Just consider having a gem so precious and rare that it’s more than a mere jewel; it’s an item of historical significance.
Diamonds have a unique allure because of their rarity and unmatched beauty. One in a million diamonds exhibit features like shades of pink and blue. From record-breaking auctions to legend-making stones, the world’s most expensive diamonds have rewritten rarity and timelessness. Surely, images of the world’s most precious diamonds have ignited an interest in purchasing diamond jewelry if you consider purchasing diamond earrings or rings.
Diamonds have fascinated us for ages, but only a select few have made them regarded as immortal. The most expensive diamonds in 2024 are these eleven pieces, all representing the epitome of luxury and wealth, and their stories are brighter than themselves.
Take a look at the list of the 11 most expensive diamonds in the world in 2024 and learn why they hold such high value compared to other diamonds.
The Koh-i-Noor Diamond
The name Koh-i-Noor means “Mountain of Light.” It is a world-famous diamond because of its interesting history. It was originally reported in the 1306 Persian literature as Babar-nama and was the largest diamond at 793 carats sourced from the Kollur mines in India, among the most prominent and oldest gemstones known worldwide. Furthermore, it weighs 105.6 diamond carat, and it is now on exhibit at the Tower of London, where it is placed in the Queen Mother’s Crown. It is the most expensive diamond as of now and secures the top position in a row!
Reputed for its amazing shine, Koh-i-Noor also has a long-standing tale behind it that fluctuates between true and false beliefs about people’s misfortunes attributed to their male owners.
The Cullinan Diamond
The spectacular Cullinan Diamond, the biggest diamond ever discovered, is included in the Crown Jewels.
The stone was discovered in Pretoria in modern-day South Africa in 1905 and called after the mining company’s chairman, Thomas Cullinan. It is also known as the ‘Great Star of Africa.’ Uncut, it weighed 3,106 metric carats and was later cut down to 503.2 carats. It has an outstanding blue-white hue and purity, which makes it among the most expensive diamonds in the world.
The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond has a deep blue hue that comes from trace amounts of boron in its crystal structure. Mystery shrouds its history, including tales of its curse. Its value is not just because it has a great diamond carat weight of 45.52 but also due to its legendary status and the fascination it continues to create. The 17th century mined diamond worth an astonishing $350 million.
The Pink Star Diamond
In 2017, the Pink Star, a 59.60-carat magnificent vivid pink diamond, sold for a stunning $71.2 million, setting the record for the highest price ever paid at auction. It used to be called Steinmetz Pink.
The Pink Star Diamond’s bright and vivid color stems from its unique formation process. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) rates The Pink Star, a deep pink fancy-coloured diamond, as internally flawless, making it rare among all fancy-coloured diamonds.
The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond
This precious gem matches the royal owners’ blue blood. Various uses include dowry and loan collateral. The Wittelsbach’s unique category IIb blue diamond status makes it special in the gem world. The diamond measures 35.56 carats, 24.40 mm wide, and 8.29 mm deep, with fifty oddly positioned facets and exceptional clarity save for some slight surface blemishes.
The Graff Pink Diamond
The Graff Pink Diamond’s near-perfect color makes it highly valuable. People seek out pink diamonds, especially those with vivid or intense shades, making this 24.78-carat pink diamond one of the rarest ones available. Known for its pure color and exceptional size, the diamond sold at auction in 2010 for 46 million dollars, making it one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold.
The Regent Diamond
The Regent Diamond is a 140.64-carat diamond that has stunning clarity and an incredible cut. The early 18th century saw its discovery in India. The French monarchy subsequently acquired the diamond, incorporating it into the French Crown Jewels. The Louvre Museum in Paris houses it today.
The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond
Sir Philip Oppenheimer owned the 14.62-carat, vivid blue diamond before its sale at a record auction in May 2016 for $57.5 million. This sale exemplified an increasing desire for rare-colored diamonds among collectors as this larger stone set world records during that period, thus drawing attention to itself due to its unique qualities such as intensity or stability.
The Blue Moon of Josephine
Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau attracted media attention by purchasing The Blue Moon of Josephine for his daughter. One of the most remarkable blue diamonds ever found, this gem is characterized by its flawless clarity and vivid hue.
In November 2015, Sotheby’s Geneva sold this 12.03-carat cushion-shaped fancy bright blue diamond for $48.5 million. That day, $4,028,941 was paid for each carat of a diamond, which was the most ever paid at auction.
The Sancy Diamond
The Sancy Diamond is a pale yellow diamond with a fixed mass of 55.23 carats. It has been owned by several European monarchs for a long time; hence, it accounts for its deep-embedded history. Another rare feature of the Sancy Diamond is that there is no pavilion at its base, which makes it unique compared to most other diamonds. At present, the Louvre Museum in Paris keeps the Sancy Diamond.
The Moussaieff Red Diamond
The Moussaieff Red Diamond happens to be among the rarest on earth when it comes to diamonds. It has a deep crimson hue with a weight of 5.11 carats. This stone’s nutritional intake is very limited, making it extremely valuable. Estimates place the privately owned Moussaieff Red Diamond’s value at more than $20 million.
Conclusion
Diamonds have always captivated man’s eyes and hearts with their beauty and rarity. These eleven diamonds on this list, as of 2024, are among the most expensive diamonds in the world. Each one tells a unique story, making them stand out in the luxury world.
Although these precious gemstones are quite rare and highly valuable, you can find affordable replicas from reputable dealers that can still inspire you to buy diamond earrings, rings, or pendants. They offer a wide selection of exquisite diamonds in different cuts, clarity, carats, and more.
