The most expensive and rare diamonds in the world: photos and names

Perhaps the most desired piece of jewelry for most people is a diamond.

Enchanting crystals are known to almost everyone, but their cost can reach astronomical amounts.

An iridescent crystal is truly a royal representative among jewelry!

The largest and most beautiful specimens belong to people far from average income.

Famous specimens have their own names, their cost can even be several hundred million dollars.

The history of the origin of these iridescent crystals is often associated with mysterious stories.

People attribute magical properties to wonderful minerals; it is believed that many of them have a curse based on bloody sacrifices.

However, the possession of a mysterious jewel remains for many the most important condition for having a luxurious life and power.

What are the most expensive diamonds in the world?

What are they, who owns them and what is their value?

Main characteristics

Ring with a blue diamond
Let us dwell on the characteristics of the main parameters by which diamonds are evaluated. A diamond (translated from French as “sparkling, brilliant”) is a diamond that, after careful processing, has received a special shape. A high-quality diamond has a natural shine. Currently, gloss assessment is carried out according to the “4C” system:

• cut (cut);
• color(color);
• clarity (purity);
• carat (weight in carats).

It is by these parameters that the closeness of the stone in question to the ideal is analyzed.

The most important indicator of diamond quality is purity. It can be used to judge the presence or absence of any defects or foreign inclusions in the stone.

Based on color, all diamonds are divided into the following groups:

• classic (colorless, as well as any shades of yellow);
• fantasy (blue, light blue, green, pink).

When determining the mass of diamonds, carats are used (1 carat corresponds to 0.2 grams).

For many centuries of the existence of human civilization, it was diamonds that aroused admiration for their brilliance. Stones attracted wealthy people. Owners of diamonds were perceived in society as wealthy and powerful. For example, these stones crowned the crowns of other rulers or sparkled on the fingers of ladies, causing real delight among those around them.

Some diamonds have a rich history, others are huge in size, and others are known throughout the world for their fabulous value. Let's look at the most expensive diamonds in the world.

“Aurora Green”

Green diamond in a ring
Tops the list of the most expensive diamonds in the world: Aurora Green. In May 2021, Christie's auction house put up a unique green diamond with the self-explanatory name Aurora Green for auction in Hong Kong. After lengthy bidding, the unusual gem was sold for $16.8 million.

Aurora Green weighs 5.03 carats, which is equivalent to 1.006 grams.

This stone became the most expensive diamond that was sold at the auction. The reason for such a high cost is the unique color of the stone. Green diamonds are considered the rarest on the jewelry market, which is why they are so highly valued by professionals.

The price of each carat in this case is 3 million dollars (the original price of the stone at the auction was 15-16 million). For example, for comparison, we note that a white diamond of the same size was sold at auction for 80,000 dollars). The owner of the unique green diamond was the famous jewelry creator Chow Tai Fook.

What is more expensive - diamond or ruby

In this case, the same reasons play a role as with emerald. Despite the fact that all these stones are considered the most precious, their value can either decrease or increase. It all depends on the color of the stone, the play of light, hardness, cut and other characteristics.

In nature, rubies, like diamonds, are quite rare, and therefore their price can reach a fabulous sum for just one carat. So, exceptional rubies of the highest quality can cost much more than a diamond, given the same quality and weight characteristics.

“Martian Pink”

Pink stone
The cost of this gemstone is 17.4 million dollars. This diamond is one of the largest pink diamonds in the world. The stone was sold at auction in 2012 (in Hong Kong, Christie's auction). The unique stone weighs 12.04 carats (2.41 grams). It was this stone that became the top lot of the auction and was sold to a secret buyer for a fabulous sum of $17.4 million (the auction organizers wanted to sell the stone for an amount of 8 to 12 million).

This diamond received the unusual name “Martian Pink” at the end of the twentieth century thanks to the American jeweler Ronald Winston. In a similar way, the master planned to launch a new NASA Martian mission regarding the launch of the Viking spacecraft (the device was designed specifically to analyze the surface of the Red Planet).

The previous owner of the gemstone wanted to put the stone up for sale in Hong Kong. In Asia, there has been a significant increase in interest in such luxury goods in recent years.

