Donovan’s Yellow – Rubyvale

Weighing in at a substantial 163-carats, this beautiful reddish-yellow sapphire was found by Clifford Donovan in 1949 at the bottom of a 16-foot (4.8-metre) shaft. A fine example of a rare golden-yellow sapphire, this magnificent round-shaped gem became known as Donovan’s Yellow.

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Cliff had been working the sapphire fields for around two and a half years before his fabulous find. Initially, he focused on the Willows Gemfields, where he believed the ground to be richer and less heavily worked. Later, Cliff moved to Rubyvale, where he dug as many as 10 shafts to a depth of 13 metres without finding a single gem, until sinking his lucky shaft about a mile up Policeman’s Creek.

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Reportedly sold to the Alexander Gallery in New York, USA, in 2000, Donovan’s Yellow was beautifully cut into a 41.58-carat gem. It is an extraordinary example of the golden-yellow hues for which the Sapphire Gemfields are famous.

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When this photograph was taken, Donovan’s Yellow had not been cut, although a small window had been polished on one side to view its interior
Clifford Donovan with family and his famous yellow
Later years: Cliff displaying Donovan’s Yellow

Clifford Donovan uncovered this rare beauty in 1949, deep at the bottom of a shaft on his mining claim.

Location

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Where to next?

Welcome to Rubyvale – ///autopilot.assumes.meadow

Public Toilets Polling Booth – Rubyvale – ///chivalry.overheard.triples

Darkie Garnet – Rubyvale – ///cabling.incursion.compendium

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