PRESS RELEASE: Gemfields Showcases 36-Carat Ruby and Expands Offering at June 2025 Auction

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 located in the Montepuez district of Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique and the licence area stretches over 34,966 hectares. MRM is operated and 75% owned by Gemfields, with the remaining 25% owned by Mwiriti Limitada, a Mozambican company.

The rubies recently recovered from this newer section of the mine exhibit noticeable differences in characteristics compared to the 

secondary-type rubies which Gemfields has brought 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.

Adrian Banks, Managing Director for Product and Sales at Gemfields, commented, “It is exciting to see 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.”

Gemfields has built a strong reputation for the reliable and consistent supply of Mozambican rubies through its well-established auction platform, which sees the full sales proceeds of each auction repatriated to Mozambique. Its structured and transparent sales system has ensured dependable access to a wide range of ruby qualities, allowing manufacturers, jewellers, and brands to plan their supply chains with confidence. Looking to the future, the forthcoming completion of a new 400 tonne-per-hour ore processing plant, tripling MRM’s through-put capacity, will be a significant development. This increased capacity will be crucial in maintaining Gemfields' ability to provide a steady supply of a wide-ranging portfolio of Mozambican rubies in order to meet the expectations of the market.

About Gemfields

Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of coloured gemstones. The operator and 75% owner of both the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia (believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine) and Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), Gemfields believes that those who mine gemstones should do so with transparency, legitimacy and integrity.

Gemfields introduced a technologically advanced coloured gemstone sort house at its operation in Mozambique, with state-of-the-art equipment, like optical sorting machines. In addition, a proprietary grading system, a pioneering auction platform and an active marketing presence have all contributed to Gemfields playing a significant role in the rise of African gemstones. Underlying this achievement has been the strong belief that coloured gemstones should create a positive impact for the country and community from which they originate.

Responsible mining for Gemfields means implementing industry-leading policies and practices across operations, transparency in its auction sales process, an active role in working groups to modernise the sector, projects to improve health, education and livelihoods for the communities around its mines and conservation efforts (#conservationgemstones) to protect Africa’s great wildlife and biodiversity.

Gemfields Foundation is the charitable arm of Gemfields, through which donors can contribute funding to directly support community and conservation projects in Africa, magnifying the scale of the work already carried out by Gemfields itself.

Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly mined coloured gemstones.

As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa.