Diamonds are one of the most beautiful natural creations and have always been regarded as the most precious gemstones, and the price of a diamond depends on many other factors such as the number of reflective edges, color, clarity, weight, and historical and cultural significance. No matter how powerful people are, they still compete with each other to get them, after all, the most expensive and largest diamonds are set in the crown that symbolizes kingship.
14. Eternal Heart – US$16 million (RMB 100 million)
The 27.64 ct Fancy Vivid blue diamond was cut by the Steinmetz Group and sold to the De Beers Group, which was launched in 2000. The 203.4 ct Millennium Star and Eternal Heart are cut from the same 777 ct rough. The rarity of this stone lies in many factors, mainly its perfect blue hue, without the usual black and gray undertones. In addition, blue diamonds make up only 0.1% of Premier Diamond Mine diamonds, and there are very few fairly large diamonds. In 2012, boxer Floyd Mayweather reportedly bought it for his then-fiancé, Chantel Jackson, though De Beers neither confirmed nor denied the speculations.
13. Perfect Pink Diamond – US$23.2 million (RMB146 million)
According to Christie's website, in its 244-year history, only 18 pink diamonds over 10 carats have appeared. None of them have a perfect pink intense pastel hue, which weighs 14.23 carats and is "unique.". Those nearby shadows weigh almost no more than 0.2 carats. Not only that, but there are no secondary colors in Perfect Pink. Pink diamonds usually have color modifiers such as gray, orange, or purple. Due to the slight internal imperfections common to this type of diamond, it has a clarity rating of VVS2 (very slightly contained). In November 2010, it sold to an anonymous bidder in Hong Kong for $23.17.
12. Wittelsbach Diamonds – US$23.4 Million (RMB 148 million)
This is another Indian diamond that has been a favorite of the royal family for centuries. It is the only blue Indian diamond on this list. The original diamond was called Der Blaue Wittelsbacher and weighed 35.56 carats. It is dark grayish blue with a clarity of VS2. It was discovered in the mid-1600s as part of the Austrian and Bavarian Crown Jewels. Its last public appearance was at the funeral of Ludwig III of Bavaria before 1921. After the Great Depression of 1951, the diamond was sold off the Property of the Wittelsbach family and was acquired by jeweler Lawrence Graff in 2008. At the time it was the most expensive diamond on sale. Graff cut it by more than 4.45 carats in numerous criticisms. Apparently, it was a commercially driven move, after which the diamond gained F1 status after being cut. The color is more ideal "dark blue". Its current owner is Former Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa, who bought it in June 2011 for at least $80 million.
11. Winston Blue Diamond – US$23.8 million (RMB 150 million)
It was the largest flawless living blue diamond when it was bought at Christie's Rosewood Jewellery in Geneva for $23.8 million from its anonymous former owner at Christie's Rosewood Jewellery auction.
$1.8003 million per carat at 13.22 ct is the highest of any blue diamond. It was called "blue" during the auction and was changed to Winston blue by Nayla Hayek, CEO of Harry Winston Corporation. This is a Type IIb diamond certified by the Gemological Institute of America. Flanked by a pear-shaped diamond weighing 1.00 carats and 0.96 carats, respectively. This is one of the most flawless diamonds Christie's has ever sold, absolutely pure inside and out.
10. Orange Diamond – US$35.5 million (RMB210 million)
While pink and blue diamonds are traditionally more sought after by collectors, orange is a rare gemstone that stands out for its refinement. The 14.62 ct orange diamond debuted at Christie's Geneva auction in November 2013 with astonishing results. It sold for as much as $35.5 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of $17.4 to $20 million.
According to GIA, pure orange diamonds or fire diamonds are extremely rare. It is common to find orange diamonds with secondary colors. After polishing, they never exceed 6 carats, indicating that the piece is a true nature freak.
Their study found that this particular diamond was 4 times larger than the average gemstone of its kind. That's why it set a world record for the most expensive and largest orange diamond ever recorded. Prior to that, Sotheby's sold a 5.54 ct pumpkin diamond to Harry Winston's son in 1997 for $1.3 million.
9. Graff Pink Diamond – US$46.2 million (RMB 291 million)
The Graff Pink Diamond is a 24.78 ct pink diamond set in a ring with Fancy Intense pink vividness and Type IIa diamond grading. This makes it in the top 2% of all diamonds in the world. Early owned by celebrity jeweler Harry Winston, it was sold to a private collector in the 1950s. Later, it was auctioned to Lawrence Graff in November 2010 by Sotheby's in Geneva for $46.2 million.
Graff pink diamonds are set in a platinum ring with two pear-shaped diamonds on each side. At auction, it was labeled as the most expensive single piece of jewelry ever sold to the public. The pre-sale estimate for the pink diamond is about $27 to $38 million, with 25 defects that the new owner believes could easily be eliminated. Later, it was trimmed to 23.88 carats for a higher color and was recognized by GIA as flawless inside.
8. The Blue Moon of josephine diamonds – $48.4 million (RMB 300 million)
Before oppenheimer's blue diamond set a record, the blue moon Josephine diamond stole the hearts of millions of people. The 12.03 ct diamond was auctioned by Sotheby's in November 2015 for a record $48.4 million. Its pre-sale estimate ranged from $35 to $55 million, setting a record price per carat ever ($4 million/carat).
The Blue Moon Diamond was discovered in South Africa in January 2014 and was considered nearly flawless. Before oppenheimer blue appeared, it was also the largest blue diamond in the fancy color category at auction. The gem was bought by Hong Kong billionaire Liu Luanxiong and renamed for his 7-year-old daughter Josephine. Liu luanxiong also bought a 16.08 ct pink diamond from Christie's the day before the Blue Moon auction and renamed it Sweet Josephine.
