Everybody knows that diamonds are expensive but the trick question is which are the most expensive ones and how much they are worth?
I hear you. And it’s good to know because you never know who might ask you this question.
I’ve made a research and composed a list of the ten most expensive diamonds including those that are considered as priceless or never had been auctioned. Enjoy!
This diamond has no defined price, or it is considered priceless. The precious stone of pale yellow color, originate in India, and is cut in the shape of a shield. This diamond of unusual production and cuts has 55.23 karat (11.05 grams). Just like most diamonds in this list, Sancy has a long history, and some very famous people possessed it during the time. The first record of Sancy diamond dates in 1570. Then, it passed through Charles the Bold, King Manuel I of Portugal, Nicolas de Harlay, seigneur de Sancy, Henry III of France, Henry IV, James I (successor of Queen Elizabeth), Charles I (King of England, Scotland and Ireland), James II (his son), Cardinal Mazarin, Prince Demidov of the Demidov dynasty, Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy an Indian prince, until it was bought by the Astor family in 1906.
Curretly, Sancy belongs to the Luvre in Paris as it’s was bought on auction in 1978 for $1 million from the Astor family. Visit Louvre in Paris and you will see this famous diamond in the Apollo Gallery among many others.
This another authentic diamond with unclear history. What is known is that the ring-mounted pink diamond was sold by Sotheby at 2010 auction in Geneva the famous jeweler and collector Laurence Graff for $ 46.16 million, a record at the time. He name it Graff Pink.
This diamond was once part of Oppenheimer’s collection, a family collection that turned De Beers into the world’s largest diamond dealer. Also known as Pink Legacy, the VS1 fancy vivid pink gem was mined in South Africa in 1918. The price of Pink Legacy was estimated between $30 and $50 million. However, Harry Winston Inc. an American luxury jeweler bought the diamond on auction in Geneva last November and cashed $50.3. The Winston Pink Legacy diamond weights 18.96 carats.
Another diamond with a thrilling past. Regent diamond was originally 410 carats, found in the Kollur Mine in India in 1698. It was acquired by a Thomas Pitt, a Governor of English fortress in, brought to London, and cut into a 140.64 cushion diamond. In 1717, the Duke of Saint-Simon, Phillipe Philippe II acquired the diamond, which was latter set into the crown of Louis XV and Louis XVI. During the French Revolution in 1792, it was stolen, but latter recovered until Napoleon Bonaparte got an ownership over “Le Régent” and even attached on its sword. After his exile, Regent was carried to Austria, but soon returned to the French Crown Jewels and used by other French kings such as Charles X and Napoleon III. Today, we can all see Regent diamond at the Louvre. It was estimated at $61 million in 2016.
Formerly know as Steinmetz Pink was mined in 1999 by De Beers in South Africa and weighted 132.5 carats in the rough. After cutting and processing, it’s final weight is 59.6 carats. The Pink Star was auctioned and sold in 2017 for impressive $71.2 million to Chow Tai Fook Enterprices, a private company based in Hong Kong.
The Wittelsbach-Graff antique oval brilliant cut diamond weight 31.06 carats today. Since the time when Spanish King Philip IV. bought for his daughter Margaret Teresa, the blue jewel had been moving from hand to hand to crowned heads, testifiying the turbulent European history, and by the way, writing its own story. In the miiddle of its path, the Bavarian dinasty Wittelsbach had in possession, and that’s how it got its name. It was until the Great Depression when the blue diamond was put up for sale at Christie’s auction house, but no one bought it. The period after this is a bit uncertain. Until 1964, when the Wittelsbach was acquired by Helmut Horten, as an engagement gift to his wife Heidi. Witterlsbach got a new owner in 2008 in the name of Laurencea Graff, a prominent jeweller in London, who bought it for $23.4 million. He recut the diamond in order to enhance color and clarity. In the process, the Witterlasbach-Graff lost 4.45 carat. The final gem has been renamed the Wittelsbach-Graff. The historic fancy deep blue diamond is reportedly sold to the Hamari bin Kalifi by the Qatari sheikh for US$80 million.
De Beers’s 273.85 carat diamond is worth $100 million and is third largest diamond of the De Beers Premier mine. The diamond adorns great purity, color and processing without error.
The 45.52 carat diamond is worth $350 millions. It is caraterized by the blue, eye-visible traces of boron element, while under ultraviolet light it reflects the red color due to the presence of phosphorous.
The 3106.75 carat diamond is not just one of the most expensive diamonds in the World, but also the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found on this Planet. It’s was mined in 1905 in the Premier Mine in South Africa. The diamond is called Cullinan, according to the owner of the mine Sir Thomas Cullinan. The stone was bought by the government of the South African state of Transvaal and donated it to British King Edward VII. for his birthday. Transportation from South Africa to England was a security problem. Detectives were set on a steamer that was supposed to carry a diamond, but it was just a tactic of welding. The stone on the ship was fake, and it was sent in a regular mail box in England. The Cullinan diamond was processed by masters from Amsterdam, the best in the world. Cullinan is divided into 9 large brushed diamonds and many small ones. The largest brushed diamond is called the Great Star of Africa (Cullinan I) and has 530.4 carats. Although not officialy confirmed, some sources claim that Cullinan 1 diamonds is worth $400 million today. Along with the second largest, the Cullinan II, are kept within the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.
If you go to London, you must visit the Jewel House at the Tower of London, and see this beautiful 105.6 carat oval brilliant diamond. This diamond has a long history, although there is no record on its original weight, and even mine. It’s believed to have come from the Kollur Mine in India. Some sources claim that the diamond was first mentioned more than 5000 years ago in a Sanskrit script. The price of Koh-i-Noor diamond is not publicly known. During its history, this famous gem has been either gifted or stolen rather than being sole. It’s unique and priceless diamond unlike any other thus difficult to set a price. The Royal British Crown itself is said to be worth somewhere between $10 and $12.7 billion.
I’m I missing some expensive diamond in this epic list? Share your research below.
I love diamonds like every woman does, but I like to go beyond and research the topic to the ground.