Frank’s Files: The Man Who Hunts Unheated Burmese Rubies for a Living | Sotheby’s

Why It Matters

By merging a rare‑gem dealer’s curated inventory with Sotheby’s instant‑purchase platform, the partnership accelerates access to scarce, vintage‑cut stones, reshaping luxury retail and influencing market valuations.

Key Takeaways

• Joani partners with Sotheby’s Marketplace for instant gem sales.
• Anoop Joani self‑taught, hunts rare unheated Burmese rubies.
• Antique‑inspired cuts and flat cushion stones drive current demand.
• Dream sapphire collection features silk‑like inclusions for velvet appearance.
• Physical showroom visits essential; online images can’t convey sparkle.

Summary

The video spotlights rare‑gem dealer Anoop Joani’s new partnership with Sotheby’s Marketplace, a buy‑now platform that lets collectors purchase his handcrafted pieces instantly, bypassing the traditional auction cycle.

Joani, a self‑taught trader who began selling diamonds to doctors, now spends his career hunting unheated Burmese rubies, vintage‑inspired cuts, and “dream” sapphires whose microscopic silk‑like inclusions give them a velvet sheen. He emphasizes the resurgence of antique and flat‑cushion cuts, noting that such stones command premium prices and appeal to collectors seeking non‑symmetrical aesthetics.

Memorable remarks include, “I spend all of my time hunting for stones,” and, “People need to come and see these things in person; pictures never do justice.” He also stresses design inspiration from the Victorian era and the importance of setting emeralds in yellow gold to enhance their color in evening light.

The collaboration signals a shift toward direct‑to‑consumer luxury sales, expanding Joani’s reach while giving Sotheby’s a curated, on‑demand inventory. It underscores growing consumer appetite for rare, ethically sourced gems and vintage‑style craftsmanship, potentially reshaping pricing dynamics in the high‑end gemstone market.

Original Description

On this episode of Frank’s Files, Frank Everett is joined by Anup Jogani (@theraregemdealer), who curates and cuts rare, collectible gemstones and diamonds, often crafting them into exceptional handmade jewels. Jogani's handmade jewelry leans into antique and antique-inspired cuts, Victorian-era design sensibilities, and gemstone mountings forged from metal rather than cast, and now every piece he makes for retail is exclusively available on Sotheby's Marketplace, no auction cycle required.

Together, Frank and Jogani walk through a selection of brand-new pieces designed exclusively for the platform — including a flat cushion-cut ring full of life and sparkle, a bluish green emerald set in a yellow gold bezel the way emeralds demand to be worn, a three-plus carat unheated Burmese ruby with the visual presence of something twice its size, and a table cut diamond ring flanked by emeralds that rounds out the collection beautifully. His Dream Sapphires carry a velvety, cashmere-like quality that no photograph can replicate, and several pieces are also on view in person at Sotheby's Madison Avenue salon in New York. Some things, as Jogani will tell you, you simply have to see for yourself.

A curated selection of rare gemstone jewelry by Jogani is available to purchase immediately on Sotheby's Marketplace. Discover the collection and explore each rare gem in detail at the link below: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/jewelry/jogani?locale=en

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