7. Oppenheimer Blue Diamond – $57.5 million (RMB 360 million)
This 14.62 ct Oppenheimer blue is the largest diamond ever auctioned. Originally owned by Sir Philip Oppenheimer, it was sold at Christie's in Geneva in May 2016 for a whopping $57.5 million. Until 2017, it held on to the title of the most expensive diamond ever made.
Fancy Vivid blue emerald-cut diamonds are set in a ring with two smaller diamonds on each side. The diamond is named after its last owner, who controlled de Beers' mining and gave the gem to his wife. It was initially expected to be priced between CHF 38 and CHF 45 million, but in the end the bid exceeded everyone's expectations. The bidding lasted more than 25 minutes and the starting price was CHF 30 million and the incremental bid was CHF 20,000. It is estimated that only 1% of all blue diamonds graded by the Gemological Institute of America have this vivid color.
6. STEINMETZ Pink Diamond – $71.2 million (RMB 449 million)
Now known as the Pink Star, it weighs 59.60 carats and is rated a Fancy Pink by the American Geological Institute. It is the largest known diamond with this rating. Mined in 1999 at the Wasted De Beers Mine, it is millennials. Because of its peculiarities, Steinmetz Diamonds, which belongs to the Benny Steinmetz Group, spent a full 20 months cutting it.
It was unveiled in Monaco on May 29, 2003. It was purchased at Sotheby's on April 3, 2017 at Chow Tai Fook Corporation in Hong Kong for $71.2 million.
5. De Beers Centenary diamond – US$100 million (RMB 630 million)
Weighing 273.85 carats, De Beers Centenary diamonds are the third largest diamond in the Premier Mine, the same diamonds that produce Cullinan diamonds. However, the weight of the original is a staggering 599 carats. Flawless on the inside and out, it has the gemological institute's highest D color grade.
It got its name on May 11, 1988, when it was displayed in its original form for the Centennial Celebration of the De Beers Union Mine. It was unveiled in May 1991 with its modified heart-shaped brilliant cut to its present glory. Apparently, De Beers no longer owns it, although it refuses to comment on its current whereabouts on the grounds of privacy policy.
4. Stone of Hope – US$350 million (RMB 2.2 billion)
With such a name, you will be surprised to find that it carries a legend of curses. Not surprising, as it has already destroyed most of its former owners. Due to the presence of a boron atom in it, it is not only blue, but also turns red under ultraviolet light due to the content of phosphorus. The 45.52 ct diamond was discovered in the 1600s at the Kollur Mine in Andhra Pradesh, India, and its name comes from the Hope Bank family in London, which acquired it sometime in 1839.
Wikipedia listed 22 owners since it was owned by the French merchant Tavernier in 1653, and it was acquired by the Smithsonian Museum in 1958 and has been on display ever since. It has an insurance policy worth $250 million. This is another piece of jewel stolen during the French Revolution in 1792.
3. Cullinan Diamonds – US$400 million (RMB2.5 billion)
Yes, the world's most expensive SUV, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, is named after this diamond, which means supreme honor.
When it was discovered at Premier 2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, it was the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found. Weighing at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 grams), it later formed 9 diamonds, all of which are now part of the Jewelry of the British Royal Family. The 530.2 ct Cullinan I, or Star of Africa, remained the largest diamond until it was replaced in 1985 on the 545.67 ct Golden Jubilee Day from the same mine. However, it is still the largest clearly cut diamond. Now it is placed with the cross on top of the Scepter of The Sovereign.
Cullinan II, or the second star in Africa, has 66 facets and is located in front of the Imperial Crown and below the Black Prince Ruby and Kohinoor. Cullinan III and IV are both known as the Little Stars of Africa, and Cullinan V, VI, and VIII are all part of the brooch.
The Cullinan VII is a pendant of the Delhi Duba necklace, while the Cullinan IX is set in platinum Cullinan IX rings.
2. SANCY DIAMOND – Immeasurable, priceless
Sancy is a shield-shaped pale yellow diamond. It was one of the first large diamonds to be cut into symmetrical facets. Since there is no pavilion, only a pair of crowns, the shape is unusual. Although according to legend it belonged to the Mughals, its shape suggests that it originated in India, which is logical, since most of the diamonds came from Golconda before the discovery of the Kimberley and the American Mines.
As one of the first diamonds to gain a reputation in Europe, its documentation began in 1570. It once belonged to the bold Charles of Burgundy, Manuel I of Portugal, Nicolas de Harlay, seigneur de Sancy and others before their current name), King James I, King James II, King Charles I of France, Charles II and Louis XIV disappeared during the French Revolution. After changing many owners and frequently appearing and disappearing, it was eventually sold to the Louvre in 1978 by the fourth Viscount astro for $1 million. Today it resides in the Apollo Gallery, adjacent to the Regent and Hortensia.
1. Koh-i-Noor Diamonds – immeasurable, priceless treasures
The name itself is enough to fascinate people. Koh-i-Noor means "Mountain of Light" in Persian and hints at the location this particular stone has occupied since it was discovered in the 1300s in the Gorconda Diamond Mine in India. It was the largest diamond in circulation until 1852, when Prince Albert decided to reduce it from 105.6 carats to 86 carats to increase its brilliance and sparkle.
Much of its mystery is that it is a cursed stone that brought bad luck to its owner. In fact, until it was owned by the British in 1849, it was a devastating blow to every owner who ever owned it. This oval diamond is now in london's HM Tower. It is a popular tourist attraction and is the last part of the Crown of the Empress. William Dalrymple and Anita Anand recently co-authored a book that attempts to trace the history of diamonds and the legends that surround it.