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.
What is more expensive - diamond or gold?
In fact, comparing minerals with a metal, even a noble and very valuable one, is not entirely correct, because we are talking about radically opposite things.
Also, when assessing the value of a diamond, a lot of factors are taken into account, which influence the final price. For example, stones with defects, but with perfect clarity, will cost a little more than gems without obvious flaws.
To find out what is more expensive - diamond or gold, you can provide the latest data on the cost of both. So, for a top quality diamond with an amazing symmetrical cut, the manufacturer will charge from 2.5 thousand dollars per carat. That is, 0.2 grams of high-quality diamond will cost approximately 158,000 thousand rubles.
But a gram of gold of the highest 999 standard today is 2150 - 2390 rubles. It’s easy to calculate that 0.2 grams of gold will cost you 478 rubles.
“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.
Oppenheimer Blue Diamond
$57.5 million
In second place, just a step away from Olympus, is the Oppenheimer Blue gem, sold by Christie's in May of this year. Everything that has been said about the magnificent Blue Moon in the case of Oppenheimer Blue should be raised to a superlative degree. Here is 14.62 carats of perfect color and impeccable clarity, framed in an incredibly capricious and demanding emerald cut.
The cost of the world's most expensive colored diamond was $57.5 million. The buyer was identified after 25 minutes of active trading, but his name remained unknown.
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“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.
Diamond "Orlov"
Diamond “Orlov” photo
One of the majestic and most beautiful diamonds belongs to the Russian Diamond Fund. A precious stone of hydrocarbon origin, named after Count Orlov, adorned the scepter of Empress Catherine II since 1774.
Extracted from Indian mines, the mineral previously belonged to the Persian Shahs and representatives of the Mongol dynasty.
Most likely, the precious crystal was stolen from Asia and taken to Europe. The great Russian empress liked the diamond, and she could not resist the temptation to purchase an expensive piece of jewelry even by the standards of the royal court.
There is also a more romantic version of the story about how the famous stone came to Russia. It is alleged that it was presented to the ruler by her favorite Count Orlov. However, historical facts suggest that the count’s condition hardly allowed him to make such a broad gesture.
The diamond has a faint shade of greenish-blue color. Its weight is about 199 carats; initially the size of the found diamond was estimated at 400 carats. The appearance of the crystal (180 facets) resembles an Indian rose.
The Orlov diamond has never been put up for auction. At that time it cost the Russian treasury an astronomical sum - about 400,000 rubles.
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.
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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”
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"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.
Graff Vivid Yellow
Graff Vivid Yellow Diamond, 100.09 carats
Photo: Reuters
The 100.09 carat Fancy Yellow Diamond is no exception. Sold for $16.347 million at Sotheby's in Geneva in May 2013, it set a record for the cost of yellow diamonds at that time.
“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.
Pink Star
Pink Star Diamond, 59.6 carats
Photo: Reuters
The Pink Star diamond (59.6 carats) broke the world record for the value of precious stones sold at auction in April 2021. The stone went under the hammer for $71.2 million, with a top estimate of $60 million. It is the largest flawless fancy pink diamond ever certified by the Gemological Institute of America. The stone was purchased by Chow Tai Fook, who bid by telephone, and subsequently renamed it CTF Pink.
“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.
Pink Promise
Pink Promise Diamond, 14.93 carats
Photo: AFP/East News
A pink oval-cut diamond weighing 14.93 carats and with Fancy Vivid characteristics was sold at Christie's auction in Hong Kong for $31.861 million, that is, $2.13 million per carat. When the stone was purchased by its previous owner, gemologist Stephen Silver, in 2013, it weighed 16.21 carats and was listed as Fancy Intense. It took the jeweler several years to develop a new cut, and as a result, despite the weight reduction, the parameters of the stone improved significantly, and the resulting amount received increased.
“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.
Blue Moon
Blue Moon diamond, weight 12.03 carats
Photo: AP/East News
Before the Oppenheimer diamond record, the most expensive blue diamond in the world was the Blue Moon, which sold for $48.5 million at Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva in November 2015. Private collector Joseph Lau from Hong Kong renamed the stone from Blue Moon to Josephine. In the price per carat category, which in his case is $4 million, the stone is still the leader.