Latest finds and collections

Large stones are always in public view. They are shown at auctions and sometimes wait for a long time for their owners, since not every businessman is ready to pay that amount for a copy. There are also several collections of large diamonds. The largest among them is the Aurora Pyramid of Hope in the USA, which includes fancy, that is, colored diamonds.

One of the last large diamonds to be sold is a stone called "Lesedi la Rona", which means "Our World" in the Tswana language. This diamond was found in Botswana in 2015, and in terms of its size it is the second largest. The stone was sold in its raw form. This was done by a Canadian mining company, and the transaction amount was $63 million - this is the highest figure for raw stones. The company also received the right to 10% of each subsequent transaction with the stone.

Diamond is still the most valuable substance on the planet. Artificial methods for obtaining diamonds are not suitable for jewelry making, so stones are mined from nature. The cost of minerals increases every year and depends on customer demand, and discovered large specimens immediately become public knowledge.

"Archduke Joseph"

The Archduke Joseph Diamond
The value of this gemstone is $21.48 million. It is no coincidence that this stone is in fourth place in the ranking of the most expensive diamonds in the world.

• “Archduke Joseph” was presented at Christie's auction in 2010. As part of this auction, the stone was sold to an anonymous buyer (the transaction amount was $21.48 million).
• The first time this jewel was put up for auction was in 1936. The owner of this jewel in those days was the Habsburg family, then the stone became an auction lot twice more.

Of interest is the history of this diamond, which was mined in the legendary mines of Golconda. The stone, which weighs 76.02 carats (15.2 grams), was named after the Austrian Archduke Joseph Augustus not by chance. There is no exact information about how the diamond ended up in the Habsburg dynasty.

According to legend, in the 18th century this jewel was the property of Empress Maria Theresa, then her daughter Marie Antoinette. During World War II, the diamond was sold to a European banker. This is how the stone ended up in France.

The diamond was hidden from the Nazis, and then for several decades it disappeared from the sight of jewelers. The stone “surfaced” only in 1961.

The most expensive diamonds and diamonds

Diamond "Sancy"

The most famous owner of the Sancy diamond is King Henry III

, who purchased the stone from his attorney Nicolas de Sancy. The stone served as a beret decoration to cover the king's premature baldness.

According to legend, the messenger who was supposed to deliver the stone was killed. However, the faithful servant kept the stone, which, after opening, was found in his stomach.

The diamond was sold to King James I of England and then to Cardinal Mazarin, who left it to King Louis XIV. During the French Revolution, it disappeared along with the Regent Diamond and the Hope Diamond.

As a result, Sancy was sold to the Louvre for a million francs

, and is still stored there. Its price has not been established, but it is considered priceless.

Diamond "Kohinoor"

The Kohinoor Diamond or the Mountain of Light has a long history.

. The first mention of it appeared in 1304, when King Babur discovered a diamond, and since then it passed to all the rulers of the Mughal Empire - a state in the modern territory of India and Pakistan.

Hindus, Mughals, Persians, Afghans, Sikhs and the British fought desperately for the right to possess it throughout history. Almost all Kohinoor owners suffered an evil fate: death, poisoning, betrayal

. From the once huge stone of 793 carats, 105 carats (21.6 grams) remain.

In 1850, the diamond was given to Britain's Queen Victoria, who wore it as a brooch for a long time. The famous Kohinoor was worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and is now in Queen Elizabeth's crown.

at the Tower of London. Its price has not been established, but it is considered priceless.

Diamond "Hope"

Perhaps the most famous diamond in the world is the Hope Diamond. No one knows how large the stone was before it was cut, where it was found, or who gave it its original shape. It was first mentioned by the French merchant Jean-Baptiste and sold to King Louis XIV.

Some experts believe that it was stolen from a statue of the ancient Indian goddess Sita

. It passed to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, then was stolen and reappeared in 1829. Banker Henry Hope purchased the diamond and the stone is named after him.

