Most Expensive Diamonds in the World
Welcome to Diamond World
The worldwide reserve is estimated to be approximately 1.2 billion carats. Russia accounts for 30% of the world's diamond gemstone production. Big retailers control 35% of the diamond jewelry market.
Although all diamonds are extracted from the Earth, they are not all born equal. Diamonds have long fascinated Gemologists while also shattering price records. Diamonds are formed 500km below the Earth's crust and are often over 3 billion years old when carbon is confined to extreme pressure and heat.
So, what are the most valuable diamonds? We have created a list of the 15 most expensive diamonds ever sold.
The most valuable diamonds are remarkably large or have exceptional color and clarity. As of 2020, Russia is ranked first among the top ten diamond-producing countries in the world. Russia yields 23,000,000 carats of precious stone diamonds per year, making the country the world's leading producer of diamonds.
Let's learn about the most expensive diamonds in the world
15. THE MOUSSAIEFF RED DIAMOND — UP TO $10 MILLION
Let's Start our list of the top most expensive diamonds in the world with the Moussaieff Red. It was discovered in the 1990s in Brazil and was previously known as the Red Shield. It is now the biggest natural-colored fancy red diamond scaled by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Red diamonds are the world's rarest and most valuable gemstones.
It is a triangular brilliant-cut diamond that weighs 5.11 carats and is sometimes referred to as a trilliant cut. This fancy red stone, graded as internally flawless (IF), was displayed at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum in 2003 and 2005. The Moussaieff Red Diamond was demonstrated as one of the world's eight most incredible diamonds, highlighting its importance in the diamond industry.
14. THE HEART OF ETERNITY — $20 MILLION
Blue diamonds account for less than 1% of all extracted fancy-colored diamonds. The fancy vivid blue Heart of Eternity was mined in South Africa's Premier Diamond Mine. This stunning heart-shaped stone was cut from a 777ct rough diamond and is an extremely rare diamond due to its lack of grey or black undertones.
The Steinmetz Group was the real owner of The Heart of Eternity, but De Beers purchased it in 2000. According to rumors, boxer Floyd Mayweather bought the diamond for his then-fiancee, Shantel Jackson, in 2012. De Beers, however, has not confirmed this.
13. THE PERFECT PINK — $25 MILLION
Christie marketed The Perfect Pink to an unidentified bidder in 2010. This Fancy Intense Pink diamond weighs 14.23 carats. The size and sharpness of pink in this gemstone make it extremely rare. Due to minor internal blemishes, it has a clarity score of Very Mildly Included 2 (VVS2), which is frequent in diamonds like The Perfect Pink.
12. THE WITTELSBACH DIAMOND — $25.5 MILLION
The Wittelsbach Diamond, which weighed 35.56ct until it was recut to 31.06ct in 2010, made history by being delivered from one European member of royalty to the next. Since it arrived in Europe, this fancy deep blue diamond was possessed by both Spanish and German royalty. The highly contentious recut in 2010 sparked outrage in the gemology community, but it did improve the color and clarity to a stylish deep blue and internally spotless.
11. THE WINSTON BLUE — $26 MILLION
This stone, originally known as the Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond, was renamed, The Winston Blue after Harry Winston purchased it in 2014. It is the greatest diamond of its kind graded by the GIA, weighing 13.22ct. When this pear-shaped, internally flawless diamond was sold in 2014, it set a new world record for the cost per carat of a blue diamond.
10. The SAKURA DIAMOND — $20 MILLION
The Japanese word for cherry blossom is Sakura, and its delicate hues perfectly describe this purple-pink diamond. The Sakura Diamond, graded as fancy vivid, is among this classification's top 4% of stunning pink diamonds.
This stunning diamond was cut from a 27.8-carat rough diamond extracted from the frozen grounds of the Yakutia mines. It is Russia's largest pink diamond ever discovered.
9. THE ORANGE DIAMOND – $35 MILLION
While pink and blue diamonds are more popular among collectors, the Orange is a true jewel that stands out for its exquisiteness. As a result, the 14.62-carat Orange Diamond received much attention during its debut at Christie's Geneva auction in November 2013. It sold for $35.5 million, far exceeding its pre-sale forecast of $17.4-$20 million.
According to the GIA, pure orange or fire diamonds are rare. However, orange diamonds with tertiary colors are fairly common. When polished, they are larger than 6 carats, indicating that this piece is a true freak of nature.
According to their findings, this particular diamond was four times bigger than the typical diamonds of its kind. That's why it set the world record for the most highly-priced and largest orange diamond ever traded. Sotheby's sold a 5.54-carat pumpkin diamond to Harry Winston's son for $1.3 million in 1997.
8. The PRINCIE DIAMOND — $40 MILLION
The Princie Diamond is a 34.65 carat cushion-cut fancy extreme pink diamond discovered in the Golconda mines 300 years ago.
Since Christie's auctioned it to the Qatari royal family in 2013, the Princie diamond has been the subject of numerous legal battles. The auction house is being sued by the descendants of an Italian senator who claim the property was rightfully theirs but was illegally sold to Christie's by a stepbrother.
