7 Pieces of the Most Expensive Diamond in the World
Diamond is one of the most precious jewelry, and the April birthstone in modern times,widely used in high-end jewelry such as rings and necklaces. In addition to its rarity and beauty, its investment value has also attracted much attention. The following list of 7 diamonds are regarded as the “Most Expensive Diamond in the World”. Not only are they extremely expensive, but they are also highly regarded for their history, cut or ownership.
The Most Expensive Diamond in the World – The Koh-I-Noor Diamond
Koh-I-Noor, the most expensive and the most valuable diamond in the world, which is an oval-cut diamond weighing 105.6 carats and has 66 facets. The huge size and many facets make the Koh-I-Noor Diamond look extremely shiny.
Koh-I-Noor, which means “Mountain of Light”. The costliest diamond in the world was first found in the Kollur mine in India and belonged to many different rulers. This most valuable diamond in the world was recut to enhance its brilliance when it flowed to jewelers in London. Later, its weight was reduced from the original 191 carats to 105.6 carats. Today, this world’s most costly diamond is set in Queen Mary’s crown and stored in the Tower of London.
When it comes to the value of Kohinoor diamond, no one can say for sure. Often linked with the highest price diamond, the Kohinoor diamond cost and price remain officially unestimated due to its royal and historical significance.
The Second Most Expensive Diamond in the World – The Cullinan Diamond
Cullinan Diamond, one of the world’s most expensive diamonds, weighed 3106 carats in the rough, and was once the biggest diamond in the world.
The Cullinan Diamond was discovered in the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1905 and is the largest diamond on earth ever unearthed. In 1907, the Transvaal Colony Government in South Africa presented it as a gift to King Edward VII of England. Afterwards, the diamond was cut into 9 large diamonds and 96 small diamonds. The two most famous ones are Cullinan I, which is cut in a pendant brilliant shape and weighs 530.2 carats and is known as the “Star of Africa”, which is also the biggest cut diamond in the world and is now set in the British Royal Scepter; and Cullinan II, which is cut in a cushion shape and weighs 317.4 carats and is set in the Imperial Crown. Both diamonds are currently treasured in the Tower of London.
The price of the biggest and one of the most valuable diamond in the world Cullinan diamond is estimated to be more than $2 billion (for a whole rough stone). The Cullinan Diamond is one of the most legendary and historic diamonds in the world, a symbol of the power and wealth of the British Royal Family.
The Third Most Expensive Diamond in the World – The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is the third most expensive diamond in the world. It is a special cushion-cut deep blue diamond weighing 45.52 carats and is famous for its mysterious “curse” legend.
The original origin of the Hope Diamond is not recorded in detail, but it is inferred that it is likely from the Kollur mine in India and was once a gem of King Louis XIV of France. Later, it was stolen during the French Revolution and passed through the hands of many private collectors. Later in 1958, an American jeweler donated it to the Smithsonian Institution. The gem is now in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., as its iconic exhibit.
As a high value diamond, the Hope Diamond is worth about $250 million. It is the most famous blue diamond in the world, symbolizing the interweaving of nature, mystery and human stories.
The Fourth Most Expensive Diamond in the World – The De Beers Centenary Diamond
The De Beers Centenary Diamond is a 273.85 carat heart-shaped cut diamond with an amazing 247 facets, which is visually very dazzling.
The Centenary Diamond was discovered in the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1986, and the original stone weighed 599 carats. The famous cutter and his team spent three years cutting such a large diamond into a 273.85 carat heart-shaped gem. This luxurious diamond is flawless both inside and outside and is rated D color (the highest grade). The most expensive diamond was first publicly unveiled at the De Beers Centenary Celebration in 1988, and was named The De Beers Centenary Diamond. This high-value diamond was also exhibited in the Tower of London, but it is now unknown who it belongs to.
The Centenary Diamond is also value more than $100 million, about $110 million, and is one of the most perfect colorless diamonds in the world.
The Fifth Most Expensive Diamond in the World – The Pink Star Diamond
The Pink Star Diamond, the most expensive diamond ever, is a classic oval-cut pink large-size diamond weighing 59.60 carats. Like the previous most expensive diamonds in the world, it is also a relatively rare large-carat diamond.
The Pink Star Diamond, formerly known as the Steinmetz Pink, was discovered by De Beers in South Africa in 1999. The rough stone weighed 132.5 carats. After 20 months of fine cutting, it became a 59.60-carat oval-shaped fancy pink diamond. It was first publicly unveiled in Monaco in 2003. In 2017, Chow Tai Fook purchased this diamond at the Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong for US$71.2 million, setting a new record for pink diamond auctions.
The Pink Star Color Diamond was sold for a staggering US$71.2 million at the Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction in 2017. At the same time, it was graded by GIA as Fancy Vivid Pink. It is the largest flawless vivid pink diamond ever found and is truly the “king of colored diamonds.”
The Sixth Most Expensive Diamond in the World – The Regent Diamond
The Regent Diamond in the list of the most expensive diamonds is the sixth most expensive diamond in the world. It is a cushion-cut colorless diamond of 140.64 carats.
The Regent Diamond was discovered in the Kollur mine in India in 1698. Legend has it that it was brought out of the mine by a slave hiding it in his wound. In 1704, Philip II, the regent of France, bought the diamond for £135,000 and named it “Regent”. It was set in the crowns of French kings Louis XV and Louis XVI, and in the hilt of Napoleon’s sword. It was stolen during the French Revolution in 1792 and later recovered. Currently, the diamond is on display at the Louvre Museum.
The price of the Regent Diamond is about $60 million and is considered one of the best cut and most brilliant diamonds of the 18th century. It was known as the “most beautiful white diamond” at the time for its excellent symmetry and polishing.
The Seventh Most Expensive Diamond in the World – The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond
The last most expensive diamond in the world we want to introduce is The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond, which is also an oval-cut blue diamond. Its original stone weighs 35.56 carats. It was later purchased by a jeweler and recut to 31.06 carats to improve its clarity and color grade.
This most expensive diamond was first given by King Philip IV of Spain to his son-in-law and was regarded as a symbol of the glory of the German monarchy. Later, this gem flowed into the private market. At present, this high-priced diamond belongs to the private collection of the Qatari royal family and is occasionally loaned to major museums and high-end exhibitions.
This most expensive diamond was sold for a high price of 80 million US dollars in 2011. It is a very representative blue diamond gem in history.
Conclusion
These luxurious diamonds are the most famous and expensive diamonds in history, and have had a profound impact on the jewelry industry. Until modern times, diamonds are still a common gemstone for high-end jewelry. Amanda is a jeweler specializing in diamonds and other gemstones of various colors. Click Amanda to fine your ideal diamond ring now.
FAQs About The Most Expensive Diamond in the World
The Koh-I-Noor is often considered the rarest the most expensive diamond in the world due to its unmatched history and symbolic power, though it has never been sold and holds no public price. In contrast, the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction is the Pink Star, which fetched $71.2 million, making it the highest-priced diamond transaction on record.
The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats. It was discovered in South Africa in 1905.
The Hope Diamond is estimated to be worth around $250 million. Its value comes from its size, rare deep blue color, and legendary history.
Although there are many ways to cut a diamond, the round brilliant cut is generally the most expensive diamond shape among the several most valuable diamond cuts due to its high demand and the amount of rough diamond lost during cutting. It offers maximum brilliance and fire.
Type IIa diamonds are considered the purest and rarest, with exceptional clarity and no measurable nitrogen. They make up less than 2% of all natural diamonds.