A 36-carat fine-quality Mozambique ruby will headline Gemfields’ upcoming auction scheduled for June 2025 alongside gems recovered from a newer section of its ruby mine.

On offer at the mixed-quality ruby sale will be a broader range of secondary-type material from an area of Gemfields’ Mozambique mine that has not previously been represented at auction in meaningful quantities.

This section lies within the concession of Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM), which is situated on one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world. MRM is in the Montepuez district of Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique and the licence area stretches over 34,966 hectares. Gemfields operates and owns 75 per cent of MRM, with the remaining 25 per cent being held by Mwiriti Limitada.

Adrian Banks, managing director for Product and Sales at Gemfields, cited the evolving variety of rubies being recovered by Montepuez Ruby Mining. 

“I am particularly eager to see how a single fine-quality ruby weighing 36 carats will perform at our auction. I believe this ruby will be strongly contested by discerning clients who recognise the rarity and significance of such a gemstone, given both its size and quality,” added Banks.

According to Gemfields, the rubies recently recovered from the newer section of the mine exhibit noticeable differences in characteristics compared to the secondary-type rubies that it has been bringing to market over the past 11 years. These gems often display a slightly lighter tone and stronger fluorescence due to lower iron content, offering customers an opportunity to broaden their range of tones and hues, noted the miner.