Rubies Are Killing It at Auction—Here Are Five of the Best Ever Sold

Rubies have been treasured since biblical times for their red color and association with intense human emotions: love, anger, passion, and fury. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, the ruby is called ratnaraj, which translates to “king of precious stones,” and ancient Hindus believed that a ruby offering to the god Krishna granted the giver rebirth as an emperor. Fast forward thousands of years and the red gems are currently shattering auction records, with no end in sight. Yesterday, Christie’s New York sold its 15.99-carat Jubilee ruby for an impressive $14.1 million, earning the oval gem recognition as the third most expensive ruby to ever sell at auction. In celebration, here are five of the best sellers to date.