The subsequent numerous owners of "Hope" suffered an unfortunate fate

: violent death, illness, loss of a child and accidents. The Doomstone gained the reputation of being cursed, and it was believed that everyone who touched it would die a terrible death.

Since 1958, the diamond has been in the Smithsonian Institution

in USA. Its price is $350 million.

White emerald cut diamond

Unique Ring
This emerald cut white diamond ring costs $221.1 million. The weight of the product is 100.2 carats (which corresponds to 20.04 grams). The jewelry was sold at an auction organized by Sotheby's auction house in New York in 2015.

This diamond is the largest classic emerald stone sold by Sotheby's. This was the first flawless diamond ring in North America that weighed more than 100 carats.

There is no information about the buyer of this diamond; he chose to remain “incognito”. The diamond was mined in South Africa by De Beers. Jewelers are convinced that the transparency of the stone is comparable only to spring water.

FAQ

Is it possible to keep the secret of purchasing diamonds?

Yes.

De Beers Centenary Diamond

The Centenary is a diamond discovered in July 1988 on the centenary of the famous diamond mining company De Beers. In its raw form it weighed 599.10 carats. After processing, the diamond, which has 247 facets, weighed 273.85 carats (54.770 g). Classified as colorless. Current owner unknown. The diamond is worth at least $90 million .

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“Perfect pink”

Pink diamond in a ring
Pink diamonds are considered the rarest in the world. That is why it is not surprising that pink stones are at the top of the ranking of the most expensive precious stones in the world.

• The cost of "Perfect Pink", sold at Christie's Asian auction in Hong Kong, was $23.2 million (2010).
• The lot that was put up for auction is a ring set with a rectangular pink diamond weighing 2.85 grams (14.23 carats).

The definition of “perfect” stone was not awarded by chance. It does not have any internal defects, which is why it is recognized as a stone of the highest clarity and Fancy Intense Pink color.

Over the almost two-century history of Christie's auctions, only eighteen diamonds (their weight exceeding 10 carats) have been given such a rating. The new owner of the unique stone did not want to reveal information about himself. Note that it was “Perfect Pink” that became the most expensive piece of jewelry that was sold in Asia.

Top 10 most expensive diamonds in the world

Diamond is one of the most expensive gems in the world. The rich and powerful happily pay millions of dollars for these stones based on their color, clarity, weight, number of reflective facets, and cultural and historical significance. Here we look at the top 10 most expensive diamonds in the world.

About 70% of all gemstones mined today are produced by the five largest companies. The Russian company ALROSA is a key player in the market along with De Beers.

10. “The Heart of Eternity,” $16 million

The Heart of Eternity is a bright blue diamond mined from the Premier mine in South Africa. Blue stones are very rare and make up only 1% of all mined diamonds. This 27.64-carat diamond weighs 5.528 grams. In addition to its unusual color, the stone is so highly valued because of its rare heart-shaped cut.

9. “The Perfect Pink,” $23.2 million

An emerald-cut diamond was sold for $23.2 million at Christie's auction in Hong Kong. The stone was named The Perfect Pink due to its deep pink color. This lot became the 18th pink diamond in the history of Christie's auction over its 244-year history.

The Perfect Pink weighs 14.23 carats and was discovered in India. The stone is rated Very Very Slightly Included 2 (VVS2) due to the tiny internal imperfections that are common in these types of diamonds.

8. The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond, $23.4 million

The history of the deep blue diamond weighing 31.06 carats is closely connected with the history of royal families. Discovered in India more than 300 years ago, the stone was given by the Spanish King Philip IV in the 17th century as part of the dowry of his daughter Margaret Teresa, who later became the Holy Roman Empress. In 2010, the stone was sold at Christie's in London to British jeweler Laurence Graff for $23.4 million.

7. “The Winston Blue,” $23.8 million

This is the world's largest flawless bright blue diamond. It was originally called the Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond, but was renamed The Winston Blue when the jewelry company Harry Winston, Inc acquired it in 2014 for $23.8 million at Christie's in Geneva. Weighing 13.22 carats, it was worth $1.8 million per carat, the highest price per carat ever paid for blue diamonds.

