Diamonds are among the most sought-after naturally occurring substances found by man.
The most expensive diamonds in the world are out of reach by the majority, but that doesn’t stop us from gazing. Top jewelry designers take their inspiration from these timeless beauties to create some of the most expensive engagement rings of all time.
What you need to know
- The most coveted diamonds are those that display exceptional color and clarity and are of considerable size.
- The historical and societal significance of precious gems serves to increase their value.
- The most expensive diamonds have long been possessions of royalty, often embroiled in controversy.
16. The Princie Diamond: $39.3 million
The Princie diamond has had its fair share of disputes ever since it was auctioned by Christie’s to the Qatari royal family in 2013. The auction house is being sued by descendants of an Italian senator who claim it was rightfully theirs and unlawfully sold to Christie’s by a stepbrother.
This is the first of many gems on our list from the Golconda mines filled with melodrama.
| Origin: | Golconda, India |
| Carats: | 34.65 ct |
| Color: | Pink |
| Cut: | Cushion |
| Last sold: | $39,3 million at Christie’s New York, 2013 |
15. Lesotho Legend: $40 million
The Lesotho Legend is a colorless type IIa diamond discovered in 2018 in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The rough diamond is of exceptional quality and the size of two golf balls.
The diamond was sold to an anonymous buyer in Belgium just two months after being discovered. It has since vanished without a trace. Only time will tell what exquisite pieces will come from it.
| Origin: | Lesotho |
| Carats: | 910 ct |
| Cut: | Rough uncut |
14. Bleu Royal Diamond: $43,8 million
Blue diamonds are rare, and over 10-carat blue diamonds are even rarer.
Weighting 17.61 carats, the pear-shaped Bleu Royal diamond is the largest vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction.
The Royal Blue diamond set in a ring fetched $43.8 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva in November 2023. It was previously part of a private collection for 50 years.
| Origin: | Unknown |
| Carats: | 17.61 ct |
| Color: | Vivid Blue |
| Cut: | Pear |
| Last sold: | $43.8 million, Christie’s Geneva, 2023 |
13. The Graff Pink Diamond: $46.2 million
This sublime pink diamond was bought by famed diamond dealer Lawrence Graff hence the name. Graff purchased the diamond in 2010 and went on to trim and polish it to bring out an even more vibrant pink color.
It was then certified as internally flawless by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The pink diamond was earlier owned by celebrity jeweler Harry Winston.
| Origin: | Unknown |
| Carats: | 24.78 ct |
| Color: | Pink |
| Cut: | Emerald |
12. The Blue Moon of Josephine Diamond: $48.4 million
The Blue Moon diamond was bought by Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau in 2015. He renamed it The Blue Moon of Josephine after his daughter.
The diamond is classified as fancy vivid blue and is considered to be nearly flawless. This type of fancy blue diamond is said to exhibit a red glow when observed under ultraviolet light.
| Origin: | Cullinan, South Africa |
| Carats: | 12.03 ct |
| Color: | Fancy Vivid Blue |
| Cut: | Cushion |
| Last sold: | $48,4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva, 2015 |
11. The Winston Pink Legacy: $50.4 million
Harry Winston purchased The Pink Legacy diamond, previously owned by the Oppenheimer family, at a Christie’s auction in 2018. One of the most precious diamonds in the world, it is now gorgeously set in a rose gold and platinum ring with 2 shield-cut colorless diamonds on either side.
Few words can describe the elegance of this piece which was made to mark the 125th birthday of the “King of Diamonds” Harry Winston.
| Origin: | South Africa |
| Carats: | 18.96 ct |
| Color: | Pink |
| Cut: | Rectangular |
| Last sold: | $50,4 million at Christie’s Geneva, 2018 |
10. The Graff Lesedi La Rona: $53 million
The magnificent Lesedi La Rona was sold as a rough diamond of 1,109 carats to Graff Diamonds in 2017. It took them just over 18 months to cut and polish the diamond into one main 302.37-carat gem and 66 smaller cut diamonds.
The diamond has set two world records. First, for being the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond. Second, for being the largest diamond of the highest color and clarity ever certified by the GIA.
| Origin: | Botswana |
| Carats: | 302.37 ct |
| Color: | White |
| Cut: | Square emerald |
9. The De Beers Blue Diamond: $57.4 million
The De Beers Blue, valued for its unmatched size, flawless clarity, and intense color, was sold for an awe-inspiring $57.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong in 2022.
Cut from an exceptional rough stone discovered in South Africa’s historic Cullinan mine in April 2021, this 15.10-carat step-cut gem exemplifies extreme rarity.
| Origin: | Cullinan, South Africa |
| Carats: | 15.1 ct |
| Color: | Fancy Vivid Blue |
| Cut: | Step |
| Last sold: | $57.4 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2022 |
8. The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond: $57.5 million
The Fancy Vivid blue diamond, originally owned by Sir Philip Oppenheimer (hence the name), sold at auction in 2016. An estimate of just 1% of all blue diamonds graded by the GIA is awarded the color grade of “fancy vivid blue”.
The gem is set in a ring flanked by two smaller trapeze-cut white diamonds. The impressive carat size and intense color of this sparkler contributed to its whopping price tag.
| Origin: | Cullinan, South Africa |
| Carats: | 14.62 ct |
| Color: | Fancy Vivid Blue |
| Cut: | Emerald |
| Last sold: | $57,5 million at Christie’s Geneva, 2016 |
7. The Williamson Pink Star: $57.7 million
At around $5 million per carat, the 11.15-carat cushion-shaped Williamson Pink Star, named after the rare Williamson Mine in Tanzania, shatters the price-per-carat record for any diamond or gemstone ever sold at auction.
