The legendary biannual jewelry auctions in Geneva are right around the corner. With that in mind, we’re taking a look back at some of the statement gems and noble jewels that have smashed records at auction in years past—specifically, the history-making pieces that are fitted with rubies.
Here are five of the of the most expensive ruby jewelry pieces ever sold at auction and a little information about each of them.

The Sunrise Ruby and Diamond Ring by Cartier – $30,335,698 USD

Sold by Sotheby’s at their May 2015 Geneva auction, this extraordinary ring broke records and, likely, a few hearts. The center gemstone was a 25.59-carat Mogok Burmese ruby that was accompanied by a report from the SSEF (the Swiss Foundation for the Research of Gemstones) and from Gübelin (one of the foremost gem labs in the world). The reports verify the ruby’s Burmese origin and “pigeon-blood” color and certify that there was no indication of heat treatment.

The Sotheby’s catalog noted at the time that the ruby “displays a homogeneous and richly saturated ‘pigeon blood red’ colour, which typifies the finest of these gems. The depth of colour, combined with a high clarity and brilliance, all contribute to the beauty of the gem. The shape and finely proportioned cut provides vivid internal colour reflections.”

The ruby was set into a platinum signed and numbered Cartier mounting and flanked by shield-shaped diamonds weighing 2.47 and 2.70 carats each.

The Graff Ruby Ring – $8,600,410 USD

Another expensive ruby ring sold at a Sotheby’s Geneva auction is the Graff Ruby, which was sold back to an earlier owner – Laurence Graff – in November of 2014. The cushion-cut, Burmese ruby, also of “pigeon blood red” color, weighs 8.62 carats and is set between triangle-shaped diamonds in a white metal mounting accompanied by bead-set round brilliant cut diamonds.

A Diamond Brooch containing 10.10 Carat Burmese Ruby – $8,428,127 USD

At a November 2014 auction held by Christie’s in Hong Kong, an incredible signed Cartier platinum, diamond, and Burmese ruby brooch fetched a whopping $8.4 million. The brooch contained a 10.10 carat Mogok Burmese ruby (“pigeon’s blood” in color), and, according to the Christie’s description, the ruby “exhibits a saturated and vivid red colour combined with a fine purity and a very attractive cutting style. The tiny inclusions found by microscopic inspection represent the hallmarks of rubies from the classical ruby mines in Mogok Valley in Burma.”

The brooch was also outfitted with four triangle-shaped white, natural diamonds in its corners and twelve additional square-cut diamonds throughout.

The Patiño Ruby and Diamond Ring – $6,736,750 USD

In May of 2012, a 32.08 carat ruby set into a gold Chaumet ring with trapeze cut side stones hit the auction block. The ring fetched almost 7 million dollars at Christie’s Geneva auction that year, and for good reason. The Patiño Ruby once belonged to Luz Mila Patiño, Countess du Boisrouvray and daughter of Bolivian tin tycoon Simon Patiño, who was also related closely to Prince Rainier of Monaco. Countess Patiño was known for her jewelry collection, which was largely auctioned off by her daughter to use for charitable purposes.

The Queen of Burma – $6,084,559 USD

Once belonging to His Highness Khengarji III, the Maharaja of Kutch, the Queen of Burma ruby ring was sold at the November 2014 Christie’s auction in Geneva. The pinkish-red, oval-shaped Burmese ruby weighed approximately 23.66 carats and was claw-set into a platinum and baguette diamond platinum signed Cartier mounting. This marvelous specimen was sold at a for just over 6 million U.S. dollars.

Christie’s and Sotheby’s both held Magnificent Jewels auctions in Geneva on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11, respectively. Combined, the auctions featured 792 jewelry lots selling for $245,553,004 total, including buyer’s premium. The sales featured hundreds of beautiful and incredibly expensive and rare jewelry pieces. Here’s a round-up of the top 10 most expensive lots from the auctions.

