The most famous diamonds in the world are unique and extra rare. Less than 1% of the total diamonds ever found are rated as the largest, with a vivid color rating, and sold for millions of dollars.
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The article was last updated on 11/05/2023. The average reading time is 9 minutes
Napoleon Diamond Necklace
In June 1811 Napoleon, I of France celebrated the birth of his son with his second wife Marie Louise. He authorized the Napoleon Diamond Necklace from a Parisian jewelry firm, as a gift to his wife.
The necklace consisted of 234 diamonds with a total weight of 263 carats.
From 1847 to 1962 the necklace changed many times owners until it was donated to Smithsonian Institute. Today it is still in The National Museum of Natural History In Washington DC.
It is still considered one of the most iconic and beautiful necklaces in the world.
Image courtesy of Cliff under CC By 2.0
The Dresden Green Diamond
The giant natural green diamond at 41 carats, is in Dresden Castle, Germany.
In 1768, Augustus III of Poland integrated the diamond into a valuable hat ornament with 2 large diamonds and 411 medium and small diamonds.
The Dresden Green Diamond and the Hope Diamond have been the most iconic diamonds in the world for two centuries now.
The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is a 45,52 carat with a fancy dark grey-blue color.
It is described as the most famous diamond in the world.
The diamond has changed more than 20 owners, it is now in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.
The diamond has a “curse” that anyone who owns or wears will have a tragedy or misfortune.
Currently, the diamond in its current form as a necklace is estimated at least US$ 1 million.
Image courtesy of Observer31 with a CC by 3.0 license
The Graff Pink
This ring has the rarest fancy intense pink 23.88-carat diamond.
It was the most expensive single jewel ever sold at an auction in 2010.
It was sold in a Sotheby’s auction for US$46.2 million.
The diamond is mounted on a platinum ring with two diamonds on each side.
It is owned today by the famous diamond dealer Laurence Graff.
After restoring it the diamond is now the most flawless pink diamond in the world.
Image from graff.com
Gracy Kelly’s Engagement Ring
Prince Rainier III of Monaco gave this amazing ring to Gracy Kelly as a second engagement ring. Cartier designed it and Prince Rainier gave it to Gracy Kelly to wear in the film High Society.
This 10.48-carat diamond ring with 2 side stones cost US$4 million at that time.
After her tragic death in 1982 in a car accident, the ring was given to the House of Grimaldi for safekeeping.
This ring according to Jewelry Box is worth more than US$38 million today.
On her wedding day, Grace Kelly gave new meaning to the word icon. Her whole look, from the regal veil to the feminine lace details and the conservative gown, made her an ageless bride
Oscar de la Renta
L’Incomparable Diamond
The most expensive necklace in the world. With a Guinness world record, this diamond necklace cost more than US$55 million today.
The central diamond is a deep yellow 407-carat, accompaniment by 90 white diamonds weighing 203 carats.
This diamond necklace was manufactured by the Mouawad Group in Switzerland which holds the Guinness Certificate.
https://www.mouawad.com/en/thehouse-world-records/l-incomparable
Koh-i-Noor
Undoubtedly the most priceless diamond in the world. Koh-I-Nor means Mountain of light.
Rumors said that this diamond weighed 793 carats – a more realistic value is 191 carats -, but through the centuries it was polished and cut to the current form of a 105.6-carat gem.
For almost 170 years was in the possession of the British royal family.
It was in front of the cross of the Queen Mary’s crown.
Now the diamond is on public display in the Juwel House at the London Tower.
The Cora Sun-Drop Diamond
One of the latest (found in 2010 in South Africa) and most rare vivid fancy yellow diamond weighs 110.3 carats. Cutting the Sun Drop diamond took them 6 months.
It was sold one year later, in 2011 at an auction by an anonymous bidder for just over US$10.9 million. This price is a world record for a yellow diamond.
The Tiffany Diamond
One of the most beautiful and rare yellow diamonds is the Tiffany Diamond.
When it was found in 1877 it weighed 287.42 carats. It was later acquired by Charles Lewis Tiffany who cut it to its current weight: 128.54 carats.
In its current form, it belongs to a diamond necklace that was worn only by 4 women. That necklace has white diamonds weighing over 100 carats.
The fourth person who wore the legendary diamond necklace was Beyonce.