6. Steinmetz Pink or Pink Star, $71.2 million

Pink Star was formerly known as Steinmetz Pink. Discovered in South Africa in 1999, it is the largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond. This 59.60 carat (11.92 g) stone was purchased by Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises at Sotheby's 2021. The stone is oval in shape and internally flawless.

5. De Beers Centenary Diamond, $100 million

Impeccable purity and lack of color allowed this stone to receive the highest quality rating (grade D) from the Gemological Institute of America. The diamond weighs 273.85 carats and weighs 54.77 g, cut in the shape of a heart. This is the third largest diamond produced from the Premier mine.

4. The Hope Diamond, $350 million

The Hope Diamond, weighing 45.52 carats, was discovered in India and purchased by King Louis XIV in 1668. The stone is a dark grey-blue hue and has an ancient cushion-shaped cut. The diamond was stolen from the French royal family in 1791 and reappeared in London in 1839 in the hands of British aristocrat Henry Philip Hope. The gem is currently valued at $350 million.

3. The Cullinan, $400 million

The Cullinan is the largest rough diamond in the world, weighing 3,106.75 carats. The stone was mined in Cullinan, South Africa, in 1905 and is estimated to be worth more than $400 million. The rough diamond was presented to King Edward VII, and was later cut into nine different stones, the largest of which is the 530.2 Cullinan I carat Cullinan I and Cullinan II are today on display at the Tower of London.

2. “The Sancy Diamond”, not rated

This 55.23 carat (11.05 g) diamond is pale yellow in color and teardrop shaped. The stone has a rich history, having been in the hands of French and English kings, Russian entrepreneurs the Demidovs and American industrialists the Astors. The Sancy Diamond is currently on display at the Louvre after the stone was sold to the museum for a symbolic $1 million.

1. "The Koh-i-noor", priceless

This 105.6 carat diamond is considered the most expensive in the world. It is currently the property of Great Britain. A colorless oval diamond adorns the Queen's crown. The Koh-i-noor, which means "mountain of light" in Persian, was discovered at Golconda in the Telangana state of India in the 13th century. It has been owned by various Sikh, Mughal and Persian rulers throughout its history. The real cost of the stone is unknown, but experts estimate it is more than a billion dollars.

Russian diamond may soon enter the ranking

The Russian diamond mining company ALROSA recently presented a new collection of diamonds, one of which could become the most expensive gemstone in the entire history of the company and Russia. We are talking about a pink diamond weighing 14.83 carats and an approximate value of $15-37 million.

“Now it will be sent for certification to the most authoritative gemological institute - the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). They will look at it, assign characteristics to it, and certify it. Depending on the characteristics that it receives, the price will, I think, be from $1 million to $2.5 million per carat,” said Deputy General Director of ALROSA Yuri Okoemov.

The largest pink diamond in Russian history was mined in 2021 at the Ebelyakh alluvial deposit in Yakutia. At the end of 2021, it was recognized as the best find of the year according to the American publication The National Jeweler. Until now, ALROSA's largest pink diamond weighed 3.86 carats.

Large rough and polished diamonds are very expensive, but in terms of scale their contribution to revenue is not that significant. If ALROSA's largest pink diamond is valued at $37 million, then its share in the company's sales for 2021 will be only 0.8%.

More about the diamond industry: “How the diamond market works and what place ALROSA occupies in it”

BCS Broker

"Winston's Legacy"

Winston's Legacy
The colorless pear-shaped diamond weighs 101.73 carats (or 20.35 grams) and is of perfect clarity. It was sold at auction in 2013 (Christie's in Geneva) for $26.7 million. At that time, the stone became the largest diamond of the stones put up for auction. The new owner of the “Winston Legacy” was the American jeweler Harry Winston, which is why the stone has such an unusual name.

According to the color scale, this pear-shaped jewel is considered a stone of the highest category D (physical type Iia). The stone is so rare that it belongs to only 2 percent of diamonds mined in the world.

An unusual stone was discovered in the south of Botswana, in the Jwanenga mines. At first the diamond weighed 236 carats. About two years later, it was cut into a perfectly shaped diamond, the size of a plum. Only after cutting was the diamond presented on the jewelry market.

