Giant 11,000-Carat Ruby That Is 'Rare and Difficult to Find' Was Discovered by Miners — and It's Likely Worth Millions of Dollars
Giant 11,000-Carat Ruby That Is 'Rare and Difficult to Find' Was Discovered by Miners — and It's Likely Worth Millions of Dollars
Lexi LaneSat, May 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC
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Myanmar ruby
Credit: Handout / Myanmar Radio and Television / AFP/Getty
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Myanmar miners discovered an 11,000-carat ruby in the Mogok area, known for producing most of the world's rubies
The ruby is considered more valuable than a larger 1996 find due to its superior color, clarity and quality
However, human rights groups urge against buying Myanmar gems as sales reportedly fund the country's military government
A massive, eye-catching ruby was discovered in Myanmar and has been estimated at 11,000 carats.
Weighing 4.8 lbs., Myanmar miners discovered the second-largest ruby in the country in the Mogok area, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.
The government has described the stone as “exceptionally large, rare and difficult to find."
The giant ruby
Credit: Handout / Myanmar Radio and Television / AFP/Getty
It was later photographed at President Min Aung Hlaing's office in Naypyidaw, according to the New York Post.
Although it has fewer carats than the 21,450-carat ruby found in 1996, this gem is considered more valuable because it is “superior in color, clarity and overall quality."
“The giant ruby has a purplish-red color with yellowish undertones and is considered to have a high-quality color grade,” they added.
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However, the ruby's price is still unknown. Mogok rubies typically reach multi-million-dollar prices.
Myanmar typically produces around 90% of the world's rubies, most of them from Mogok or Mong Hsu, according to SFGate.
The outlet notes that human rights organizations have urged others to stop purchasing gems from the country, as the sales fund the military government.
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Another valuable gem, a purple star sapphire, was found recently in Sri Lanka. It weighed 3,563 carats and was estimated at $300 million, as it was the largest natural gem of its kind found. “This is the largest purple star sapphire of its kind,” gemologist Ashan Amarsinghe said, according to The Sun.
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Source: “AOL Money”
