Monday Marvels: The DeLong Star Ruby

The DeLong Star Ruby is a 100.32-carat, oval-shaped asteriated cabochon. It was discovered in the 1930s in Burma and sold to Edith Haggin DeLong (hence the name) for $21,000. She later donated the ruby to the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The ruby attained notoriety in 1964 when it was stolen in a jewelry heist by Jack Roland Murphy. While some of the other gems stolen at the same time were recovered, the DeLong ruby remained missing. It was finally recovered after being ransomed through third parties for $25,000. Floridian John D. MacArthur paid the ransom and present during its recovery.

A Cabochon is a stone that has been shaped as opposed to faceted. An asteriated stone is one that contains a star in the surface.