"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).
Pink stones
The unique Steinmetz Pink is a pink stone that is the largest in its color. It was found in South Africa and is now in the possession of the Steinmetz Group. The product was not cut for a long time (20 months) due to its rarity. It is valued at $25 million.
An equally large and rare diamond is the “Pink Star”. In 1999, the stone was found in South Africa. In 2013, the price at auction was $83 million. However, they could not buy it back and Sotheby's bought it back for $72 million.
A beautiful diamond is the Martian Pink gem. It is attractive with its shape and cut. A gold ring with such decoration was purchased at auction for $17.4 million. It is believed to be the largest pink round diamond to be offered at auction.
The Pink Graff diamond did not have a name until 2010. Its owner in 2010 was the same jeweler named Graff. He purchased it for $46 million and named it after himself. The early history of the expensive gem is unknown.
Pink diamonds are very rare in nature. "Princy" was found in the mines of India. It was owned by the royal family of Hyderabad. The stone was sold in 1960 and only after that it acquired this name in honor of the Prince of Baroda. The cost of the product is $40 million.
"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.
Large and bright specimens
The largest diamond in the world is the Cullinan. It was found in 1905 in South Africa and named after the owner of the mine. At that time, its cost was $7.5 million, and now it could be worth all of $2 billion. Subsequently, it was split into smaller elements, and they received their own names. For example, one of their parts - “Cullinan 2”, can be seen in the crown of the British Empire. Interesting facts can be found in the article “The Fascinating History of the Cullinan Diamond.”
One of the rarest diamonds is the Moussaieff Red Diamond. It was found relatively recently, in 1990 in Brazil. The unusual thing is that the stone is red. Its price is $7 million.
Another red Phoenix gem was found in western Australia. It also belongs to the category of rather rare colored specimens. Its price is $2 million.
An equally rare type of cut diamond is “The Heart of Eternity”. This beautiful diamond is distinguished by its blue color and heart shape. It was found in South Africa in 2000. Previously, a stone was found in the same mine, which was called “Allnutt”, only it has a bright yellow hue. These diamonds are also quite expensive - the Heart of Eternity costs $16 million, and the Allnutt costs $3 million.
The Orange Diamond has a simple name, but is unique in that it is the largest bright orange gem. There is also the fact that the cost per carat has exceeded the price of other colored stones. In total, the product was valued at $21 million.
"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.
Wittelsbach
Wittelsbach diamond, weight 35.56 carats
Photo: Getty Images
First brought to market in December 2008, this 35.56-carat blue diamond was purchased by Laurence Graff for $24.3 million. The stone was first given as a gift to Princess Margaret by her father, the King of Spain. The stone then ended up in the crown of Ludwig I of Bavaria, and is now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
“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.
Diamond Star of Africa
The world's largest diamond ever discovered was discovered by accident. Initially, a South African mine worker even mistook the stone, weighing 3,106 carats, for an ordinary piece of glass. The rarest mineral got its name from the owner of the mine, Thomas Cullinan. Its second name is “Star of Africa”.
Cullinan had stunning purity, casting a bluish color. However, due to a small crack, it was decided to split it into several parts. Preparation for the operation lasted several months. An interesting fact is that the famous jeweler Asher of those days even fainted from excitement after hitting the stone with a chisel.
As a result, the “Star of Africa” was divided into 9 large stones and many small ones. Large crystals are numbered and are called Cullinan - 1, Cullinan - 2, and so on. The largest mineral, also called the “Big Star of Africa,” weighs 530 carats.
The stone has long remained the most impressive in size of cut diamonds. The jewel adorns the scepter of the English King Edward VII. The second largest diamond obtained, at 317 carats, is part of the British Crown. The smallest of 9 diamonds, 4.4 carats, is set in the ring. All Cullinans, totaling 1,063 carats, currently belong to the British Kingdom.
The cost of truly unique stones is very difficult to estimate. The price of a diamond in its original form was equivalent to the cost of 94 tons of gold.
