3.01 Ct. Ruby from Mozambique

This transparent 3.01 carat cushion shape ruby measures 9.30 x 8.46 x 3.57 mm, and presents a classical pillow outline with softly rounded corners and a balanced table to crown ratio, offering a pleasing surface area for color presentation. The cutting style is a mixed brilliant cut, with brilliant facets on the crown paired to more elongated step facets on the pavilion, a configuration selected to maximize both face up brilliance and color saturation. Facet geometry is executed with strong symmetry, precise facet junctions, and controlled crown angles that favor return of red wavelengths while minimizing leak of light through the pavilion. Clarity is graded slightly included at eye level, consistent with minute silks and pinpoint crystals that are typical of natural ruby material from Mozambique, and that contribute to a subtle silk effect without disrupting transparency. The color is vivid in intensity, a deep, saturated red with a slight warm undertone, and the distribution of color is even across the table and crown, offering stable hue under varied lighting. The polish is excellent, with crisp facet edges and a smooth finish that enhances luster and surface reflection. Critically, this ruby is unenhanced, with no heating, no glass filling, and no other disclosureable modification, a factor that materially influences both desirability and market value. Origin is Mozambique, a modern source of fine rubies, and this stone displays mineralogical and inclusion characteristics consistent with that provenance.

From a technical gemological perspective the mixed brilliant execution on this cushion emphasizes optical optimization for this specific rough form, a decision that yields an efficient balance between light return, color depth, and weight retention. The crown height has been calibrated to allow a moderately sized table that presents color without creating a flat, windowed appearance, while the pavilion depth has been cut to recover brilliance, creating lively facets that interact to produce strong contrast and scintillation. The slightly included clarity grade evaluated at eye level indicates minor internal features that are confined and well positioned away from facet junctions, preserving both durability and aesthetic appeal. The absence of heat treatment or filling means that internal stresses and microfractures inherent to the crystal structure remain in natural state, which reduces the risk of later alteration under normal wear and cleaning. Surface polish quality further mitigates wear, as the excellent polish reduces the likelihood of microabrasions and surface etching that can degrade optical performance over time. Collectors and connoisseurs will recognize that the interplay of proportion, facet design, and finish in this 3.01 carat specimen demonstrates a deliberate decision by the cutter to prioritize long term visual stability, and to showcase the intrinsic qualities of the Mozambique material without artificial enhancement.

Investment potential for this ruby is anchored in several objective factors, all of which suggest reasonable prospects for appreciation over time. Untreated rubies of notable weight and vivid color are scarce relative to treated material, and scarcity combined with demonstrable quality typically commands a premium in secondary markets. The 3.01 carat weight places this stone in a threshold range where per carat prices escalate as size increases, particularly for vivid color and good transparency. Mozambique origin has gained market recognition, and provenance combined with an unenhanced state enhances market confidence, especially among buyers who prioritize natural state and durability. Market drivers that favor appreciation include increasing demand from high net worth collectors, constrained supply from primary deposits, and preference for material with transparent treatment histories. Price performance for top natural rubies has historically outpaced many commodity classes when quality, color, and provenance align, and this piece meets those technical criteria. For risk mitigation and liquidity, we recommend independent gemological documentation to accompany the sale, careful storage and insurance, and provenance records. The Natural Ruby Company supports buyers with high resolution imaging, documentation, and provenance disclosure, and can assist in arranging independent laboratory reports to substantiate the untreated status and other key attributes, enhancing resale confidence. Given the combination of size, vivid color intensity, natural clarity profile, excellent polish, skilled mixed brilliant cutting, and untreated Mozambique origin, this 3.01 carat cushion ruby represents a technically sound acquisition with strong attributes that support potential future appreciation.