Ideal cuts

Nature endows diamonds with inner beauty. The cutter’s task is to make it so that everyone can see and appreciate it. The attractiveness and price of the stone depends on the quality of its work. The cut group directly affects the cost. The difference in price for two diamonds of the same color, weight and clarity, belonging to categories A (ideal cut) and B (commercial), reaches 30%.

The list of diamonds whose cutting is recognized as perfect includes the following famous and expensive cut diamonds:

• Kohinoor is a priceless stone that adorns Elizabeth's crown.
• Winston's estate – $26.7 million.
• Perfect Pink – $23.2 million.
• Pink Clark - $22.1 million.

No matter how much a diamond costs, there is always a jewelry connoisseur who will pay a fortune for a royal jewel. Although these minerals are not in short supply, their prices have skyrocketed and continue to rise. Each product is worth what you are willing to pay for it. There are many people willing, so new diamond records are still ahead.

“Sweet Josephine”

Ring with an expensive diamond
In the fall of 2015, a cushion-shaped gem weighing 16.08 carats (3.33 grams) was sold to a buyer from Hong Kong at an international auction at Christie's for $28.5 million. A Chinese construction magnate (billionaire Joseph Lau) purchased it as a gift for his seven-year-old daughter. It was in her honor that the gem (“The Sweet Josephine”) was renamed.

According to the Gemological Institute of America, only three gems weighing more than ten carats have been offered for sale in 250 years.

A pink diamond that belonged to an American family for 15 years is recognized as the largest cushion-shaped gemstone to be offered at an international auction.

Regent's Diamond

The Regent Diamond, also known as the Queen of Hearts, was found in 1698 by a slave in a mine who eventually paid for it with his life. The captain who found a hidden diamond killed a slave, sold the stone weighing 410 carats

to an Indian trader and then to a British businessman, Thomas Peet, in 1701. It was reduced to 141 carats.

The Regent Diamond is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It is white, but with a subtle bluish tint that not everyone sees. The diamond became the adornment of Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, King Louis XVIII, Charles X and Napoleon III

. Now it is in the famous Louvre Museum.

Diamond "Millennium Star"

The Millennium Star is the 10th largest and 2nd largest D color diamond.

. Before cutting it weighed 777 carats, and after it weighed 203 carats. A majestic diamond without external or internal flaws was of exceptional purity.

The stone was purchased. It took more than 3 years to give the diamond its classic pear-shaped shape using lasers. "Millennium Star" with 11 blue diamonds

was mined from the Premier mine in South Africa. In 2000, these amazing diamonds from the Millennium collection were presented at an exhibition in London.

Diamond Taylor-Barton

The 241-carat diamond, from which the famous diamond was later made, was found in the Premier mine in South Africa. The famous jeweler Harry Winston cut the stone, which became pear-shaped and weighed 69.42 carats. A stone of amazing transparency and beauty became the first diamond sold at auction for more than a million dollars.

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Its buyer was Richard Burton, who bought it for his wife, the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth could wear such a treasure only a few times a year under the protection of guards, and the first time she appeared with it was at the celebration of Princess Grace's birthday in Monaco.

When the actress divorced Barton, she sold the diamond for $5 million and used the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana. It is believed that this is the first time that a diamond brought anything other than misfortune.

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“Oval white diamond”

An oval white stone
with an unusual shape was sold at Sotheby's international auction in Hong Kong in 2013 for $30.6 million.

This diamond is called the world's largest white diamond. A Sotheby's press release states that the stone sold is the best in its category offered for sale at auction.

It was found in 2011 in one of the countries of South Africa.

The auction house's website provides information according to which the stone weighing 2.66 grams (118.28 carats) was sold for $30.6 million. Throughout the six minutes of the auction, there was a fierce struggle for the oval diamond. The winning bet was made over the phone by an unknown person. The stone, with a starting price of 28 million, was sold for $30.6 million. Currently, the owner of the unique diamond remains unknown.

