Editor’s Note
This article explores the allure and astronomical value of the world’s most precious diamonds, delving into the stories behind these legendary stones.
Every diamond is a testament to the incredible craftsmanship of time, nature, and patience. Whether you are a diamond enthusiast or simply curious about their mysteries, the world’s most expensive diamonds always captivate people. In this list, we will tell you about the world’s top 10 most expensive diamonds.
There’s some magic in diamonds, isn’t there? They are not just sparkling stones but carry with them centuries-old stories, legends, and an attraction that is hard to ignore. Every diamond, extracted from the depths of the earth, holds within it a unique story of rarity and allure. Diamonds, with origins dating back nearly 3 billion years, are formed from carbon. They are created under extreme pressure and temperature about 500 km below the Earth’s surface. Over the centuries, many diamonds have emerged that are unique not just for their sparkle but also for their history, enormous size, and rarity.
Every diamond is a testament to the incredible craftsmanship of time, nature, and patience. Some dazzle with their enormous size, some with their brilliant color, and some captivate the world with their flawless transparency. For centuries, diamonds have been symbols of wealth, power, and immortal beauty. The stories of these diamonds, which have stood the test of time, attract collectors and history lovers worldwide. Whether you are a diamond enthusiast or simply curious about their mysteries, the world’s most expensive diamonds always captivate people. In this list, we will tell you about the world’s top 10 most expensive diamonds.
There is almost a global consensus on the top 5, but there are differences of opinion among people regarding the ranking and prices of the diamonds after that. Therefore, we will start with the ranking from number 10. This ranking has been measured not only on their price but also on their beauty.
Lawrence Graff is its owner. Graff Lesedi La Rona, which means ‘Our Light’ in the Swana language of Botswana, is an extraordinary example of nature and human skill. This unique diamond, discovered in 2015, was obtained from a 1,109-carat rough stone. It is the second-largest gem-quality diamond ever found, with only the Cullinan Diamond being larger.
Graff purchased this historic rough diamond for $53 million in 2017. Over the next two years, expert cutters and gemologists worked together to transform it into a magnificent 302.37-carat square emerald-cut diamond. It is the largest diamond ever certified by GIA in its category (color and clarity). An additional 66 diamonds were also crafted from this rough, highlighting its exceptional rarity and immense value.
The De Beers Blue Diamond was sold for $57.5 million at an auction held by Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April 2022. It set a new record by selling at this price. It became the most expensive blue diamond ever sold at auction. This remarkable 15.10-carat blue diamond is not only the largest blue diamond ever presented at auction but also the largest flawless step-cut vivid blue diamond graded by GIA. The flawless clarity and mesmerizing blue color of this diamond make it the world’s largest and most magnificent fancy vivid blue diamond sold at auction.
Named after its former owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, this 14.62-carat vivid blue diamond was sold for $57.5 million at a Christie’s auction in 2016. The Oppenheimer family has been a leader in the diamond industry for generations. Sir Philip had the option to choose any diamond in the world, but he chose this one. Its perfect color, magnificent proportions, and excellent rectangular (emerald) cut made it the pride of the family. This exceptional diamond is classified as Vivid Blue, its beauty further enhanced by its classic emerald cut.
In 2022, the Williamson Pink Star was sold for a staggering $57.7 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. This 11.15-carat cushion-cut fancy vivid pink diamond was extracted from the famous Williamson mine in Tanzania. It was named after the same mine. The per-carat price of this diamond exceeded $5 million, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction on a per-carat basis.
It also became the second most expensive piece of jewelry sold at auction, following the record-breaking CTF Pink Star sold the same year. Extracted from a 32.32-carat rough diamond, this diamond was expertly cut and polished into an 11.15-carat cushion cut and set in a rose gold ring adorned with both white and pink diamonds. It is an intense pink color.
Weighing 140.64 carats, the Regent Diamond is a magnificent gem whose historical journey begins at the Kollur mine in India. After its discovery, an Indian slave hid it, but later an English sea captain killed him and sold the diamond to a merchant. The diamond eventually reached France, where it was set in the crowns of Louis XV and Louis XVI and also adorned the hat of Marie Antoinette. In 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte permanently acquired it and had it set in the guard of his sword.
It was stolen during the French Revolution but was recovered years later and is now safely kept in the Louvre Museum. With a value exceeding $60 million, the Regent Diamond’s unique beauty and tumultuous history place it among the world’s most valuable diamonds. There was a recent theft at the Louvre Museum.
There is a global consensus on the value of all the diamonds that follow. That is, everyone knows them by their known value. No diamond more expensive than the next five has been found yet.