Sunrise Ruby: Most Expensive Ruby

Picture credits: Justin Tallis/Agence France-Presse

Gemstones have been one of Nature's ways to enchant and enthral people since times immemorial. Among these special glittery, shiny stones, a few particular specimens of unusually profound colours and utmost rarity are seldom unearthed. Sunrise Ruby is one such example of an exemplary natural creation, with unsurpassable beauty when measured against the scales of the highest standards of Rubies and other gemstones.

How rare are Natural Ruby gems?

When discussing the rarity of precious stones, it should be inferred that the gem-quality stones are being discussed. Ruby belongs to the corundum mineral family, along with famous coloured sapphires as its family members. However, rubies are much rarer than all other corundum varieties, which says a lot considering the blue sapphire is itself identified as a rare gemstone, and what to say about the preciousness of a Ruby with decent color, clarity, and size.

• An extremely rare, high-quality Ruby doublet. Notice the otherworldly blazing red color, completely natural!

A Ruby with a natural, vivid red color is rare. It becomes an exceptional specimen if such a Ruby has good clarity. However, if this Ruby is also decently sized, it would be among the most notable gemstones in history.

The Sunrise Ruby: A Gemstone Par Excellence

Let's bare the statistics: The beautiful, dark Red Sunrise Ruby has perfect pigeon blood color and eye-clean clarity at a size of 25.59 carats. Any one of these three characteristics would alone count for a great stone, but this phenomenal gem is blessed with all these together.

The pigeon blood red color combined with perfect eye-clean clarity is a combination which supposedly led old kings of yore trade cities in a bid to obtain such Rubies. Historical Mentions of Mughal emperor Jahangir and Mongol King Kublai Khan exchanging cities for an excellent quality Ruby are some of the most intriguing stories among all Ruby folklore.

While getting a good quality Ruby above 5 carats is challenging, the Sunrise Ruby weighs a stellar 25.59 carats of pure quality and clarity. Those who know about gemstones understand that such a specimen is rarest of all, and another Ruby of equal or better beauty may never be found again. Through the Sunrise Ruby, the world may have very well caught the closest glimpse of perfection.

The exquisite Sunrise Ruby. Like Rumi wrote, “The Ruby and the Sunrise are one.

Picture credits: Monacolife.net

David Benett, a leading authority on gemstones and jewellery, stated, "During his 40 years in the industry, he has never before seen a ruby of this calibre" for the Sunrise Ruby gemstone. Such a remarkable statement from a person who has been titled the 100-carat man and has seen and handled the best gemstones in history highlights how the Sunrise is an absolute freak among Rubies, an exception on the part of the natural law of "perfection cannot exist."

The Gubelin gem report appendix said this for the Sunrise Ruby:

"'The 25.59 ct ruby described in the above-mentioned Gübelin Gem Lab Report possesses a combination of outstanding characteristics. It displays a homogeneous and richly saturated 'pigeon blood red' colour, which typifies the finest of these gems. The depth of colour, combined with high clarity and brilliance, all contribute to the gem's beauty. The shape and finely proportioned cut provide vivid internal colour reflections. In addition, this remarkable gemstone has been spared thermal treatment."

History of Sunrise Ruby

The Original Sunrise Ruby gemstone was mined from the famous Mongok mines of Myanmar. The Mongok region has been a historical centre of Ruby for ages, producing the finest Rubies coveted for their exceptional color and clarity. Gubelin eventually acquired the rough gemstone, which was subsequently cut and polished, the details of which aren't public yet. Later on, the almost-perfect gemstone was auctioned in Sotheby's Geneva in 2015.

Sunrise Ruby Auction at Sotheby's

The wondrous red stone was auctioned in 2015 for a stellar amount of USD 30.3 million to Austrian art collector Heidi Horten, making it the world's most expensive gem-quality Ruby for eight years. The authority of the gemstone could only be challenged by another freakishly humongous 55.55 Carat Ruby named Estrela de Fura, which was auctioned off for USD 34.8 million in June 2023.

The Sunrise Vs Estrela De Fura Ruby

Though it's unfair to compare such top-notch gemstones, pitting these two Rubies against each other would be interesting. The Sunrise Ruby has unrealistic color and clarity, further augmented by its unusual size. Estrela De Fura's uniqueness is in its gigantic size of 55.22 carats, which is further enhanced by its great color and clarity but is still superseded by the Sunrise's beauty. It's worth noting that the current "most expensive Ruby", Estrela De Fura cost merely USD 4.5 million more than Sunrise, even though the Estrela De Fura is 29.63 carats larger than the latter Ruby.

Astrological Usage of Sunrise Ruby

Natural Ruby stones, free from any enhancement procedures, are said to be powerful astrological tools. The Ruby title "King of all Gemstones" comes from the Sanskrit epithet "Ratnaraja," and Vedic Astrology designates it as the primary gemstone for the Sun God. There's no other stone to energise and reinvigorate one's physical, mental and emotional self. Like the endless stream of energy that the fiery Sun emanates at every moment, a Ruby also carries intense passion and vitality that can magnify the flow of "Prana," i.e., life energy through the body. The Sun is the king of the Navagraha (Nine planets) system of Jyotisha. Wearing a Ruby immediately activates all significations of the Sun. It blesses the wearer with Good health, fame, reputation, authority, leading posts, protection from evil and ill-fame, dynamism and a dignified personality, along with jobs or favours from the governing class of their land.

A good quality ruby is said to possess many virtues. Thus Sunrise Ruby will definitely be capable of showing these benefits. However, 25.59 carats is too big a size to wear and can cause excess solar energy; considering a good 3-5 carats Ruby is said to be astrologically sufficient to produce observable astrological benefits!

Sunrise Ruby: Rumi's Words

• A diamond cut Ruby glistening in sunrise.

The name for this magnificent gemstone was inspired by a 13th-century poem written by the famous Sufi poet Rumi. The select verses which perfectly capture the Sunrise Ruby meaning from the poem are:

"He says, "There is nothing left of me.
I'm like a ruby held up to the Sunrise.
Is it still a stone or a world
made of redness? It has no resistance to sunlight."

In his remarkable romantic style, the widely loved poet compares a person to a brilliant Ruby and elucidates how devotedly offering ourselves to daily duties and work finally unlocks the door to God, just like a red Ruby that's brought up before Sunrise, with the fate of the Ruby culminating in:

"The Ruby and the Sunrise are one."

Conclusion

With such beautiful, romantic verses, it's utterly befitting to have named this once-in-a-lifetime gemstone- the Sunrise Ruby. Gemstones of the calibre of Sunrise Ruby are immensely rare. Gem Enthusiasts live through their whole life without ever being able to see one. Although nature is capable of producing more mesmerising gems of such unmatched beauty, the chances of finding one from Earth's lap may happen only once in centuries. Such is the special position Sunrise holds among Rubies, whose legend will grow even more as time passes.

Also Reads: Ruby Gemstone Benefits, Ruby Stone Properties and Types of Ruby