Top 10 Most Expensive Diamonds in the World

The Hope Diamond, a rare blue diamond, was owned by Henry Philip Hope in 1839, a descendant of the Hope & Co. banking family. Hope, a collector of art and gemstones, acquired the large blue diamond which eventually bore his name. Since he never married, he left his estate to his three nephews, and the diamond was passed to the eldest, Henry Thomas Hope. The Hope Diamond changed hands several times before it was acquired by Pierre Cartier.

The Hope Diamond weighs 45.52 carats and is not the typical white diamond we're used to seeing, but a deep blue. It is set in a design by Pierre Cartier, surrounded by 16 pear-shaped and cushion-cut white diamonds, on a necklace with 45 additional white diamonds. Rarely do deep blue diamonds exceed a few carats, and the Hope Diamond remains the largest of its kind known. It formed hundreds of miles beneath Earth's surface and was brought to the surface by a volcanic eruption over a billion years ago.

In 1958, jeweler Harry Winston donated the famous Hope Diamond, the largest known blue diamond in the world, to the Smithsonian Institution. It arrived in a simple brown package via mail, insured for a million dollars. Surrounded by 16 pear-shaped and cushion-cut white diamonds, it is displayed as part of the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the National Museum of Natural History, where it attracts 6 million visitors annually.

The Centenary Diamond is named in honor of the 100th anniversary of the De Beers Consolidated Mines, celebrated on March 11, 1988. De Beers was founded by British businessman Cecil Rhodes in 1888. The rough Centenary Diamond was discovered on July 17, 1986, at the Premier Diamond Mine, but the discovery was kept a closely guarded secret. It wasn’t until March 11, 1988, during a special event marking the company’s centenary, that the world learned about the find. The rough diamond, weighing 599 carats, was subsequently named the "Centenary Diamond."

The rough Centenary Diamond was discovered using the latest X-ray imaging technology and was the third-largest rough diamond recovered from the Premier Diamond Mine, following the Cullinan diamond (3106 carats) in 1905 and the Golden Jubilee diamond (755 carats) in 1985. At the time of its discovery, it was the 15th largest rough diamond ever found. The raw stone had an irregular shape, resembling a matchbox with angular faces, a protruding corner, and a deep indent on its largest flat surface. This challenging shape presented a serious challenge for any cutter attempting to transform it.

After cutting and polishing, the Centenary Diamond became a 273.85-carat D-color diamond, shaped into a modified heart. Its exceptional clarity earned it the rare designation of internally flawless (IF). The diamond measures 50.50 x 39.90 x 24.55 mm and features a total of 247 facets, including 164 facets on the crown and pavilion and 83 around the girdle. As a D-color diamond, the Centenary Diamond is classified as Type IIa, meaning it contains no nitrogen or other chemical impurities. This results in its perfect colorless appearance. The Centenary Diamond is arguably the largest, most faceted, internally and externally flawless D-color diamond in existence.

Steinmetz Pink is an oval-shaped diamond weighing 59.60 carats (originally 100 carats) with the stunning classification of Fancy Vivid Pink and Internally Flawless (IF). It holds the title of the largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond in the world. Its exceptional clarity and rare size make it one of the most impressive pink diamonds on Earth. Discovered by De Beers in South Africa in 1999, the diamond weighed 132.5 carats in its rough form. Due to its rarity, the Steinmetz Group spent 20 months meticulously polishing it, revealing its full brilliance. The diamond was unveiled to the public in Monaco in May 2003.

The Steinmetz Pink diamond is renowned for its vibrant pink color and flawless internal clarity, making it a unique and highly valuable gem. It ranks as the third-largest pink diamond globally, following the Darya-i-Nur and Nur-ul-Ain diamonds. With its dazzling color, the Steinmetz Pink is the largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ever discovered. Over fifty models were created before the cutting process even began. The diamond features an exquisite oval mixed cut with a step-cut crown and vibrant facets that perfectly display its remarkable pink hue.

In the summer of 2003, the Steinmetz Pink was displayed at the Smithsonian Institution's exhibition 'The Splendor of Diamonds,' alongside other iconic diamonds such as the Millennium Star, Heart of Eternity, and Moussaieff Red. During the exhibition's opening, it was worn by actress Jenna Elfman on a pendant. In 2007, it was transformed into a ring and sold to a private collector, where it was renamed the Pink Star. In November 2013, the Pink Star was sold again at auction to Isaac Wolf, representing a consortium, and is now known as the Pink Dream, housed at Sotheby's.

The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond is named after its former owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, a member of the Oppenheimer family that managed De Beers Mining Company and its diamond trading business from 1929 to 2012. Philip Oppenheimer began his career at De Beers in 1934, working in diamond sorting and valuation. When the Oppenheimer Blue Diamond was first mounted on a Verdura 'Eight Blades' setting, it weighed 14.71 carats.