The Heart of Eternity

The Heart of Eternity is a 27.64 carat (5.528 g) brilliant blue diamond. It is classified as an extremely rare class of colored diamonds. It was discovered in January 2000 in the same mine as the Allnutt diamond - Premier Mine, South Africa. Current owner is Said Qadri. Estimated cost : $16 million .

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“Unique pink”

Ring with The Unique Pink
This stone is rightfully included in the top of the most expensive diamonds in the world. In May 2021, Sotheby's auction house in Geneva sold one of the world's largest hot pink pear-shaped diamonds.

• The weight of the stone is 3.1 grams (15.38 carats).
• The name “Unique Pink” was given to the stone because of its ideal structure and color (type IIA).

"The Unique Pink" was used by jewelers to make the ring. A product with a unique stone was purchased by a buyer from Asia. The deal, worth $31.6 million, was completed over the phone; the identity of the buyer was not disclosed.

Pink diamonds are considered one of the rarest stones in the world. That is why they are placed at the top of the ratings of the most expensive jewelry. In recent years, Chinese representatives have shown maximum activity at diamond auctions.

"Orange"

Unusual orange stone
The diamond received its unusual name because of its bright orange color. The stone is pear-shaped and weighs 2.96 grams (14.82 carats). This stone was sold for $35.54 million at the 2013 Christie's Geneva auction. Information about the buyer of this diamond has not been disclosed.

Blue and pink diamonds are found much more often as lots at international auctions than orange stones.

Question to the expert

Where are the most expensive diamonds in the world sold?

You can buy expensive stones at jewelry auctions.

"A little prince"

One of the world's largest pink diamonds, The Little Prince, has a rather interesting history. The names of this stone are covered in legends:

• Golconda (sultanate in South India);
• Nizam of Hyderabad (ruler of a princely state in South India);
• Maharani of Baroda Sita Devi

The pink diamond received its unusual name in honor of the son of Sita Devi (ruler of the Gujarat city of Baroda, now Vadorad, located in the western part of India). The family was at the sale of this pink diamond weighing 6.93 grams (34.65 grams). The stone was purchased by the British jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels for 70 thousand dollars.

In the spring of 2013 (as part of an international auction at Christie's in New York), the stone was sold for $39.3 million. The buyer, who negotiated by phone, chose to remain anonymous.

The Little Prince diamond was discovered more than 300 years ago in the diamond mines of Golconda (territory of India).

Among the owners of this unique pink stone was the ruler of the city of Hyderabad (it is currently the largest jewelry center in the country). Mir Osman Ali Khan (ruler of Hyderabad) was considered the richest man in the world before World War II. But after the war, his financial situation worsened, so the unique pink diamond was put up for sale. After the purchase of the stone by the jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels, nothing was heard about the stone. And only 50 years later it was sold again through an international auction.

“Pink Graff”

Diamond ring
"Pink Graff" was auctioned in 2010 at Sotheby's. The starting price was exceeded several times and amounted to $46 million. The owner of this jewel was the eminent jeweler Laurence Graff, a representative of the British royal court.

Information about the history of this diamond dates back to the mid-twentieth century. No one knows by whom the stone was mined and processed.

The first owner of this masterpiece was the eminent jeweler Harry Winston, who bought the stone from an unknown collector (then this pink diamond was resold by him). Until 2010, the stone was in a private collection, then it was put up for international auction at Sotheby's (the winner was Laurence Graff).

After Graff purchases the stone, the diamond becomes famous. The Pink Graff has a classic cut with slightly rounded corners. The weight of the stone is 4.96 grams (24.78 carats). The diamond is classified as the rarest physical type IIa (less than two percent of mined diamonds).

Diamond "Hope"

The cut Hope Diamond got its name, which translates as “Hope,” from one of its first known owners, banker Henry Hope. Despite the life-affirming name, negative properties are attributed to the stone. The owners of this luxurious jewel were haunted by misfortunes and curses. The cut Hope Diamond weighs approximately 45 carats and is a brilliant blue in color.

The stone was introduced to the royal court of France, was brought from India and may have even previously adorned a statue of the goddess Sita. Among its owners were Louis the 14th and Louis the 15th. The diamond disappeared after the French Revolution. Then he appeared again, changing several owners and bringing misfortune to their home. The last owner sent the famous diamond to the Smithsonian Research Institution, where the stone became the star of the exhibition.