One of the world’s most coveted gems, the Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless diamond sold for a staggering $57.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 2022. The pure and saturated pink diamond was crafted from a 32.32-carat rough diamond by Diacore.
| Origin: | Williamson Mine, Tanzania |
| Carats: | 11.15 ct |
| Color: | Fancy Vivid Pink |
| Cut: | Emerald |
| Last sold: | $57.7 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2022 |
6. The Regent Diamond: $61 million
The Regent Diamond was discovered in 1698 and is a unique white diamond with pale blue undertones. It was rumored to have been found by a slave in the Kollur mines who then had it stolen from him by a British sea captain.
The stone then passed through Dukes, Queens, and Kings before reaching its final destination at the Louvre in Paris in 1887.
| Origin: | Kollur, India |
| Carats: | 140.64 ct |
| Color: | White |
| Cut: | Cushion |
5. The Pink Star Diamond: $71.2 million
Previously known as the Steinmetz Pink, this exceptional Fancy Vivid Pink diamond is the largest of its kind. It took 2 years to cut and polish the stone from its original 132.5 carats into the perfect type IIa diamond it is today.
It was sold at an auction in 2017 to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises in Hong Kong who renamed it CTF Pink Star.
| Origin: | South Africa |
| Carats: | 59.6 ct |
| Color: | Fancy Vivid Pink |
| Cut: | Mixed oval |
| Last sold: | $71,2 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2017 |
4. De Beers Centenary Diamond: $100 million
The exquisite Centenary diamond has the highest grade color rating (D) and flawless clarity. The rough diamond was unveiled at the De Beers centennial celebration in 1988 which gave rise to the name of the diamond.
De Beers is said to no longer be in possession of the diamond. The current owner is unknown to the public.
| Origin: | Cullinan, South Africa |
| Carats: | 273.85 ct |
| Color: | White |
| Cut: | Modified heart shape |
3. The Hope Diamond: $350 million
Discovered in the 1600s the fancy dark grayish-blue diamond has a history of misfortune and tragedy. After being bought by King Louis XIV, the diamond was stolen and resurfaced almost 50 years later. Thereafter, tales of bad luck followed those who came to be associated with the diamond.
The Hope diamond is now displayed in the Smithsonian Museum having been donated by Harry Winston.
| Origin: | Golconda, India |
| Carats: | 45.52 ct |
| Color: | Blue |
| Cut: | Antique cushion |
2. The Cullinan Diamond: $400 million
The Cullinan diamond, also known as the Star of Africa, was discovered in 1905. It initially weighed 3,106.75 carats, making it the largest rough diamond ever found.
Since then, it has been cut into 9 main diamonds (besides other smaller cuts), which form part of the British Crown Jewels. The largest of the stones, Cullinan I, at 530.2 carats, rests atop the Sovereign Sceptre with Cross.
| Origin: | Cullinan, South Africa |
| Carats: | 530.2 ct |
| Color: | White |
| Cut: | Pendeloque |
1. Kohinoor: priceless
The Kohinoor (also spelled Koh-i-noor) is the most expensive diamond in the world, having been given priceless status due to its brilliance and historical significance. The name Kohinoor means “Mountain of Light” in Persian. The controversy surrounding the ownership of the diamond has been ongoing, with claims that it was stolen from India by the British.
The diamond was originally said to be approximately 793 carats. It has been reduced in size over the centuries to bring out its brilliance and a part of the British crown jewels since the 19th century.
| Origin: | Golconda, India |
| Carats: | 105.6 ct |
| Color: | White |
| Cut: | Oval |
The world’s most expensive diamonds
With each stone, there’s a fascinating story that often follows, making these diamonds the most highly regarded gems in the world.
A recap of the 15 most expensive diamonds in the world:
- Kohinoor: priceless
- The Cullinan Diamond: $400 million
- The Hope Diamond: $350 million
- De Beers Centenary Diamond: $100 million
- The Pink Star Diamond: $71,2 million
- The Regent Diamond: $61 million
- The Williamson Pink Star: $57,7
- The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond: $57,5 million
- The De Beers Blue: $57,4 million
- The Graff Lesedi La Rona: $53 million
- The Winston Pink Legacy: $50,4 million
- The Blue Moon of Josephine Diamond: $48,4 million
- The Graff Pink Diamond: $46,2 million
- Bleu Royal, $43,8 million
- Lesotho Legend: $40 million
- The Princie Diamond: $39,3 million
Frequently asked questions about the most expensive diamonds in the world
The most expensive diamond in the world is owned by the British Royal Crown. The Kohinoor gem currently resides at the HM Tower of London where it is displayed as the central diamond of the Queen Mother’s Crown.
The most expensive diamond in the world is the Kohinoor. The unique 105.6-carat colorless diamond is said to be priceless.
The most expensive and rarest diamonds are type IIa. The most expensive color grade of a diamond is “D” which is colorless. The highest clarity grade for diamonds is FL or flawless. See our ranking of the most expensive diamonds in the world by price to learn more.
The round brilliant cut diamonds are the most expensive cut of diamonds. It costs up to 40% more than any other cut of diamonds. This type of cut creates the most sparkle and uses the most amount of raw material (up to 60% wastage of rough stone).
