The largest ruby in the world to come to auction will be offered by Sotheby’s in New York in June, the auction house said at a preview in Hong Kong on Monday, April 17, and is estimated to fetch more than $30 million - which would make it the most expensive ruby ever sold at an auction.

“It is from Mozambique, which is also one of the new and more popular origins that we see for rubies, apart from the more traditional and the classic Burmese pieces,” said Uni Kim, a jewellery specialist in Sotheby’s Hong Kong, of the 55.22-carat gem known as the “Estrela de Fura”.

The current world record for a ruby sold at auction was set in May 2015 by a 25.59-carat Burmese stone called “Sunrise Ruby” that fetched $30.3 million at Sotheby’s in Geneva.

After being exhibited in Hong Kong, the gem will be displayed in Taipei, China, Singapore, Geneva and Dubai, before being auctioned in New York on June 8.