1964: The Star of India Sapphire Vanishes in a Daring New York Museum Heist

Thieves slipped into the Museum of Natural History in New York on this day in 1964 and lifted an extraordinary haul of gems, among them the 565-carat Star of India, the largest sapphire in the world, and the 100-carat DeLong Ruby.

The brazen theft stunned collectors and investigators alike, yet within weeks the culprits were tracked down and most of the stolen jewels, including the Star of India, were recovered.

100-carat DeLong Star Ruby 1911
100-carat DeLong Star Ruby 1911

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