After the passing of Sir Philip Oppenheimer in 1995, the Oppenheimer Blue Diamond, originally set in the Verdura 'Eight Blades' design, was reportedly sold to an anonymous buyer in 1999. The diamond was later removed from its original setting, re-cut, and polished before being placed at the center of a platinum ring, flanked by two trapezoid-cut diamonds. The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond now weighs 14.62 carats, boasting VVS1 clarity and an exceptional vivid blue color, with superb brilliance and symmetry.

The decision to set the Oppenheimer Blue in a platinum ring was due to the compatibility of the trapezoidal accent diamonds with the diamond's emerald cut. This striking ring design highlights the captivating vivid blue color of the Oppenheimer Blue, which is considered one of the most intense and pure blue diamonds ever discovered. Its remarkable even color and saturation make it a breathtaking natural wonder.

While many of the most famous and expensive diamonds in history come from royal lineages and date back centuries, the Blue Moon of Josephine stands out as a remarkably recent discovery. In January 2014, Petra Diamonds unearthed a rough 29.6-carat blue diamond in South Africa's Cullinan Mine (the same mine that produced the legendary Cullinan Diamond). Initially, the stunning blue hue of the diamond was not immediately noticeable in its rough form. After its discovery, the diamond was valued between $15 million and $20 million. This was astonishing, given that diamonds typically lose up to 60% of their value during the polishing process, meaning that estimates suggested it could be worth over $35 million once polished.

However, the outcome surpassed all expectations. In February 2014, Petra sold the mesmerizing blue diamond, now named The Blue Moon of Josephine, to Cora International for $25.6 million. This was an amount few diamonds ever reach even after polishing. Natural blue diamonds like this are incredibly rare, and in August 2014, Cora revealed its final form: a flawless 12.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond. This stunning gemstone combines the highest color grade with perfect clarity, making it an extremely rare and valuable jewel. Given its natural beauty, it was fittingly named after a celestial phenomenon, becoming The Blue Moon of Josephine.

Diamonds like this are priceless, and only a select few individuals can afford to acquire them. As a result, its final price is often determined in auction. Estimated to be worth between CHF 34.2 million and CHF 53.7 million, the final sale price of The Blue Moon exceeded the initial estimates, fetching an astounding $48.4 million – over $4 million per carat. The diamond was bought by Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau, who had been convicted of money laundering in March 2014. Lau, residing in Hong Kong, purchased the diamond for his seven-year-old daughter, Josephine, and later renamed it in her honor as The Blue Moon of Josephine.

The pink diamond is undoubtedly one of the rarest types of diamonds found worldwide. Even more exceptional are those that exceed 5 carats or feature vibrant color saturation. For these reasons, the Graff Pink Diamond is not just a beautiful gemstone but a natural wonder destined to be cherished for centuries to come. Its captivating color and extraordinary size make it a remarkable discovery in the world of diamonds.

What makes this diamond even more exceptional is its classification by the Gemological Institute of America as a Type IIa diamond. This places it in the top 1 to 2% of diamonds in terms of purity. Furthermore, the Graff Pink Diamond is set in a platinum ring adorned with two stunning shield-shaped diamonds. Graff acquired the striking 24.78-carat fancy vivid pink diamond at a Swiss auction in November 2010 for $46 million, setting a record at the time for the most expensive diamond ever sold, cementing its place as the world's most expensive diamond.

When Graff decided to auction the gemstone, his goal was to enhance its brilliance even further. According to Graff Diamonds, the diamond contained 25 natural inclusions. Using advanced technology, the company’s experts meticulously removed these flaws while preserving the diamond’s shape and symmetry. After weeks of meticulous work, the Graff Pink Diamond emerged even more breathtaking than before. It was then sent to GIA for analysis, where it was classified as a flawless 23.88-carat Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond.

The Orange Diamond is one of the top 10 most expensive diamonds on Earth. Its distinct orange hue is due to the presence of nitrogen, similar to yellow diamonds. The difference lies in how nitrogen atoms are arranged during the diamond's formation process. This unique arrangement, called 'super special', absorbs blue and yellow light signals, resulting in its vibrant orange color. Much like yellow and brown diamonds, orange diamonds are sometimes nicknamed 'pumpkin diamonds' because they resemble the color of a large pumpkin. A famous 5.54-carat diamond is known as the Pumpkin Diamond, discovered in Central Africa and later cut and polished by renowned gemologist William Goldberg.

The color intensity of orange diamonds is classified by GIA as Light Orange, Very Light Orange, Light Orange, Fancy Orange, Fancy Vivid Orange, and Fancy Deep Orange. The last two grades are the most desired and expensive. Well-known gemologist Edwin Streeter referred to them as 'fire diamonds' in his famous 1882 book 'The Great Diamonds of the World'. These gems are indeed highly coveted, and whenever one is discovered or auctioned, it generates significant interest among collectors.

