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The world’s heaviest ruby went on public display for the first time
this week at the Natural History Museum in London. It is being held above
by Cally Oldershaw, the museum’s gemologist. The gemstone, named the Appalachian
Star Ruby by its finder, is 28.6 millimetres high and weighs 139.43 carats
(27.89 grams). This is just a fraction more than the Rosser Reeves Ruby
from Sri Lanka, on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington
DC, and which is valued at around $25 million. The Appalachian ruby was
found by Wayne Messer in his native North Carolina and kept in a small private
display until this week. When the stone is held up to the light, it displays
a perfect six-pointed star.