From functional to purely decorative, the purpose of jewellery has evolved in the course of history. Men’s rings, in particular, were once symbols of status reserved only for the rich and the powerful ...

A 10.33-carat Burmese ruby sold for an impressive $5.5 million after a six-minute bidding war among two bidders on the phone and one in the New York saleroom at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction.