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.
Per 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’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's
The Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59 ct Burmese ruby ring by Cartier sold for US$32.42 million ($1,266,901/ct) at Sotheby's Geneva on 12 May, 2015, a per carat and total price world ruby auction record. It currently holds the title as the most expensive colored gemstone in the world. Image © Sotheby's
This lovely matched pair of rubies (14.54 and 13.12 ct) set a new auction per carat and total price record for Mozambique ruby at Tiancheng International's 3 Dec. 2017 sale in Hong Kong. They featured a Lotus Gemology report. Photo: Tiancheng International.
Ruby Auction Records (in US$)
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 2025
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 "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'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 |
Blue sapphire auction records from 1979 through June 2025.
2017 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 |
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.
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’s