One such diamond, the Orange Diamond, remained in private hands for 30 years before it was revealed to the public. This dazzling 14.82-carat diamond with a VS1 clarity was auctioned by Christie's Geneva, surpassing expectations. Initially expected to fetch between $17 million and $20 million, it sold for $35.5 million, or $2.4 million per carat.

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond (also known as Koh-i-Nur or Kūh-e Nūr) is one of the largest and most famous cut diamonds in the world. It was likely discovered in southern India between the 11th and 13th centuries. The name 'Koh-i-Noor' is Persian for 'Mountain of Light,' referring to its enormous size—originally 186 carats, now 105.6 carats. Over its long history, the diamond has changed hands many times, often owned by male rulers. Like many great gemstones, the Koh-i-Noor is surrounded by mystery, a curse, and misfortune, with legend saying that only a female owner could avoid its bad luck. Both India and Pakistan have claimed ownership of the diamond, but it currently belongs to the British royal family.

The Queen was reportedly impressed by the Koh-i-Noor's size but was less than thrilled by its lack of brilliance due to the cut. A re-cutting process, which took around 450 hours, gave the diamond more facets, transforming it into a radiant oval cut while reducing its weight from 186 to 105.6 carats. The diamond now measures 3.6 x 3.2 x 1.3 cm. Though smaller, the re-cutting removed imperfections and made the diamond more suitable for wear as a brooch, which the Queen preferred.

The Koh-i-Noor is now part of the British Crown Jewels. It has appeared on several crowns but is traditionally placed only on the crowns of queens due to its reputation for bringing misfortune to men. It was worn on the crown of Queen Alexandra (1844-1925) at her coronation in 1902 and later re-set for Queen Mary's (1867-1953) coronation in 1911. Today, the diamond shines in the center of the crown worn by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900-2002), the late mother of Queen Elizabeth II. The crown and Koh-i-Noor, along with other Crown Jewels, can be viewed at the Jewel House within the Tower of London.

The Sancy Diamond is one of the few famous diamonds whose legendary history is difficult to verify, but the tales surrounding it have been passed down and recorded for centuries. The most astonishing aspect of the Sancy— a pale yellow, pear-shaped 55.2-carat diamond the size of a strawberry— is that it has been traced for over 500 years. Today, it is safely housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it is on public display.

The Sancy is thought to have been discovered in India, the earliest known source of diamonds. It is believed to have belonged to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and upon his death in 1495, it passed to his cousin, King Manuel I of Portugal. Decades later, when King Manuel’s grandson and heir, Dom António, was threatened by the Spanish, he fled with the crown jewels, selling them to fund his efforts to reclaim the throne. The Sancy Diamond, one of the most historically significant gemstones, passed through the hands of countless kings and queens, across at least 15 countries in Europe. Despite rumors of a curse, it was said to bring invincibility to its wearer as a jewel of immense power.

The diamond was eventually sold to Nicolas de Harley, Seigneur de Sancy, and it was he who gave it its current name. This diamond should not be confused with the smaller 36-carat Le Beau Sancy, which records indicate he also acquired. The Sancy remained safely with the Astor family for 72 years before being sold to the Louvre in 1978 for $1 million— a substantial sum at the time. Adjusted for inflation, this diamond, with its unique color and quality, would likely fetch $10 million today.

The Cullinan Diamond was discovered near Pretoria, South Africa, on January 26, 1905, and named after the president of the mining company, Thomas Cullinan. In its rough form, it weighed an astonishing 3,106 carats and measured 10.1 x 6.35 x 5.9 cm. Its size, combined with its unique blue-white color and exceptional clarity, made it the most famous diamond in the world. In 1907, the Cullinan was presented to King Edward VII by the government of the Transvaal as a symbolic gesture to heal the rift between Britain and South Africa following the Boer War. Despite initial hesitation, the king accepted the gift on the advice of the British government. The diamond was escorted by police to Sandringham and officially presented to the king on his 66th birthday.

The Cullinan was then sent to Amsterdam’s premier diamond cutters, Aschers, where experts spent several weeks determining the best method for splitting the massive stone. It took four days to prepare a groove for the cleaving blade, and the first strike actually broke the cleaver, not the diamond. On February 10, 1908, Joseph Asscher successfully cleaved the diamond into two pieces. Over the following eight months, three men worked 14-hour days to cut and polish nine large stones from the original diamond. These stones were numbered I through IX, and they continue to be known by these names today. Additionally, 97 smaller stones and some unpolished fragments were produced.

After King Edward’s death in 1910, King George V had Cullinan I and II set into the Sovereign’s Sceptre and the Royal State Crown, respectively. These two stones remain in place today. The other numbered stones were retained by Aschers as payment for their work. Cullinan VI and VIII were later given by King Edward VII as private gifts to Queen Alexandra, and others were purchased by the South African government and presented to Queen Mary in 1910 to commemorate the Union Celebration. They were bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth in 1953.