Lot 1779. An Important and Spectacular 24.70 carats Burmese “Pigeon Blood” Ruby and Diamond Ring. Estimate: HK$82,000,000-92,000,000 / US$10,490,000-11,770,000. Lot Sold 86,392,500 HKD (11,007,268 USD). Courtesy Sotheby’s 2018.

Set with a cushion-shaped ruby weighing 24.70 carats, within a surround of pear-shaped diamonds, the shank pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds of pink tint, size 7.

ccompanied by SSEF report numbered 80220, dated 11 June 2015, Gübelin report numbered 1003549, dated 12 March 2010 and AGL report numbered 8087505, dated 8 March 2018, each stating that the ruby is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating; SSEF further stating that the colour of this ruby may also be called 'pigeon blood red' in the trade; also accompanied by SSEF Appendix letter stating 'The natural ruby...possesses extraordinary characteristics and merits special mention and appreciation. The described gemstone...exhibits an impressive size and weight, combined with a well-saturated colour and a very pleasant antique cushion shape. Natural rubies from Burma of this size and colour represent a great rarity...a very exceptional treasure of nature.'

Also accompanied by sixteen GIA reports, stating that the pear-shaped diamonds weighing from 1.73 to 1.07 carats are all D Colour, Flawless to Internally Flawless; further accompanied by three diamond type classification reports stating that the diamonds weighing 1.52, 1.13 and 1.12 carats are determined to be Type IIa diamonds. Type IIa diamonds are the most chemically pure type of diamond and often have exceptional optical transparency. Also accompanied by four GIA dossiers, stating that the pear-shaped diamonds weighing 0.34 to 0.30 carat are all D Colour, Internally Flawless to VVS1 Clarity.

Accompanied by SSEF Premium Appendix, AGL JewelFolioTM and three gemmological reports.

A TREASURE FROM MOGOK

For centuries, the ruby has been distinguished as one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. Commanding some of the most competitive prices per carat, Burmese rubies are some of the world’s most highly desired gemstones.

Considered some of nature’s most dazzling creations, gemstones are primarily valued for the plethora of hues and tones of which they embody. Ruby red hues are legendarily associated with the most intense of emotions – passion, desire, love and fury. The reverence with which the ruby has long been held in the East is expressed in Sanskrit as Ratnanayaka which translatesas the ‘Leader of precious stones’. Its status as ‘King of Gems’ was reiterated, around 1110AD, in Marbodus’s ‘liber de lapidibus’, where the ruby is called ‘the most precious of the twelve stones God created when he created all creatures’. Historically worn as a talisman, the penetrating colour of red was believed to embody mystical properties in protecting its wearer from harm, associating the gem with power and protection, bringing good fortune to the wearer.

For centuries, Burma, or present-day Myanmar, has been renowned for producing the finest quality rubies. The geological composition of the Mogok mines in northern Burma providethe optimum environment for a ruby’s formation. With the diminished iron and its diluting effects, rubies from Burma are coloured by chromium oxide which gives them their distinctive sensual red hue and causes a red fluorescence that, in artificial light, can make the stone glow as if it was internally illuminated.

One of the most significant factors affecting a ruby’s value is colour. The finest Mogok rubies are described as ‘pigeon blood’ red. This term was originally coined by the trade and is used to describe rubies which exhibit a strong colour saturation, are unheated and of fine quality, considering qualities such as clarity, transparency and colour homogeneity of the stone.

As the ruby mines in Burma and elsewhere produce fewer and fewer stones of important sizes, the discovery of any gemstone that is larger than 5 carats is a cause for celebration among gem connoisseurs. For Lot 1779, the impressive size of 24.70 carats combined with the well-saturated glowing red colour truly represents an exceptional treasure of nature.

Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite, Hong Kong, 03 Apr 2018, 01:30 PM