The Most Expensive Diamonds in the World
Diamonds have always been a symbol of luxury and wealth. But some diamonds are so rare and valuable that they are worth millions of dollars. In this article, we will take a look at some of the world's most expensive diamonds and what makes them so valuable.
The Pink Star
The Pink Star is a 59.60-carat diamond that was sold for a whopping $71.2 million at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong in 2017. This diamond is the largest internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It was mined in South Africa in 1999 and took two years to cut and polish.
The Blue Moon
The Blue Moon is a 12.03-carat diamond that was sold for $48.5 million at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva in 2015. It was mined in South Africa in 2014 and took six months to cut and polish.
The Oppenheimer Blue
The Oppenheimer Blue is a 14.62-carat diamond that was sold for $57.5 million at a Christie's auction in Geneva in 2016. This diamond is the largest fancy vivid blue diamond ever sold at an auction. It was named after its previous owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, a member of the family that controlled De Beers, the world's largest diamond mining company.
The Graff Pink
The Graff Pink is a 24.78-carat diamond that was sold for $46 million at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva in 2010. This diamond is one of the rarest diamonds in the world because of its intense pink colour. It was previously owned by Harry Winston, who sold it to Laurence Graff, a British jeweler, in 2010.
The Cullinan
The Cullinan is the largest rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats. It was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine. The diamond was cut into nine large stones and 96 smaller stones. The two largest stones, the Cullinan I and the Cullinan II, are part of the British Crown Jewels.
Funny Facts
• The largest diamond ever found was the Cullinan, but it was initially mistaken for a worthless crystal and almost thrown away.
• The largest diamond ever found in the United States was the Uncle Sam diamond, weighing 40.23 carats. It was found in 1924 in Arkansas.
• The largest diamond ever found by a park visitor in the United States was the Esperanza diamond, weighing 8.52 carats. It was found in 2015 in Arkansas.
• The first diamond engagement ring was given by Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. However, it wasn't until the 1930s that diamond engagement rings became popular in the United States due to an advertising campaign by De Beers.
• The world's largest diamond heist took place in Antwerp, Belgium in 2003, where thieves stole diamonds worth an estimated $100 million. The funny part? The thieves gained access to the vault by posing as diamond merchants and renting an office space in the building.
In conclusion, diamonds are not only a symbol of luxury and wealth, but they are also fascinating because of their rarity and value. The Pink Star, the Blue Moon, the Oppenheimer Blue, the Graff Pink, and the Cullinan are some of the world's most expensive diamonds that have made headlines for their beauty and value. When buying a diamond, it's important to consider the four factors of carat weight, colour, clarity, and cut to ensure that you are getting a high-quality diamond.