JAKARTA - A 55.2 carat Rubi stone will be the largest of its kind ever auctioned, also the most grateful if sold for more than 30 million US dollars or around Rp. 450,243,000,000.
The rock will be auctioned off in New York, USA on June 8 next week, less than a year after Canadian company Fura Gems found it in one of its mines in Mozambique.
Announcing last month's auction, Sotheby's described the gem as "very rare" and "the most valuable and important robo" ever in the market. Named Estrela de Fura (or Fura Star in official Mozambique, Portuguese), the stone is expected to sell for more than 30 million US dollars, the auction house said.
Although the record sale of gemstones is dominated by diamonds - which are colorful, in particular - rubi is also considered the rarest and most valuable gemstone in the world.
The rubi rock auction record is currently held by Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59 carat stone found in Myanmar and sold for 30.3 million US dollars in Geneva, Switzerland in 2015.
Estrela de Fura was cut from a rough rock that made headlines when excavated by miners last July. Initially, it weighed 101 carats, almost twice its current shape. It was the largest gem quality rubi ever found.
The large rock was cut into a smaller symmetric shape and dipoles, a process that removes dirt and increases the color and brightness of gemstones before they are marketed.
According to Sotheby's, a report from the Swiss Gnomics Institute said this had "generated a bright red rona due to some internal reflection."
In a statement, Fura Gems founder and CEO Dev Shetty said that such a size and quality rock was almost inaudible.
"From in-depth analysis and rock studies through the cutting and gluing process we have worked very carefully and respected ruby, realizing its importance and robustness," he added, as quoted by CNN, May 28.
Although rubi was first discovered in Mozambique decades ago, a significant industry only emerged after 2009, when a large number of rocks were discovered near the northern city of Montepuez. Mozambique is now one of the most productive rubi mining countries in the world.
Estrela de Fura is among the stones excavated from the region. Sotheby's describes it as having "extraordinary clarity" and an old red color known as "vehicle blood" - a more traditional rona associated with the highly sought after Burmese rub.
The head of the auction house jewelry for America Quig Bruning said in a statementnauts could help African stones compete, "and even outperform" the stones from Myanmar (the country previously known as Burma).
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The ruby will be featured in sales titled "Magnificent Jewels" Sotheby's, which will begin with 10.57 carat pink diamond, The Eternal Pink, which is expected to sell for more than 35 million US dollars.
The two precious stones were also exhibited in various cities, including Dubai, Singapore and Geneva, before heading to New York for auction.
While citing Sotheby's, Estrela de Fura will be exhibited from June 1 to 7, from 10 am to 5 pm, except for June 4, which starts at 1 pm. Meanwhile, the auction will be held on June 8 starting at 10 am local time.
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