Hi everyone,
A very large rough ruby was recently mined in Myanmar. Potentially being the second largest stone ever found, which is an incredible find! However, I am curious if this stone will be able to produce gem quality material, or is it common for these larger stones to be too opaque for that.
An amazing find nonetheless, if certified to be natural!
Any thoughts?
Cheers!
-Troy
The article says moderate transparency which is pretty good for that size rough.
Agreed! Apparently, the largest one found back in 1996 was more opaque. Should make this new find more valuable.
Will be interesting to see what happens. 
I expect 20% maximum of rough might be captured into gem quality gems if lucky.
Out of 5 pound rock that is 1 pound of rubies for sale on open market.
Good for market as Ruby is very expensive.
At $5,000 for lowest quality while top tier fetches $250,000 per carat or upward from that point.
Beverly Hills Gemologist will most likely try to acquire these.
Make sure charge accordingly.
They sell typically around $75,000 for AAA quality Ruby per carat.
A 5 carat is $375,000 retail
1 pound of rubies are 2267.962 carats
So a 5 carat Ruby at $375,000 retail
2,268 carats of Ruby sold at retail even if AAA would retail at $170,100,000 minimum value on find roughly in retail value.
$8,500,000 best seller might get before cutting.
If they get more congratulations.
Personally I would not cut apart put into private collection by some sultan would be best option. When Ruby is more scarce bring out for cutting after Rubies reach higher value.
similar to Rhodium values high price was $30,000 ounce now $11,000 ounce fluctuations occur.
Timed right get far more leverage.
$75k/carat for a flawless 5 carat ruby isn’t too far-fetched but that definitely is market dependent and opinionated by the evaluator’s interpretation.
I’m not convinced the color tones are accurate in the image above, the samples seem to show slight tint variance. (Artifact of using snippet tool in Windows 11 and the processed image file compression type.) (generated a pdf of the monthly report. If anyone is interested in viewing it, send me a PM.)
Assuming the raw stone has gem quality material around 2,200 carats out of the 11,000 total. How does the market estimate a $8.5M sell point? Just curious how this would be established. I’m not familiar with selling / purchasing rough material in large quantities, so any literature or resource link would be very helpful. 
-Troy
Information typically trade secret.
Industry traders always makes insider deals and seller might get certain amount but if greedy fails in trade.
Doubt they would get $8.5 million.
They might want amount reality based on buyers willing to sell above need.
Always ask seller what is need versus what is want.
Two very different results occur.
I bought AAA heat treated rubies yes treated for $18 each via Burma bought 2 lots in auction not best grade of AAAA.
Bought 120 rubies for around $1,000 via auction after India’s stock market collapsed in 2024. Same cushion cut between 8, 9, 10 & 11 carat weights. Bulk pricing discounts.
Especially when opportunities present selves take what is offered.
In Ruby not often we find natural we all want natural but reality limits options.
Big rocks bring big buyers. Doubt. They will want how much they buy the rock for to be public. I was happy with only paying $20,000 for 10,000 gems across multiple venue auctions to attain my inventory.
Obtaining mostly purple either Sapphire or spinel but very pretty.
Actual price depends on bidders war.
If two bidders are the only bidders do not expect high sales.
I was only bidder in most auctions I won. Not typical. Not so lucky now. When markets collapse people sell what ever they can for as much as they can. Most just need enough to get home. Many sellers I bought inventory from needed funds to get home. I helped all whom sent me offers given.
Not all was real 30% glass, 35% natural, 35% treated.
Open market options not always honest.
I reported every dishonest seller.
Paid all order I made.
My inventory amounts are not substantial. Enough to last me about 5 years.
Been making items since.
Mozambique rubies obtained had more variety of shapes, various cuts mostly all same range of quality.
I did not get AAAA grade rubies — getting AAA Ruby was my goal obtained at fair market asking prices at time market collapse.
Paid $17 each was nice. Many dealers have tried to buy mine offering me they could sell for me. No Thankyou. I pretty much wanted for buying to make dog collars. Just to piss off Beverly Hills Jeweler who sent gemologist to insult me at hobby show.
I do not sell to industry.
I buy for hobby.
If I sell I give profit if made in art supplies to veteran families. I make no profit.
Most often people get greedy want as much as potential will gain them.
Cause seller and buyer to walk away.
Let buyer talk. Let them tell you amount willing to offer. If seller speaks 1st not a good sign.
Listen to buyers never listen to sellers.
Whom holds cash decides deal.
I am selling my AAA Ruby inventory at $100 a carat.
I am not selling to aaa holes in Beverly Hills.
I sell mine to people who could never afford these luxury items.
Low brow people whom could never afford luxury of Beverly Hills.
Instead this is my hobby buying inventory and giving options to people without much so they get better than crap sold them for a hell of a lot less. I only sell to friends. I sell to raise money for my local gemology & mineral club.
Only then do I sell when to raise money for club fundraisers to keep club funded.
I am not doing this for profit.
IRS fired me for being gay.
I studied tax law for 27 courses.
I know how to remain tax exempt my entire life.
I take less than I give.
So just to piss off Beverly Hills pricks who insulted me I sell much nicer items for much less than market prices are selling for.
Mainly to fund my club.
I am retired US Treasury Department IRS Revenue Officer whom was fired for being gay.
Administration refuses my access to my court annuity award bring the # of felony actions on my case to 14.
Amount owed my case is so large I can easily retire three lifetimes worth.
Giving away millions in gems.
Just to piss off government And many gemologist saying I only have crap.
I am selling mine cheap must be crap.
I do not care about market price.
I sell what my customers can afford to pay.
Most barely afford rent. Have no idea what I am providing them. 1 person who witnessed a crime informed me of crime so I gifted her 10 carat Ruby.
