They set records at auction, and were stolen in Jewel Heists that made International Headlines. Some were prized possessions and many are now on permanent display at the Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian. 

Take a look at some of the world’s most famous rubies.

The Liberty Bell Ruby

The Liberty Bell Ruby is the largest mined ruby in the world, found in east Africa in the 1950’s. It weighs four pounds, is eight and a half thousand carats. It is a single piece of ruby that was carved into a bell shape, surrounded by a white diamond border and topped by an eagle for the United States 1976 Bicentennial celebration. There are 50 diamonds, which represent the states. The Liberty Bell was stolen from Stuart Kingston Jewelers in Wilmington, Deleware during 2011 heist. Although the thieves were prosecuted, the ruby has never been recovered.

The DeLong Star Ruby

The 100.32 carat DeLong Star Ruby resides in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. The beautiful, deep red ruby with a 6-rayed star gets its name from Mrs. Edith Haggin de Long. She purchased the stone in 1937 from Martin Leo Ehrmann, the renowned gem and mineral collector and dealer. The DeLong Star Ruby was also stolen in a jewel heist. Along with the Star of India and the Midnight Star Sapphire, it was stolen from the museum in what became known as the ‘Jewel Heist of the Century’ in 1964. Luckily all three stones were ultimately recovered.

The Rosser Reeves Ruby

This Sri-Lankan stone is renowned for its great colour and well-defined star pattern. Advertising mogul Rosser Reeves, an American advertising executive who coined the phrase “Unique Selling Proposition (USP), donated this piece to the Smithsonian in 1965, but before that he carried it around as a lucky stone, referring to it as his baby. It is one of the world’s largest and finest star rubies – clearer and more translucent that the Delong Star with a sharp six-rayed star.

The Neelanjali Ruby

The star forms when titanium atoms are trapped within the growing corundum crystal. As the crystal cools, the titanium forms needlelike crystals of the mineral rutile, which orient themselves in three directions. When properly cut, en cabochon, light reflecting off of the three sets of needles produces the six-rayed star. This phenomenon is called asterism. It is believed that the largest star gemstone is the Neelanjali Star Ruby. It weighs 1,370 carats and features unusual 12-point double-star asterism.

The Graff Ruby

A well known cushion cut Burmese ruby with a weight of 8.62 carats set records at the Sotheby’s Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in November 2014, selling for more than 8 million dollars. This spectacular gemstone displaying the coveted “pigeon blood” red colour was bought by Laurence Graff, who commented shortly after: “It was a natural thing to do. Graff deals in the finest gemstones in the world and this is the finest ruby in the world. We are very proud to have it in our possession for the second time.”

The Sunrise Ruby

The Sunrise Ruby is the world’s most expensive ruby. The certified untreated, 25.59-carat Burma ruby set into a Cartier ring and flanked by white diamonds has a richly saturated natural “pigeon blood red” color; a high clarity and brilliance and a finely proportioned cut and shape. It is named after a poem of the same name, written by the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi. Selling for more than 30 million US dollars, it was a world record not only for ruby but for any colored gemstone at an auction.

The Carmen Lúcia Ruby

This spectacular 23.1-carat Burmese ruby, set in a platinum ring with diamonds, is one of the finest and largest faceted Burmese rubies known. Aside from its large size, this extraordinary gemstone displays a richly saturated homogenous red color, combined with an exceptional degree of transparency. The stone was mined from the fabled Mogok region of Burma in the 1930’s. The ring was donated to the Smithsonian by businessman and philanthropist Peter Buck in memory of his wife Carmen Lúcia.

The Hope Ruby

In May of 2012, American-born billionaire Lily Safra auctioned off her jewellery collection at the “Jewels of Hope Auction” with all proceeds to benefit 32 local charities. Her Chaumet’s carat cushion-shaped Burmese ruby and diamond ring, affectionately called “The Hope Ruby” sold for more than $6.7 million, well above its $5 million high estimate. It is a world record price for any ruby sold at auction.The design highlight includes the gemstone’s vivid red (pigeon’s blood), typical and characteristic for fine rubies of the Mogok gemstone tract.

Ruby is one of the most valuable of all gems. Luckily for ruby lovers, and those with a July birthstone, new sources now being discovered all the time which means that there will be a steady supply of highly desirable rubies. So, the love affair will continue for decades to come!