In the last blog, we covered the 10th through the 6th most expensive diamonds in the world, but what about the top 5? Here is the list of the most famous, rare, and large diamonds ever discovered.
5. De Beers Centenary Diamond
The third largest diamond ever produced by De Beers’ Premier Mine in South Africa, the Centenary Diamond is still a giant, weighing 273.85 karats! Though it is colourless, which often makes diamonds less valuable, the GIA has given the Centenary a grade D rating – the highest grade of colourless diamond. Essentially, this means that it is “perfect” both inside and out. No one knows who owns it now, but rumours have linked it to a young entrepreneur of British and Israeli origin. It is currently valued at $100 million.
Hope Diamond (Photo Source: Nikoretro)
4. The Hope Diamond
Currently house at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Hope Diamond has been called the most famous diamond in the world, and it is the second most visited artwork of any kind. What’s the first? The Mona Lisa – pretty good company. Compared to many of the other most expensive diamonds, the Hope Diamond is relatively small – 45.52 karats – but it has become so famous due to its beauty and the fact that misfortune has befallen many of its owners. Though the Hope appears blue when you view it with the naked eye, under ultraviolet light it actually shines red. Experts value the Hope at $350 million.
3. The Cullinan Diamond
At a whopping 3,106.75 karats, it should come as no surprise that the Cullinan Diamond is the largest rough-gem quality diamond ever discovered. In fact, it was so big that nine different cuts were made from it. Some of the most well-known parts of the original rough-cut Cullinan became the Great Star of Africa (or Cullinan I), weighing 530.4 karats, and the Lesser Star of Africa (or Cullinan II), weighing 317.4 karats. Both of these diamonds are part of the United Kingdom’s crown jewels, and the Great Star of Africa was the largest polished gem in the world until the Golden Jubilee weighed in at 545.67 karats in 1985. The Cullinan was estimated to be worth $400 million.
Sancy Diamond (Photo Source: Waitscm)
2. The Sancy Diamond
No one quite knows where the Sancy Diamond originated, but many experts believe it to be of Indian origin due to a cut that is unusual by Western standards. In fact, it is the first large diamond to ever be cut with symmetrical facets. The gem is also unusual for having no pavilion (the bottom part of a modern brilliant cut diamond) – it only has a pair of crowns (the top part of a modern day brilliant cut diamond), one on the other. France’s Louvre Museum currently houses the Sancy in its Apollo Gallery – the French Crown Jewel Collection. The name of this 55.23 karat, pale yellow diamond comes from the first known owner of the jewel, Nicholas Harlai, Seigneur de Sancy. Its value is unestimated, but it is considered priceless.
1. Koh-I-Noor Diamond
This 105 karat diamond was once the largest known diamond in the world, and it was passed on from various Sikh, Mughal, and Persian rulers for centuries until the East India Company seized it and made it a part of the British Crown Jewels. The only reigning British monarch to actually wear the Koh-I-Noor in her crown was Queen Victoria, and legends even say that the gem is cursed if it is owned by a man. These myths detail how all of the male owners have suffered various misfortunes through their lives, including many rulers that have lost their crown. Fears about this “male curse” were so widespread that men would give the gem to their wife so that it would not affect them. The Koh-I-Noor Diamond has the purest form in the world, and is known as the “Mountain of Light” in Persian. Like the Sancy, the Koh-I-Noor’s value has never been estimated and it is considered priceless.
You may not have enough money to purchase any of these diamonds, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find your very own special diamond, whether it’s for an engagement ring, bridal jewellery, a wedding ring, or other special occasion jewellery.
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