Important Ruby and Diamond Ring

Set with an oval ruby weighing 5.07 carats, surrounded by four pear-shaped diamonds weighing 7.56 carats in total, accented with circular-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum and 18 karat yellow gold. Ring size: 5½

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that jadeite and rubies of Burmese origin and articles of jewellery containing jadeite or rubies of Burmese origin all less than 100 years old may not be imported into the US. The purchaser's inability to import any item into the U.S. or any other country as a result of these or other restrictions shall not justify cancellation or rescission of the sale or any delay in payment. Please check with the specialist department if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to these import restrictions, or any other restrictions on importation or exportation. Accompanied by SSEF and AGL reports numbered 86030 and CS 1078180 respectively, stating that the ruby weighing 5.07 carats is natural, of Burmese (Myanmar) origin, with no indications of heating, and 'pigeon blood' according to SSEF and AGL reports. Also accompanied by four GIA reports, stating that the diamonds weighing from 2.02 to 1.70 carats are all D Colour, Flawless to Internally Flawless, with Excellent Polish and Symmetry, together with two Type IIa diamond type classification letters for the diamonds weighing 2.00 and 1.84 carats. Please refer to the reports and letters for further details. Stamped PT950 and AU750 for platinum and 18 karat yellow gold. The smaller diamonds weighing approximately 1.35 carats in total, about E-F colour, VVS-VS clarity, as gauged and graded in the mounting. Hardly any sign of wear to the metal, in excellent condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion. Illustrations in the catalogue may not be actual size. Prospective purchasers are reminded that, unless the catalogue description specifically states that a stone is natural, we have assumed that some form of treatment may have been used and that such treatment may not be permanent. Our presale estimates reflect this assumption.Certificates of Authenticity: Various manufacturers may not issue certificates of authenticity upon request. Sotheby's is not under an obligation to furnish the purchaser with a certificate of authenticity from the manufacturer at any time. Unless the requirements for a rescission of the sale under the Terms of Guarantee are satisfied, the failure of a manufacturer to issue a certificate will not constitute grounds to rescind the sale. Gemological Certificates and Reports: References in the catalogue descriptions to certificates or reports issued by gemological laboratories are provided only for the information of bidders, and Sotheby's does not guarantee and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, terms or information contained in such certificates or reports. Please also note that laboratories may differ in their assessment of a gemstone (including its origin and presence, type and extent of treatments) and their certificates or reports may contain different results.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Accompanied by SSEF and AGL reports numbered 86030 and CS 1078180, dated 30 May 2016 and 24 August 2016 respectively, stating that the 5.07 carat ruby is natural, of Burmese (Myanmar) origin, with no indications of heating; SSEF further stating that the ruby may also be called 'pigeon blood red' based on SSEF reference standards; also accompanied by AGL letter stating that 'it possesses a number of internal features that are consistent with rubies from historic Burmese locality of the Mogok valley...Traditionally, stones of this color have been described as having a "pigeon blood" hue.'; further accompanied by four GIA reports, stating that the diamonds weighing from 2.02 to 1.70 carats are all D Colour, Flawless to Internally Flawless, with Excellent Polish and Symmetry; also accompanied by two diamond type classification reports stating that the diamonds weighing 2.00 and 1.84 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.

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REALM OF RED

Amongst all coloured gemstones, ruby is inarguably the most valuable, exceeded in price per carat only by the rarest coloured diamonds. The high esteem with which it has long been held in the East is perfectly expressed by two of its names in Sanskrit, Ratnaraj and Ratnanayaka which respectively translate as ‘King of the precious stones’ and ‘leader of precious stones’. Its status of ‘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’. Famed for their exceptional colour, rubies from Burma are highly treasured within the history of high jewellery.

To appreciate why Burmese rubies have been so highly sought after for centuries, a little more must be understood about the stone itself. A variety of the mineral known as corundum, rubies from Burma are coloured by chromium which gives them their distinctive blood red hue and causes a red fluorescence that makes the stone glow like a hot coal as if it was internally illuminated. With a hardness of nine on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds, rubies boast one the key requirements for a gem: durability. These characteristics together with the gem’s associations with power and protection, life and blood, fire and passion have captivated the interest of history’s greatest collectors, from Mughal emperors to European nobility.