See the complete article from Tiffany about Beyonce And Jay-Z in ABOUT LOVE.
It is unique because traditional diamonds have 58 facets. This piece has 82, excellent craftsmanship from Tiffany.
Image from tiffany.com
Taylor Burton Diamond
Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor in 1972 for her birthday, a heart-shaped diamond set with rubies in a pendant.
Mr. Burton bought it at an auction for US$1 million.
This diamond weighs nearly 70 carats and is pear-shaped and a flawless cut.
The diamond today is owned by Robert Mouawad from the famous Mouawad House.
Check to see the rare diamonds they have at https://www.mouawad.com/en/diamond-diamond-gallery
Oppenheimer Blue
The Oppenheimer Blue diamond is the second most expensive diamond after the Pink Star.
It is a 14.62-carat vivid blue diamond that has a grade below internally flawless.
It was sold in Geneva in 2016 for US$50.6 million by an anonymous bidder.
Learn more at the diamond auction at theguardian.com
CTF Pink Star Diamond
The Pink Star or Steinmetz Pink diamond is the largest known diamond being rated Vivid Pink.
Steinmetz Diamonds took 20 months to cut the piece from 132.5 carats to 59.60 carats in the latest form.
In 2017 the diamond was sold at an auction in Hong Kong for US$71.2 million to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises.
It is currently the most expensive diamond sold in an auction.
Fun Fact.
This was the pink panther diamond from the movie Pink Panther.
At the auction when the winning bid was confirmed they played the theme song of the movie.
Moussaieff Red Diamond
The Moussaieff Red Diamond (formerly known as the Red Shield diamond) is 5.11 carats and rated as a fancy red diamond.
There have only been up to thirty red diamonds all over the world and they are less than half a carat. (source Cape Town Diamond Museum)
This unique precious red piece is the largest red diamond in the world.
In 2001 Moussaieff Jewellers bought it for US$8 million.
The current price is about US$20 million
Check to see our article All You Have to Know about Diamonds
Find more at Moussaieff.com
De Beers Centenary
The De Beers Centenary is the highest-rated colorless diamond and is internally and externally flawless. The original rough was 599 carats, and the weight was 273.85 carats after cutting.
The name was selected for the 100th anniversary of the De Beers in Kimberly.
The team responsible for the cutting of the diamond was selectively picked and the procedure lasted almost 6 months until they proposed the final 13 designs.
The cutting procedure took place in an underground special room in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The owner is still unknown, the only information is that the diamond was insured for US$ 100 million.
The Centenary Diamond is a photograph by Patrick Landmann which was uploaded on August 5th, 2016.
Current price: priceless
Gaby Tolkowsky was chosen to be the head of the team responsible for cutting the diamond.
The HEX.com diamond
The HEX.com diamond is a black diamond that holds the Guinness World Record for the largest cut fancy black diamond. The original name was The Enigma.
It contains 55 facets and weighs 555.55 carats. Rang Gorenstein completed this diamond in 2014 after cutting and faceting for many years.
The repetitive number five in the design of the diamond is intense and derives from the hamsa, an amulet known among Muslims and Jews.
It is supposed to originate from a meteor or an asteroid fallen on Earth.
It was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2022 at US$4.3 million. The buyer chooses to use cryptocurrency for the purchase.
Read more about the auction in this forbes.com article.
Image from Sothebys.com
Cullinan Diamond
The largest rough diamond ever found. It weighs 3106.75 carats, which is 625 g.
It was discovered in 1905 in South Africa and was named by the owner of the mine Thomas Cullinan.
Joseph Asscher was responsible for cutting and splitting the rough diamond. It took him nine months to complete. the procedure
Want to see how these diamonds transformed into amazing jewelry? Read our article about Queen Elizabeth’s jewelry.
Cullinan rough diamond produced 9 major stones. The largest ones have been given the names: The Great Star of Africa, the Second Star of Africa, and the Lesser Star of Africa (x2).
Read more about the jewelry made from the Cullinan rough diamond from this Royal Collection link
Conclusion
What is your favorite famous diamond? Do you want to add more diamonds to our list?
Let us know in the comments below.
For a list of famous diamonds check this Wikipedia article.
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A nice, simple and complete article. So many information’s and details, love it.
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My favorite diamond is the hex black diamond.
Please write more articles like this.