"Blue Moon"

The Blue Moon of Josephine
The rare gem was sold in Geneva at Sotheby's in 2015 for $48.4 million.

The Blue Moon stone is considered the most expensive diamond to be sold at auction. The stone set another record for cost per carat (more than $4 million). The item, weighing 2.41 grams (12.03 carats), was purchased by a buyer from Hong Kong.

The owner of this expensive diamond was the daughter of Chinese billionaire, tycoon Joseph Lau. After the transaction was completed, the stone was renamed “The Blue Moon of Josephine” (translated as “Blue Moon of Josephine”).

A 29.6-carat diamond was found in 2014 at the Cullinan mine (South Africa). The diamond was purchased by the international company Cora International. It took almost six months for the stone to be cut.

The oval cushion-shaped diamond has an intense blue color (classified as a rare gemstone). Even using a 10x magnification loupe, it is impossible to detect any inclusions in this diamond. Experts call the stone a “vivid fancy blue,” which is considered the highest grade of color.

Literally translated, “Blue Moon” (“once in a blue moon”) means “under a blue moon.” This name is used in cases where something happens very rarely.

"Wittelsbach"

The Wittelsbach Diamond
The deep blue fancy diamond, which weighs 7.11 grams (35.56 carats), is included in the ranking of the most expensive diamonds in the world. The stone has impeccable clarity - VS 2. This diamond has several names:

• diamond from the Wittelsbach crown;
• contemporary with the Bavarian kings;
• infanta stone;
• diamond from the crown.

The official name “Blue Wittelsbach” was awarded to the stone in 1722.

After the stone was mined from the Indian diamond mines of Golconda, the jewel was kept in Agra. In the 16th century, the diamond came to Europe, and for several centuries its owners were representatives of royal families.

• In the second half of the seventeenth century, the stone was presented as a dowry to the Spanish Infanta Margaret.
• Subsequently, the diamond was in the jewelry collections of the Bavarian and Austrian kings, and was in their crowns.
• In the 20th century there was no information about the fate of the stone. And in 2008, it became a lot at an international auction at Christie's, and was purchased by jeweler Lawrence Graff. The new owner noted that after recutting the stone was 4 carats smaller.
• After restoring the stone, the jeweler sold it for $80 million to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa.

The stones are transparent, like a tear

The key factor affecting the value of a diamond is clarity. The price of stones with the highest level of purity starts from a few and reaches tens of millions. Purity is measured on a scale from 1 to 10. The closer to one, the higher the quality of the mineral.

The top spot for cleanliness is occupied by:

• Chloe. Purity index II. The stone does not contain nitrogen impurities. Only 2% of diamonds have this property. Chloe purchased for $16.2.
• The Annenberg is a large emerald-cut jewel. It is distinguished by absolute symmetry and purity. The auction price was S7.6 million.
• The Star of the Season is a beautiful pure diamond. The cutter completed the job with an A plus, and as a result, the cost of the stone reached $16.5 million.
• Archduke Joseph is a unique diamond from the Golconda mines. To get this exhibit, the buyer had to pay $21.48 million.

“Cullinan I” or “Big Star of Africa”

Symbol of royal power
There is no information about the cost of the stone. This is one of the largest diamonds in the world (its price is 106.04 grams).

It was made from a fragment of a large Cullinan diamond (weight 621.35 grams). The Great Star of Africa diamond was discovered at the beginning of the twentieth century in South Africa and was named after the owner of the mine, Thomas Cullinan. The Assker brothers from Amsterdam were engaged in cutting the stone.

“Cullinan I” is the decoration of the British Queen. It is located in the Tower of London.

Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond, also known as the French Blue, is a large diamond weighing 45.52 carats (9.104 g) with a dark grayish-blue color. The Hope Diamond has a long history and is famous for the fact that it is supposedly cursed. Considered the most famous diamond in the world. Now the diamond is on display at the Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington (USA). The estimated cost of the diamond is $200-$250 million .

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