10. Sapphire and Diamond Ring

This striking sapphire weighs in at a hefty 40.13 carats. The stone is of Burmese origin and has a remarkable deep blue, saturated color with no evidence of heating. The ring sold for $3.19 million at the Sotheby’s auction.

9. Emerald and Diamond Harry Winston Necklace

This gorgeous, green necklace was created by Harry Winston in 1959. The vintage piece features a 22.25, 20.61 and 15.97-carat Colombian emeralds. In total, 16 emeralds are from Colombia and one is from Russia. The piece sold for $3.8 million in the Sotheby’s auction.

8. Emerald and Diamond Earrings

The two Colombian emeralds weigh 13.56 and 12.91 carats and show no signs of clarity or color treatment. The diamonds weigh 1.84 and 1.81 carats with G Color VVS2 clarity and G color VS1 clarity, respectively. The earrings sold for $3.96 million at the Christie’s auction.

7. Orange-Pink Diamond Pendant

This pendant is a rare and striking shade of natural orange-pink, with VS2 clarity as rated by the GIA. The gorgeous diamond weighs in at 15.02 carats and was sold by Sotheby’s for $4 million.

6.Impressive Unmounted Sapphire

This unmounted stone weighs 118.88 carats and its origins trace back to Burma (Myanmar). The massive stone has no indications of heating and has a beautiful royal blue color. It sold at the Christie’s auction for $4.19 million.

5. Important Colored Diamond Pendant

At the 91.81 carats, this yellow diamond is nothing short of impressive. The GIA has graded the stone as fancy vivid yellow in color with VS2 clarity. This diamond sold for $4.3 million at the Christie’s auction.

4. A Magnificent Diamond Ring

True to the lot’s name, this diamond truly is magnificent. At 50.48 carats, the diamond is graded by the GIA as D color, internally flawless clarity with excellent polish and symmetry. The ring sold for $7.88 million at the Christie’s auction.

3. Purple-Pink Diamond Ring

This extraordinarily colored diamond is also a whopping 8.24 carats — remarkable for a rare, colored diamond. The GIA has rated the diamond a natural fancy vivid purple-pink with SI1 color. Sotheby’s sold the ring for $13.9 million.

2. Cushion-Shaped Pink Diamond

This is the largest cushion-shaped pink diamond to have ever been auctions, weighing 16.08 carats. The stone is surrounded by diamonds and mounted in gold and platinum. The stone is graded by the GIA as fancy vivid pink with VVS2 clarity. The rare diamond sold for $28.68 million at the Christie’s auction.

1. The Blue Moon

It’s well known that colored diamonds, especially blue, are among the rarest diamonds in the world. On top of this the Blue Moon diamond is a massive 12.03 carats graded as an internally flawless fancy vivid blue. The gorgeous stone was sold by Sotheby’s for $48.6 million.

Photo Credit: christies.com / sothebys.com

On Nov. 9, Christie’s Auction House hosted the Important Watches auction in Hong Kong. The heated auction ended with over $13.3 million in watch sales and for good reason. Their sale featured beautiful and rare timepieces with stories from 1810 Russia to the 1972 Pontifical Swiss Guard. Check out our top five favorites from the event.

5. Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar

This Patek Philippe is extremely rare and extremely valuable. This one was the priciest lot of the event and sold for $571,772. This piece was manufactured in 1950, sold in 1952, and had not reappeared on the market until this Christie’s auction. The piece was serviced regularly and is in pristine condition.

There are five models from the perpetual chronograph line, one of the enthusiast favorites from Patek Philippe. Reference 1518 is the first example of not only a Patek perpetual calendar, but of any perpetual calendar by any watchmaker. Only 281 were ever made, and this example is in the rarest gold color that can be found.

4. Piaget with Flying Tourbullion

This Piaget watch would almost pass as a jewelry piece if it weren’t for the tourbillon, which is also the thinnest tourbillon ever made. This piece is extremely rare and believed to be the first example of the Polo tourbillon offered at auction. The piece sold for $269,357.

