The largest ruby crystal ever auctioned will be offer at Bonhams‘ Gems, Minerals, Lapidary Works of Art and Natural History sale in Los Angeles on May 20. This massive Ruby crystal in Zoisite is seven times larger than any other ruby found in the famous Longido, Tanzania deposit, weighs 100 pounds (228,000 carats) and is expected to fetch between $100,000-150,000. One more highlight of the sale is a collection of 27 Rhodochrosites, also known as “Red Gold,” which were mined from the Kalahari Manganese Field in South Africa, estimated to fetch $200,000-250,000.
Other important pieces include an exceptionally rare and large Demantoid Garnet ($130,000-180,000); a life-size Obsidian carving of a bald eagle ($80,000-100,000) and a multi-gemstone Gold and Drusy Onyx Necklace known as “The American Ingenuity Necklace,” designed and fabricated by Jeffrey E. Appling ($60,000-80,000).
The auction offers fine minerals, fossils, unmounted and rare faceted gemstones, amber, petrified wood, meteorites, gold nuggets, and rare natural pearls. Jewelry and lapidary carvings by German masters are also on offer.
“Over the last ten years, Bonhams has established itself as market leader in selling lapidary works of art and exotic gemstone jewelry to a discerning international clientele, “ said Claudia Florian, co-consulting director of Bonhams’ Natural History department, in a statement.
