Courtesy: Poly Auctions

On July 13, 2022, an oval 8.38 Burma ruby sold for $7.3 million or $871,000 per carat at Poly Auctions in Hong Kong.  According to our records, this is the sixth most expensive Burma ruby sold at auction at approximately $871,000 per carat.  Of course, we must remember the stones that sold for over a million dollars per carat were at least 10 carats.  This was a Cartier piece.  Regretfully, the stone only came with Gubelin and GRS grading reports, leaving many details unknown.  We urge all auction companies to have top gems graded by AGL with a full Prestige Gemstone Report.  By using our eyes of the auction house photograph, we would say the stone has about 50% average brilliancy.  We can see inclusions with our eyes, so the stone is probably Moderately Included.  We also believe the color is a top "stoplight" red color.  These new auction sales come with a 25% buyer's premium.  Great for the auction house, but a detriment for the seller.  Of course, the buyer pays more, also.

Check out our list below of some of the most important Burma ruby sold at auction since 2005.

Christies 2015: The 15.04 Crimson Flame Ruby sold for $18.3 million or $1.2 million per carat.

Sotheby's 2015: The 25.59 Sunrise sold for almost $1.2 million per carat. This gem has eye-visible inclusions.

2016 Christie's:  An oval, 10.05 carat "Ratnaraj" Burma ruby for $10.2 million, achieving the third-highest per-carat price for a ruby at just over $1 million per carat.

Sotheby's 2014: Graff bought the gem red, clean 8.62 for over $8.5 million or $997,000 per carat.

Christie's 2016:  The 15.99 Jubilee Burmese ruby sold for $14.16 million. This equates to over $885,000 per carat. The stone was graded by AGL with an  Exceptional TQIR.

Poly Auction 2022: An Oval 8.38 Gem Red, Moderately Included sold for $7.3 million or $871,000 per carat.

Christie's 2019:  The  cushion du Pont Ruby is an 11.20-carat Burmese ruby. According to The American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), the gem is "Classic Burma" no heat. The gem sold for over $8.9 million or almost $800,000 per carat.

Sotheby's 2014: A 10.10 Burma ruby sold for over $8.2 million or $834,000 per carat with an SSEF grading report.

Sotheby's 2017:A 13.26 Burmese ruby sold for $10.5 million.  This translates into $788,000 per carat.  It was sold to an Asian private.

Christie's 2013: The 13.21 Regal Ruby sold for over $5.9 million for $446,000 per carat

Christie's 2013: A 8.39 Burma ruby with an AGL report sold for $3.9 million or $437,000 per carat.

Christie's 2012: Elizabeth Taylor's 8.24 Burma ruby fetched $4.2 million or over $512,000 per carat.

Christie's 2012: The Etcetera 6.04 sold for $3.3 million or $551,000 per carat.

Bonham's 2021: An oval 3.21 unheated Burma ruby sold for $150,514 per carat or $483,153.

Sotheby's 2022:  A 6.41-carat unheated Burmese ruby sold for $2.8 million ($432,000 per carat).  AGL graded the color 2.5 or 70% red, often used to define true "pigeon blood" red.
Sotheby's 2011: A 30.20 Burmese ruby with Gübelin paper sold for over $4.2 million or $141,000 per carat.

Christie's 2010: An old 9.20 Burmese ruby sold for $3.3 million or $358,000 per carat.

Sotheby's 2010: An 8.66 cushion Burmese ruby sold for $2,098,500 or $242,000 per carat.

Christie's 2009: A 7.03 Burmese ruby sold for $1.13 million or $160,000 per carat.

Christie's 2007: A 12.43 carat cushion Burma ruby sold for $2 million or $160,000 per carat.

Christie's 2006: Graff bought the 9.25 Burma ruby for $2.42 million or $ 261,000 per carat.

Christie's 2006: Graff paid $3.62 million or $420,000 per carat for an 8.62 Burma ruby.

Christie's 2005: An Asian private pays $2.2 million or $274,000 per carat for an 8.01 Burma ruby.