The diamonds cannot go without mention and make this watch a truly extravagant and unique timepiece. The diamonds — all 671 of them — are very high quality. The white gold case is set with 462 brilliant-cut diamonds and 165 baguette-cut diamonds for a total of 25.42 carats. Finally, the clasp is set with 16 brilliant-cut and 14 baguette-cut diamonds.

3. Patek Philippe Nautilus from Rare Handcrafts Collection

This lavish watch is an outstanding example of craftsmanship from Patek Philippe. The piece is from the Rare Handcrafts Collection which demonstrates the decorative techniques of Patek Philippe. This dazzling piece is noteworthy in its unusualness from the conservative watchmaker. The piece sold for $437,580.

The piece is set with 1,648 pave diamonds for a total carat weight of 9.358ct, covering the bracelet, dial and case. The dial and bezel is enamelled in a beautiful dragon design. This watch is rare and remarkable in its unconventional design, especially for Patek Philippe.

2. Rolex Daytona with Panda Paul Newman Dial

This Rolex Daytona comes in a limited and very rare model which is called the “Paul Newman” by Rolex enthusiast. This Daytona model is only different in it’s dial with a slightly different font and other small difference. When the Paul Newman was first manufactured, it was in limited quantity. That particular version was not as desired, so purchase was halted. Then, the dial was made famous when Paul Newman wore it on the cover of an Italian magazine. The unofficial celebrity endorsement coupled with the rarity of the dial made this a highly-coveted Rolex. On top of that, this Rolex features a “panda” dial — the rarest of the Paul Newman Daytonas.

Rarity meets mystery in this particular Daytona. The back of the watch is engraved with an apparent Swiss cross in rope. The origins of this engraving remain a complete mystery. There are a small number of other Rolex watches from the same time that feature the same engraving, which is decidedly a Rolex engraving and a special order. Rumor would say that the watch was commissioned for the Pontifical Swiss Guard in Vatican City. However, this has been denied by the Swiss Guard and the truth is still unknown. The watch sold for $269,357.

1. Breguet Pocket Watch

This Breguet pocket watch was made for the Ottoman market with a very rare dial and an interesting history. Though the roots and official name of the watch point to Turkic markets, the piece was actually bought by Tsar Alexander I in 1810. In political context, the watch was actually a gift in the event of a peace treaty during the Russo-Turkish war, though it is unknown to which side the gift was intended — Sultan Mahmud II or his enemies. However, the Sultan did not wish for piece and the watch was returned to Breguet.

After the piece was returned, the piece was serviced, the dial changed and sold under a new name. It was then sold again in 1825 to the son of French Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse. The pocket watch exchanged hands a few more times, but primarily remained in important collections. The piece sold for $269,357.

Photo Credit: www.christies.com

Hermès is the apex of luxury goods, so it’s not a stretch to assume they have some outrageously pricey items, especially through custom order. Here are five of the most expensive Hermès items.

1. The Birkin Bag

While this item can be bought for as low as $10,000, one design reached $1.9 million with a design featuring over 2,000 diamonds set in platinum. The Rose Gold Crocodile or Diamond Birkin Bag shares the same price, however this bag is really the size of a bracelet and could be considered a jewelry item instead. There are several more variations of the Birkin that top this list, including crocodile bags for $120,000.

2. The Geranium Porosus Bag

This bag is made of matte crocodile and Togo leather. It’s one-of-a-kind design features feet and it is the highest-selling bag at auction ever. It fetched $125,000 from an unknown buyer.

3. Croc T-Shirt

The next item, that’s not a hangbag, is this Croc T-shirt from the Hermès Spring 2013 collection. This shirt is made of crocodile skins and bears a price tag of a hefty $91,500.

4.Chaine d’ Ancre

This gold necklace is made of 18-karat gold 17 and 3/4ths of an inch. This gold chain costs $27,400.

5. Hermes Talaris Saddle Equestrian Equipment

Founded for equestrian equipment, it only makes sense that these Hermes products top the list of most expensive items. This saddle costs $10,000.