These are 11 of the most expensive diamonds in the world

The De Beers Blue was discovered as a rough stone in South Africa’s historic Cullinan mine in April 2021. According to Sotheby’s, the 15.10-carat gem is the largest and most valuable blue diamonds.

ever to be sold at an auction. It is also the largest internally flawless step-cut vivid blue diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

It is noteworthy that De Beers Blue is the first blue diamond. weighing over 15 carats to have come to the auction table. Only five blue diamonds of over 10 carats have previously been sold at auctions.

Additionally, diamonds are among the costliest gems in history, prized for their beauty, shine and rarity. Thus, the estimated value of De Beers Blue does not come as a surprise.

Grading and certification of priceless diamonds

The value of all diamonds is measured as a combination of four Cs — carat, cut, colour and clarity. Other than the GIA, diamonds are rated by the American Gem Society (AGS). Together, they are the two most reputed diamond grading and certification bodies in the world.

Although some of the world’s most famous diamonds are deemed priceless, there is no sale record of these most sought-after gems in history. Moreover, some of them have not even been evaluated in recent years, which could have determined their estimated price. Others, especially pink and blue diamonds, have been auctioned across the world for record prices.

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Koh-i-Noor

Koh-I-Noor means ‘Mountain of Light’, and the gem is considered the world’s most famous priceless diamond. Originally weighing 793 carats, it has been cut and polished over centuries into the present form of a 105.6-carat gem.

It is widely believed that the diamond was mined during the reign of the Kakatiya dynasty (11th to 12th century) in India’s Golconda region. Later, it came into the possession of the Mughals. When Nader Shah of Persia sacked Delhi after defeating Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, he took the diamond along with the Peacock Throne, in which it was encrusted.

In 1813, the diamond came into the possession of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh before eventually falling into the hands of the British.

Since the 19th century, the diamond has remained in the possession of the British royal family. It is placed at the front of the crown worn by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother — Queen Elizabeth II’s mother. The Koh-i-Noor was last seen in public in 2002 when the crown was placed atop the coffin of the Queen Mother.

The Cullinan

Mined in South Africa in 1905, the Cullinan diamond originally weighed 3,106 carats — the largest rough diamond in history. However, it is now a collection of 105 gems of different cuts and weights.

The Cullinan, one of the most magnificent diamonds in the world, was named after Thomas Cullinan, the chairman of the mine. The worth of the stone would be an estimated USD 400 million in the current market.

There are nine large pieces of the diamond, totalling approximately 1,055 carats, besides other smaller cuts.

The biggest piece is known as Cullinan I and weighs 530.20 carats, making it the largest clear cut diamond in the world. The Cullinan I is mounted on the spectre of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Cullinan II, weighing 317.40 carats, is part of the Imperial State Crown. These are also referred to as the ‘Star of Africa’ and ‘Lesser Star of Africa’, respectively.

Cullinans III, IV and V are part of Queen Elizabeth II’s pendant brooch. The remaining four are also part of The Queen’s personal jewellery.

The Hope

Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a French traveller, purchased a 112-carat diamond, which eventually came to be known as the Hope. It is believed that it was found in the same Golconda mine from where the Koh-i-Noor came. In his records, Tavernier described that the diamond had a “beautiful violet” colour.

Tavernier sold it to King Louis XIV. Over the years, it came to be recognised as the “Blue Diamond of the Crown”. However, the diamond was stolen in 1792 and emerged in London in 1812. After changing several hands, including King George IV, and crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the diamond ended up in the Smithsonian Institution in 1958.

The Hope diamond has remained in the Institution’s collection ever since and has been publicly displayed outside of Smithsonian only four times. While the weight of the diamond is 45 carats, its estimated worth is USD 200-350 million.

De Beers Centenary

Even though the De Beers Centenary Diamond was discovered in the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1986, its existence was announced two years later at the 100th anniversary of De Beers in Kimberley. This is how it got its name — Centenary.

Weighing 599 carats, it was one of the world’s largest top-colour diamonds. The Centenary was then cut down into a heart-shaped gem of 273.85 carats with 247 perfectly aligned facets. The GIA certified the diamond’s colour as D — the highest rating for colourless diamonds — and internally and externally flawless in clarity.

At the time of its unveiling in 1991, it was the largest known colourless modern-cut diamond. The Centenary has never been valuated, but it was insured for USD 100 million before it was put on display in 1991. No one knows who owns the diamond and therefore, its current location remains a mystery.