2025.Blue sapphire auction records from 1979 through June 2025.

 

Padparadscha ring2017 was the year of the padparadscha. This 8.01-carat padparadscha sapphire fetched US$97,478 per carat at auction. Image © 2017 Sotheby's 

Padparadscha Sapphire Auction Records

Name, weight & description Sale Location Price realized Origin Reference
Unnamed
28.04 ct; faceted; oval shape; ring.
Auction record total price for a single padparadscha sapphire.
Christie's Hong Kong
Lot 2064
28 Nov. 2017
$2,489,354 total
$88,779/ct
Sri Lanka Christie's, 2017
Unnamed
8.01 ct; faceted; cushion shape; ring.
Auction record per carat price for a single padparadscha sapphire.
Sotheby's Hong Kong
Lot 1683
3 Oct. 2017
$780,800 total
$97,478/ct
Sri Lanka Sotheby's, 2017

 

Spinel Auction Records

Sadly there is not a lot of information on spinel auction records, since so few of these gems end up at auction. Thus what follows should be regarded as a work-in-progress.

Name, weight & description Sale Location Price Realized Origin Reference
Hope Spinel
50.13 ct; set in a brooch/pendant.
Auction record per carat price for spinel.
Bonham's London Lot 146
24 Sept 2015

£962,500 ($1,464,661) total
$29,217/ct

Tajikistan Bonhams, 2015
Unnamed
11 polished and drilled beads weighing 1,131.59 ct total; three pieces engraved; set in a gold necklace.
Auction record total price for spinel jewelry.
Christie's Hong Kong
Lot 306
18 May 2011
$5,214,348 total Tajikistan Christie's, 2011

On 24 September 2015, the Hope Spinel sold for $1,464,661 ($29,217/ct), a new auction per carat record for spinel. On 24 September 2015, the Hope Spinel sold for $1,464,661 ($29,217/ct), a new auction per carat record for spinel.

The highest total price ever paid for spinel jewelry was for this Imperial Mughal necklace, which sold in 2011 for a princely US$5,214,348. Image © Christie’sThe highest total price ever paid for spinel jewelry was for this Imperial Mughal necklace, which sold in 2011 for a princely US$5,214,348. Image © Christie’s

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