7. THE PINK STAR — $75 MILLION
The Pink Star, originally known as the Steinmetz Pink, was mined in South Africa in 1999. It is the greatest diamond to have been ranked a Fancy Vivid Pink. Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, based in Hong Kong, purchased the Pink Star at Sotheby's auction in 2017 via phone bid. This 59.60ct internally flawless oval diamond was later renamed CTF Pink Star in remembrance of the current Chow Tai Fook chairman's late father.
6. THE CENTENARY DIAMOND — $110 MILLION
The Centenary Diamond measured more than 500ct in rough form. It was later molded into a modified heart shape and measured 273.85ct. The reduction in carat weight, on the other hand, improved the color (D) and clarity grade (flawless) of this one-of-a-kind diamond. Nevertheless, their highly skilled team took 154 days to complete the recutting process.
5. DE BEERS CENTENARY DIAMOND – $120 MILLION
The De Beers Centenary Diamond, weighing 273.85 carats, is the third biggest from the Premier Mine, which also generated the Cullinan Diamond. However, the original was a whopping 599 carats. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has given its highest Grade D color rating because it is flawless inside and out. It got its name after being displayed in its original form for De Beers Consolidated Mines' Centennial Celebration on May 11, 1988.
It was revealed in its current form, with a modified heart-shaped, brilliant cut, in May 1991. De Beers no longer owns it, though it refuses to comment on its current location, citing privacy policies.
4. THE HOPE DIAMOND — $250 MILLION
The Hope Diamond, thought to have been explored in India in the 1600s, was purchased by King Louis XIV in 1668. Unfortunately, this 45.52-carat Fancy Dark Gray-Blue vintage cushion cut diamond was stolen during a crown jewel theft in 1791. But it was later discovered in London in 1839.
In 1949, Harry Winston bought this diamond and decided to donate it to the Smithsonian Institution, attracting a large number of visitors.
3. THE CULLINAN — UP TO $2 BILLION
The Cullinan is the greatest rough diamond of greatest value ever discovered, weighing 3,106.75ct. It was found in Cullinan, South Africa, in 1905 and given to King Edward VII. The rough diamond, dubbed the Star of Africa, was cut into nine main stones. The greatest of which is the 530.2ct Cullinan.
2. The SANCY DIAMOND – UNESTIMATED, PRICELESS
The Sancy is a shield-shaped pale-yellow diamond. It was one of the very first large diamonds to have symmetrical facets cut into it. It has an unusual shape due to the lack of a pavilion, with only a pair of crowns. While legend has it that it truly belongs to the Mughals, the shape indicates that it is of Indian origin, which is logical given that most diamonds were from Golconda until the discovery of the Kimberley and American mines.
It was one of the first precious gems to gain recognition in Europe, with documentation beginning in 1570. Before disappearing during the French Revolution, it belonged to many peoples.
After many owners, frequent appearances, and disappearances, the 4th Viscount Astor sold it to the Louvre for $1 million in 1978. It is now located in the Apollo gallery, alongside the Regent and the Hortensia.
1. THE KOH-I-NOOR — UNESTIMATED, PRICELESS
The name itself is enough to get anyone hooked. In Persian, Koh-i-Noor means Mountain of Light, which describes this particular stone's position since its discovery in the 1300s in India's Golconda diamond mines. The legendary Koh-I-Noor tops our list of the world's most expensive diamonds. It is the rarest diamond in the world, is oval, and weighs a whopping 105.6ct.
The stone's controversy stems from claims that Britain stole it from India and that it rightly belongs to India. Britain acquired the stone in 1850, and Prince Albert trimmed it from 186ct to 105.6ct in 1852 to increase its beauty and sparkle. As a result, the colorless oval-cut diamond is called the Diamond of Babur and the Mountain of Light.
Summary of the world's most expensive diamonds
It is observed that none of the prices listed are fixed. New diamonds frequently enter the market. So, the super-rich keeps chasing the most expensive diamonds to outbid each other. Even reading about them is an amazing experience that has captivated scholars throughout history. Diamonds are the most highly valued stones worldwide because of the fascinating stories that often accompany each stone.
You've got a list of the world's most expensive diamonds. However, it is important to note that the price of diamonds fluctuates due to various factors, such as demand and rarity.
- The Koh-i-Noor
- The Sancy Diamond
- The Cullinan
- The Hope Diamond
- De Beers Centenary Diamond
- The Centenary Diamond
- The Pink Star
- The Princie Diamond
- The Orange Diamond
- The Sakura Diamond
- The Winston Blue
- The Wittelsbach Diamond
- The Perfect Pink
- The Heart of Eternity
- The Moussaieff Red Diamond.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the World's Most Expensive Diamonds
Who possesses the world's most expensive diamond?
The British Royal Crown owns the world's most expensive diamond. The Kohinoor gem is currently on display at the HM Tower of London as the central diamond of the Queen Mother's Crown.
What is the rarest diamond in the world?
The Kohinoor diamond is the most expensive in the world. The priceless 105.6-carat colorless diamond is said to be unique.
What is the most expensive diamond type?
Type IIa diamonds are rare and most valuable. The most expensive diamond color grade is D, which is colorless. Flawless is the highest clarity grade for diamonds.
Which diamond cut is the most valuable?
The most expensive diamond cut is the stunning round brilliant cut. It can cost up to 40% more than other diamond cuts. This cut produces the most sparkle and consumes the rawest material (up to 60% of the rough stone is wasted).